03 Jul Germany Dominates FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ Grand Prix at the Covalliero Dressage Days
(Hagen a.T.W.) The FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season continued in Germany today as Hagen hosted its second Nations Cup, eleven years after staging the inaugural edition in 2015. Once again, the home nation proved dominant, securing victory on 230.834 points. Behind Germany, the battle for the remaining podium places was much closer, with Spain taking second on 212.892, ahead of the United States in third on 210.957.
Six teams contested the Nations Cup presented by Meggle Group GmbH – Austria, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Sweden and the United States – while Finland was represented by two individual riders, ensuring strong international competition. Germany arrived in Hagen as the clear favourite, leading the FEI Dressage Nations Cup standings after three of the season’s five legs. Yet while valuable series points were on offer, the main focus for everyone was the battle for places on Germany’s squad for the FEI Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026.
Germany’s team combined youth and experience. Former U25 European Champions at this very venue in 2021, Semmieke Rothenberger with Farrington and Raphael Netz with Great Escape Camelot, were joined by Olympic team gold medallists Frederic Wandres aboard Bluetooth OLD and Isabell Werth with Wendy de Fontaine.
Flashbacks for Netz and Rothenberger
Raphael Netz and his Dutch Warmblood gelding Great Escape Camelot were first into the arena for Germany, earning 73.696% from the ground jury. Returning to Hagen brought back special memories for the 26-year-old rider. “I personally had quite a few flashbacks coming here and riding into this arena, especially being here with Semmieke again because we were teammates at the European Championships a few years ago. Now we’re back together on a senior Nations Cup team. I think it’s a lovely story that we competed together as young riders and now we’re representing Germany together again.”
For Semmieke Rothenberger and the 16-year-old Dutch Warmblood Farrington, it was only their second Nations Cup appearance following their debut in Lier a few weeks ago. A costly mistake in the one-tempi changes prevented the pair from matching their Grand Prix score from Belgium, and they finished on 71.935%.
Despite the error, Rothenberger was delighted with her horse: ”He already felt incredibly confident and relaxed in the warm-up and really thrived in the atmosphere. Being selected for the Nations Cup felt like Christmas and my birthday all rolled into one. Growing up, I always loved listening to my parents’ stories about the Olympic Games, and now to be on a team with Isabell and the other experienced riders is a huge honour. I’m incredibly grateful to Monica Theodorescu for putting her trust in me.”
Model of consistency
Third to go for Germany, Frederic Wandres and his long-time partner Bluetooth OLD produced another characteristically reliable performance. The 16-year-old Bordeaux gelding scored 76.087%, impressing particularly in the piaffe-passage tour despite a mistake in the two-tempi changes. Wandres summed up the test: ”Bluetooth has become a very reliable team horse. He’s incredibly consistent and keeps delivering strong, solid scores. At home we’ve been working on a few details, particularly the halts, the piaffe work and the pirouettes, and I was really pleased to see those improvements today.
Unfortunately, we had a mistake in the two-tempi changes. Of course, that can happen, but perhaps it was a bit of a wake-up call. If this is the last competition before the team for Aachen is selected, it’s actually not a bad time for it to happen. It reminds you that you can never take a clean test for granted, no matter how experienced your horse is. Aside from that, we produced another strong, consistent performance and a very solid score, so overall I’m really happy.”
Werth and Wendy delivered
All eyes then turned to Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine, the penultimate combination of the day. The nine-time World Champion once again demonstrated why she remains one of the sport’s greatest athletes, producing the winning test of the competition with 81.051%, highlighted by numerous scores of nine and ten from the judges.
“I was really happy with Wendy today. It’s always a little more challenging when you have to wait all day and compete in the evening, but she stayed focused and concentrated throughout the test. Of course, we had a couple of unnecessary mistakes in the two-tempi changes, but overall there were so many positives.
I was especially pleased with the piaffe-passage work, as always, and the walk tour was very relaxed. The pirouettes felt good, the one-tempi changes were very clean, and I was particularly happy with the transitions into and out of piaffe and passage. Throughout the test I could really sit, wait, enjoy the ride and enjoy the competition. That made me very happy.”
Werth, Wandres and Netz finished first, second and third individually to secure an emphatic team victory for Germany. Finnish individual rider Henri Ruoste and Tiffanys Diamond placed fourth on 72.783%, ahead of Rothenberger in fifth.
Spain’s leading performances came from José Antonio Garcia Mena and Gladiador Do Lis, who finished sixth, while Severo Jurado Lopez and Flaconi W placed seventh. Jordan LaPlaca recorded a personal best aboard Gold Play in eighth, helping the United States secure the bronze medal. Teammate Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian rounded out the top nine.
Nice surprise for Spain
Spain’s runner-up finish exceeded the expectations of Chef d’Equipe Rien van der Schaft. “I’m very happy, and perhaps a little surprised, that we finished second today. Not because we didn’t work hard for it — we certainly did — but it’s always rewarding when everything comes together and things go your way. In Spain, I’m trying to establish a system similar to the one Germany has. It’s not just about developing riders at the highest level; it’s about building a strong foundation throughout the entire system. Everyone knows that dressage is evolving, and I believe we’re moving in the right direction.”
With today’s victory, Germany extended its lead at the top of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings to an unassailable advantage. The series now moves on to its final leg in Falsterbo (SWE) from 8–12 July.
Photos © Stefan Lafrentz