By ILSE SCHWARZ
VERDEN, Germany, Aug. 07, 2025–These Championships have always been a passion of mine to attend and report on. Why report and not just watch? Those of you who know me, know that I am not much good at just observing and not participating, plus reporting on the event makes me really think about the rides.
What WOULD I say about the horse, the rider. Do I understand what the judges are looking for? I also watch it from a trainer’s perspective. It prompts me to think about the different bloodlines, training techniques. What would I change? How could I replicate some of the training in my horses? In short it really makes me study the class and not just be swept away by a sea of fancy front legs and beautiful profiles.
Let’s also be honest–it’s been a minute between my coverage of events. I have been super busy teaching clinics and putting my knowledge and education into practical use, so it’s a change of mindset to sit and get writing again… so bear with me if my train of thought gets in any way eclectic or off topic.
My normal pattern, at least, starts like a travelogue..or at least a blog feeling. So why don’t I start there, to get my thoughts to start to line up.
Even though I have been living in the USA for a really, really long time now (and am a dual citizen), my instinct, as an Australian, when I say I am going to Europe is to still imagine it’s going to take the better part of a day or two. So while I was teaching a clinic on Monday, I was slightly overwhelmed that I would be arriving home late Monday night, getting up early enough on Tuesday to ride as many horses as possible before praying to the travel gods that I would have an easy drive to Miami airport. They really only half listened and made me vow to take the train in the future, and then a simple flight to Germany and an easy drive to Verden and maybe still catch some of the 6 year-old first qualifications on Wednesday. Suffice to say that I missed the entire 6 year-old class, but arrived in plenty of time to get settled, familiarize myself a little with everything as somehow FOUR years have passed since I have been in Germany. I know life gets in the way of doing things, but seriously? FOUR YEARS! My German ancestors would be horrified.
The management has changed the program here a little. They are working very hard to not have any of the championship classes running concurrently. This is great so we don’t have to run between arenas (not easy at this venue), but means a 7.30am start. You don’t want to know how long it took me to convince my body to wake up this morning. However, I was at the grounds in excellent time and well situated prior to the first ride, ready to remember how to take photos.
There was a clear winner Thursday, the beautiful dappled dark gray KWPN stallion Proud James (Jameson RS2 x Johnson), owned by Helgstrand and ridden by the very experienced Mette Sejbjerg Jensen. His presence was apparent from the moment he entered the arena. He had already won the 4 year-old class at Ermelo, Netherlands in 2024, so there was some expectation regarding his performance. He didn’t disappoint. More on his performance in a moment. He was the 41st (out of 45) horses of the day and, honestly, the overall quality through the class was extraordinary with 10 horses already scoring over 84% before he entered the arena.
It was heart warming to see so many horses showing perfect rhythm, quiet in the contact, a good connection, uphill balance in trot and canter, very few short tight necks, absolutely zero tense passagey trots. Most walks showed clear rhythm and just so much good tactful riding on these superb young horses. Yes, there were a decent handful of 5 year-old “moments”, but with the power these horses have, that is hardly surprising. So, my long-winded point is that when Proud James entered it was an unexpected thrill to see this slightly next level performance. There is no doubt that Mette knows how to get the best out of this young stallion, and enjoys every second of it.
Proud James showed a trot truly filled with elasticity, over the back, always uphill and filled with suspension. Poll always the highest point, beautiful shoulder freedom and a charisma that you either have or you don’t. Not a suspicion of anxiety, this is a young stallion that loves to show off to a crowd, and the crowd loved it. His transitions were supple and soft. The collected canter before the walk transition was a clear preview of the balance he will have for future collection. In short he was everything you could want in a modern sport horse stallion. None of his scores were 10s, but he is so complete, every gait is very good without any holes. Trot 9.0, walk 8.8, canter 9.0, submission 8.8, perspective 9.2, final score 89.600
The first horse of the day was the elegant light-footed Danish stallion Atterupgaards Bernachi (Bon Courage 4 x Caprimond) ridden beautifully by Selina Solberg Vittinghus. This liver chestnut was captivating as he entered the arena and floated around in his familiarization trot around the arena. All the horses get a few moments to experience the arena before the bell rings to start the test. I could use up many of my adjectives on this stallion, and indeed I did when I first saw him, but it turns out I will need to keep some for the rest of the class! Bernachi was uphill through the trot (score 9.2), with tremendous shoulder freedom, suspension and a rhythm that simply never missed a beat. The connection was soft, he appeared supple through the 10-meter half circles and was truly breathtaking. He walked through his whole body and showed clear purpose and relaxation. The four beat rhythm was unshakeable even in the simple change and the steps after the rein back. His walk scored 8.5. His canter continued in the quality, beautiful and uphill, good airtime and reach with the hind leg, score 8.5. At the end of the ride my thought that he could possibly be the winner and it was unfortunate that he was the first to go. He finished 6th today with a final score of 85.8% but I feel he is a medal contender for the finals.
Selina Solberg Vittinghus on Atterupgaards Daimi. © 2025 Ilse Schwarz/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com
Selina Solberg Vittinghus had a second horse in the class, the exquisite, oh, so feminine Danish mare Atterupgaards Daimi (Springbank 11 VH x Bon Bravour). Amusingly, Selina tied equal 6th with herself on 85.8%. I wrote in my notes made during the class, “For me she has that inexplicable ‘something’ in her presence.” The trot had me needing a thesaurus for more words that mean elastic and light footed. She had engagement without compromising the length of stride, she had swing through every step and the balance was maintained through the stretch trot half circle, trot score 9.5. She had some serious moments showing a lack of submission in both the rein back and the downward transitions from the canter, both to walk and trot. She also struggled slightly to maintain a steady balance in the half circle, canter 8.0, submission a fairly generous 7.9. I can’t wait to see her in the final, she is for sure a favorite of mine.
I feel right here it is worth mentioning the rein back. The truth is that only the tiniest percentage of these 5 year-old horses could perform a good rein back, maintaining straightness, diagonal movement and a steady uphill contact. Most were, in fact, a complete dog’s breakfast. It seemed overall, to have very little impact on the submission scores. It definitely impacted the quality of the medium walk as they moved forwards, and I do believe this was taken into account in the walk score.
So I am completely out of order here, but I will continue.
DSP Valentin and Johanna Wadenspanner. © 2025 Ilse Schwarz/DRESSAGE-NEWS.com
The third horse to go today was the gelding DSP Valentin (Vitalis x Don Schufro) with Johanna Wadenspanner riding for Germany. This was the first of four direct Vitalis offspring in this final. As he enters the arena my first thought is that he still needs to grow into his head, but then he starts moving and the size of his head is irrelevant. In the trot he is always uphill, plenty of swing and suspension, Good impulsion and reach with the hind legs. He stays in a beautiful balance and cadence in the stretch circle for a score of 8.4. His walk scores the second highest score of the day at 8.8 and his rein back is one of the rare very good ones. With an overall score of 86.00%, they held the lead for a whole two rides, until Linda Weiss entered on the mare Viva Diamond OLD (Vitalis x Birkhof’s Don Diamond). As I said, this class was just quality followed by more quality. The judges were truly splitting hairs I think, which makes for a very exciting final as literally any horse could have the ability to be in the top 3.
Viva Diamond OLD showed such tremendous ground cover in her trot, She is a big girl, not one with an ethereal feminine appearance, she is all power and elasticity. She had indisputably the best walk of the day, scoring 9.2 She had purpose covering the diagonal, good overtrack in the extended walk, swing through her whole body. Beautiful freedom of the shoulder and uphill carriage with the poll at the highest point in all three gaits. She gives the appearance of total self carriage. With the tremendous ground cover her hindlegs have, this is really necessary as she is all carefully balanced power. Final score 87.00% and second place overall.
Third place went to the son of Wendy de Fontaine, and I swear it was like watching a miniature male version of her. Ferdinand de Fontaine (Franklin 54 x Sezuan 2) is an Oldenburg gelding ridden by Merita Hagren. She has ridden this young stallion since he was broken in, so they are a team. His trot and canter have expression, impeccable rhythm, engagement, suspension and good activity. Merita told us at the press conference that Isabel Werth has sat on the young stallion and strongly felt the influence of Wendy in him. His walk was good, not only in the longer lines of medium and extended but also in the transitions and after the rein back. None of his scores were mind blowing, but again just high quality across the board. Trot 8.7, walk 8.2, canter 9.0, submission 8.5, perspective 9, all adding up to 86.8% and 3rd place.
The second last to go was also an exciting one to watch, showing again that the quality was through the class from start to finish. The Danish-bred stallion, Faustino G. (Blue Hors Farrell x Sezuan) was just exquisite, almost feminine in appearance. He has that “spidery” look of long legs and elegance. His trot has much ground cover and engagement but maybe not as much suspension as some. He shows good bend through the ribcage and balance in the half 10-meter circles and the change of bend through the serpentine and the judges enjoy it as much as I do, 9.1. His reinback is the absolute definition of “dogs breakfast,” and although the walk is good in rhythm, he lacks a little purpose on the diagonal, 7.5 for walk. The canter starts quite tentatively but the medium canter develops good airtime, jump and impulsion for the rest of the canter work. He is always uphill, always showing shoulder freedom, and is actually one of my favorites of the day. If he can improve his walk, remove the tension, he could sneak into the medals for the final, 4th place on 86.60%
The small final has some very good horses in it, and I think the winner of that class could still be a contender for the medals. One horse that I truly hope makes it into the final by way of the small final is the KWPN stallion Pitch Perfect (La Formidable x Vivaldi) ridden by Val Bruntink. They were having the most beautiful ride until he had a memorable 5 year-old “moment” that lasted the entire first long side of the canter (oops!). I think their ride reminded everyone that we were truly watching five year-old horses!
