The finale of the FEI Dressage European Championship in Crozet, France, came to a nail-biting conclusion in the freestyle to music.
The top three combinations all delivered tests of exceptional quality, yet none escaped without errors and, in the end, it was Belgium’s Justin Verboomen who triumphed, two days after taking gold in Friday’s grand prix special, aboard his own stallion Zonik Plus.
In fact, the full podium was a complete mirror image of Friday’s, with Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (riding Mount St. John Freestyle) taking the silver and Isabell Werth (on Wendy de Fontaine) claiming bronze for Germany.
By collecting two golds in one weekend, Justin has entered the history books. Belgium had not previously won a single medal at any major dressage championship, and the 38-year-old secured two in 72 hours.
Scoring a new personal best of 89.964%, the modest Belgian, who has owned this nine-year-old black stallion since he was two, could hardly believe what he had achieved.
He said: “This result is a surprise for me. I am so proud, Zonik is still so young. Test after test I feel him becoming more mature. He is always attentive to me.”
Moody is best Brit
Becky Moody, who is making her Your Horse Live debut in November, and her beloved homebred Jagerbomb found themselves just short of a medal-winning score, finishing fourth (1.064% behind bronze) and best of the British, as she was in Friday’s Special.
This pair’s cheerful performance to a Beatles medley put a smile on everyone’s face.
Carl Hester, contesting his 13th Europeans, piloted Fame into seventh, the 58-year-old rider putting a mistake in the two-time changes down to “a few old-man mistakes”.
“The atmosphere here is fantastic, the crowd is very close which makes it quite exciting,” he added.
Lottie Fry rode the first British test of the day, seeking to defend her 2023 European Freestyle silver aboard her own and Van Olst Horses’ Glamourdale.
However, tension crept in from the very start and, despite the stallion’s extraordinary uphill canter, a final percentage of 79.573% kept them out of medal contention for 10th place overall.
Werth’s 55th medal
Isabell Werth signed off from her 17th European Championship with her 29th medal at this level. In fact, today’s medal, the third of this championship, is an incredible 55th medal across all major championships.
Riding Wendy de Fontaine, the pair pulled off a Freestyle masterclass, hitting every beat of the music with spot-on piaffe, passage, pirouettes and extended paces for 88.046%.
“Wendy was fantastic. I think no one was without mistakes today, it was a tough competition between us,” said Isabell.
“Today I was getting closer to the form I want to have with Wendy: being able to present her in the very best way. She gave her heart for me today.”
Harmonious and emotive test
Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour’s test aboard Mount St. John Freestyle was focused and expressive, with just one error in the two tempis for a final 89.821%.
“I was very pleased with our test, but a little disappointed we just missed out on the gold,” confessed the Danish rider.
“It was so close, between our rides, but also with the scores. One thing is certain: Justin and I will be battling for medals many more times in the future”.
With both Isabell and Cathrine’s scores on the board, all eyes turned to Friday’s gold medallist, and the arena fell silent as Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus entered the arena.
Their test oozed harmony and fully captured the audience. The black stallion transitioned into canter out of a half-pass in trot, and the crowd exploded as they finished, 89.964% flashing up on the board to secure gold by the slimmest of margins.
“I wanted everyone to feel the emotion, and to keep the connection with my horse,” said Justin.
“His strength is that he always wants to show his very best. If I don’t make mistakes, he doesn’t either.”
View the Freestyle results in full
Images © FEI/Leanjo de Koster
