Europe’s best to battle it out in Ermelo
The stage is set at the National Equestrian Centre in Ermelo (NED) for the FEI Para Dressage European Championship 2025 where on the 3 – 7 September, a grand total of 20 nations and 55 combinations divided over five Grades will be at the Dutch venue to contend for the European titles.
The championship contains three separate competitions. Wednesday and Thursday will see the Individual champion crowned, then on Friday and Saturday, twelve of the Nations will step forward to contest the Team title and finally, the crowd-pleasing Grand Prix Freestyle will take place on Sunday for the best placed individuals to compete for the medals once more. Look here for the full schedule.
Ones to watch in Team Competition
The Netherlands (TeamNL) are the defending champions after claiming the gold medal in Riesenbeck, Germany in 2023. Compared to that championship they bring a completely new team consisting of Tessa Baaijens-Van De Vrie and Happy Grace (Grade III), Loes Cevaal with Happy Hero (II), Britney de Jong on Caramba N.O.P (V) and team lynchpin Rixt Van Der Horst riding the striking Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. (III). This quartet head to the competition as one of the favourites on home soil.
Britney de Jong on Caramba N.O.P (Photo: Digishots)
Contenders Denmark and Germany
In amongst the other strong team contenders are Denmark who will be represented by their Paralympic team of Katrine Kristensen on board Goerklintgaards Quarter (II), Karla Dyhm-Junge riding Miss Daisy (III), Tobias Thorning Joergensen with Jolene Hill (III) and Pia Wulff Jelstrup on Zafia (IV), a team who will be gunning for a medal after missing out at the Paris Paralympics just twelve months ago.
Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaards Quarter (Photo: Richard Juilliart)
Hot on their heels will be the German team, who bring forward three out of their four silver medallists from the 2023 Europeans in Heidemarie Dresing with Poesie 143 (II), Regine Mispelkamp with Pramwaldhof’s Bayala (V) and Melanie Wienand with Lemony’s Loverboy (III). Fourth member is Isabell Nowak on Siracusa OLD (V), newcomers to a European Championship but fresh from their squad appearance at Paris 2024.
Melanie Wienand with Lemony’s Loverboy (Photo: Digishots)
British debutants
Based on historic results Great Britain will surely be a squad to watch. They will be represented by a mix of experience and Championship first timers, with Gabriella Blake and Strong Beau (I) heading to their second Europeans and Mari Durward-Akhurst with her Paralympic bronze medallist and team GB experienced, 18-year-old Athene Lindebjerg (I) heading up the team. Joining them are Jemima Green on the 7-year-old Fantabulous (II), and Nicola Naylor who has realized some exciting scores ahead of her debut with Humberto L (IV).
Rounding up the team contenders are Belgium, Czech Republic, Spain, France, Ireland, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
Individual Promise
Crowd Favourites, Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and his European, World and Paralympic gold medallist partner King Of The Dance are the ones to beat in Grade I. Great Britain’s Gabriella Blake will try to improve on her silver medal behind Snikus at the 2023 Europeans, but will need to beat Italy’s Sara Morganti and her Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2020 medal winning mount, Mariebelle.
Rihards Snikus with King Of The Dance (Photo: Liz Gregg)
Grade II will see a clash between Denmark’s Kristensen and former Rio Paralympic gold medallist, Norway’s Ann Cathrin Lübbe who will ride her new Championship mount, the promising Lucelli.
Grade III sees Paralympic silver medallist Van Der Horst aiming for the highest spot of the rostrum and expecting opposition from Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen and Ireland’s Katie Reilly. She will be competing in her first Championship on Keystone Dawn Chorus, a mare who had previous Paralympic success under Great Britain’s Natasha Baker and will certainly be one to watch.
Grade IV is set for a high number of entrants with 13 riders competing for the Individual title. France has its best hopes of an individual medal here, fielding two competitors in the Grade with Paralympic teammates Vladimir Vinchon and Alexia Pittier on board Pegase Mayenne and Sultan 768, respectively.
The omission of longterm names from Grade V such as Great Britain’s Sophie Wells, the Netherlands’ Frank Hosmer and Belgium’s Michelle George, leaves the door wide open for the Grade V medals. Notable challengers are the Netherlands’ Britney De Jong with Caramba N.O.P who have been on fine form this year, and German team stalwart Mispelkamp with Championship newcomer Pramwaldhof’s Bayala.
Royal connections
With this year’s competition missing some notable historical champions across the Grades, we are certain to see some new victors being crowned at what promises to be an unforgettable Championship in an incredible and prestigious location known not only for its impeccable equine facilities but also its royal connections and international status. Join us for what is set to be an great week of sport.
Source FEI.org
The Para Dressage European Championships can be followed live via our media partner Clipmyhorse.tv
Experience the European Championships with live audio commentary – Gazeti
During the European Para-Dressage Championships, the competitions can be followed with live audio commentary via knhs, provided by the Gazeti platform. Monique Peutz (international (para) judge), Frank Hosmar (Paralympic rider and instructor), Nicole den Dulk (former Paralympic rider) and Robin Wubben (para watcher) will provide you with expert commentary and background information. As a spectator, all you need to bring with you is your mobile phone and earphones/plugs, and click on knhs to follow everything from the stands!