By KENNETH J. BRADDICK
AACHEN, Germany, Aug. 12, 2026–In one of the most exciting dressage competitions, Germany won World Championships team gold Wednesday for the 13th of the 16 events since the team contest founding 60 years ago.
Great Britain took silver and Denmark bronze after results that remained close until the end of two days of Grand Prix for the team title staged once every four years and this year at the magnificently prepared Aachen that hosts the immensely Festival of Champions regarded as the most competitive horse show in the world.
Justin Verboomen of Belgium on his 10-year-old Zonik Plus who emerged as a superstar combination at this same show grounds a year ago, was the highest placed individual on ??? and a possible successor to Britain’s Charlotte “Lottie” on Glamourdale, the individual world champion from 2022.
The top six teams that will earn a start at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics were: 1. Germany 235.063; 2. Great Britain 231.445; 3. Denmark 239.426; 4. Belgium 233.044; 5. Netherlands 221.428; 6. Sweden 216.552.
The USA placed 8th on210.621 with Cabada 9th on 210.559. However, the USA as the host nation is already qualified for the Olympics.
Top results showed: Germany, Isabell Werth on Wendy de Fontaine on 79.876%; Katharina Hemmer on Denoix PCH 79.224% and Frederic Wandres on Bluetooth OLD 75.963%; Great Britain, Charlotte “Lottie” Fry on Glamourdale 80.311% and Carl Hester on Fame 77.314%; Denmark, Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour on Mount St. John Freestyle a personal best 82.376%; Belgium’s Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus 80.885% and Marieke van der Putten of the Netherlands on Zantana RS2 OLD 77.764%.
This was the 16th time the event has been staged since the first one in 1966 with 13 victories by Germany and one each by Russia, the Netherlands and Denmark.
The top 30 move on to the Grand Prix Special that includes Christian Simonson on Fleau de Baian.Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu of Canada on Jaccardo and Julio Mendoza Loor of Ecuador on Jewel’s Goldstrike.
More to come
Full results are available at:
For teams HERE
Individual scores: HERE
