The Para Dressage competitions kicked off today in Stadium 3 at the Allianz Park. Competing in the “Prize of StädteRegion Aachen”, the athletes in Grades I, II, and III were vying not only for the first medals in the Grand Prix A Individual Final, but also for qualification for the Grand Prix Freestyle.

“He has a heart of gold,” said Rixt van der Horst about her eleven-year-old Westphalian-bred chestnut stallion, Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. In Stadium 3 today, her four-legged partner proved once again that he is not only beautiful, but also capable of outstanding athletic performances. He entered the arena as the second to go with his Dutch rider. Having travelled to Aachen as three-time European Champions, the pair were among the favourites in Grade III. They impressively did justice to that status with an expressive test marked by numerous highlights. Scoring 77.534 percent, van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. achieved a personal best, setting the benchmark for the competition. “The stadium is truly spectacular,” remarked the 34-year-old, who lives with spastic diplegia, a form of cerebral palsy. Her stallion, whom she discovered three years ago at Dinja van Liere’s stable, also pricked his ears attentively a few times due to the unique atmosphere. Van der Horst was thus all the more pleased with the successful start: “For the first test, I am more than happy with how we both coped with the impressive atmosphere.”

It was a long wait until the final result was verified: A further 17 horse-and-rider combinations followed before it was confirmed that her score sufficed to secure the title – the sixth World Championship Gold in her career. “That was really nerve-wracking,” the Dutch rider admitted. The Danish championship veteran, Tobias Thorning Joergensen, came closest to her result. The double Olympic Champion from Tokyo performed as a well-attuned, harmonious unit with his ten-year-old Oldenburg-bred stallion, Blue Hors Zackorado. The pair secured the silver medal with a score of 75.100 percent. Bronze went to Francesca Salvadé from Italy. Riding the nine-year-old Escari (by Escolar), the 37-year-old scored 74.767 percent, claiming her second international individual medal following her bronze in the European Championship Freestyle.

Birthday Gold in Grade I

The American rider, Marie Vonderheyden, could hardly have wished for a better birthday present: Riding the experienced, Fan Tastico H, who had previously carried Roxanne Trunnell to medals at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, the 46-year-old scored 76.709 percent. This victory holds special significance for Vonderheyden, who previously competed successfully in eventing for France: Following a severe riding accident eleven years ago, she spent two months in a coma and continues to struggle with significant health impairments. Now, in her World Championship debut, she won Gold at the first attempt. “My horse is such a great guy,” the winner said happily. “I am very pleased with my test – even if there are, of course, still things we can improve.”

Mari Durward-Akhurst finished second with Athene Lindebjerg. The 19-year-old mare (by Gribaldi) had already partnered the British rider at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, where they celebrated their greatest international success to date, when they won Bronze in the Freestyle. Today, their performance was rewarded with a score of 74.542 percent and the silver medal. Bronze went to Sara Morganti. The experienced Italian rider competed for the first time in a championship with Bond Girl, a just seven-year-old daughter of Bon-Coeur. With a score of 74.459 percent, she added another Bronze medal to her impressive track record.

A nail-biting finish in Grade II

The three-time European Champion, Heidemarie Dresing, travelled to Aachen as one of the top favourites, riding Poesie, her eleven-year-old mare by Fürstenball. However, right at the start of the test, the 71-year-old had to draw upon all her equestrian skills and experience: Poesie spooked immediately after setting off and it took all of her rider’s sensitivity to get her back on track. “I know my horse very well,” Dresing explained. “That’s why I was quickly able to regain her trust.” With a spirited and expressive performance, highlighted particularly by harmonious transitions between walk and trot, the pair succeeded in more than making up for the early error, boosting their score to 75.483 percent. Was she nervous during the test? “There was no time for that – I had too many other tasks to deal with,” she said with a smile after her ride. “Winning the gold medal here in Aachen is a dream come true.”

It was a very close field, yet the joy at winning the silver medal was immense. Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen kept glancing at the scoreboard to confirm that her score of 75.310 percent had indeed secured her a spot on the podium. The double World Champion from Herning 2022 was overjoyed to additionally win a medal in Aachen. Bronze went to Britain’s Jemima Green and her eight-year-old gelding, Fantabulous (by Foundation), on a score of 75.241 percent. The pair also won two bronze medals at last year’s European Championships.