Germany clinched their 25th FEI Dressage European Championship title today.
Great Britain took silver and Denmark won bronze.
In the history of 29 European Dressage Championships, only four of them have not been won by Germany.
Its team this time was Dorothee Schneider (Faustus), Isabell Werth (Weihegold OLD) and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (TSF Dalera BB) — the trio of riders who netted Olympic team gold for Germany in Tokyo last month — plus Helen Langehanenberg (Annabelle), who travelled to Japan as reserve.
Team gold medallists: Germany. Credit: FEI/Liz Gregg
Only Jessica rode her Olympic horse, and she posted the biggest mark in today’s Grand Prix to secure gold.
Britain led overnight following two strong performances from Lottie Fry (Everdale) and Gareth Hughes (Sintano van Hof Olympia).
Carl Hester and En Vogue were first into the ring for the team today and scored 74.845, followed by Charlotte Dujardin and Gio who impressed for 79.829.
‘A huge pleasure’
Carl Hester said team silver is “a huge pleasure for all of us. Last night Charlotte did talk about the gold and hopefully it will happen again one day, but looking at the top you can see how experience carries the horses.
“Our team of horses at this age — we are thinking of the World Games in 2022 and Paris [Olympics in 2024]. We are just feeling so lucky to be winning medals.”
Carl said his test aboard En Vogue was “brilliant in parts and disappointing in others”.
“Last night, [the scoreboard] actually looked quite exciting. We did think it would be good to have a really good shot at it; it doesn’t always work like that and it didn’t work like that today, but he’s come right back from the Games where he did three amazing tests with no experience.
“Some of the things he does are so brilliant that he makes himself a bit nervous,” added Carl of the 12-year-old gelding.
“I didn’t deserve more points, there were too many mistakes, and I’m just disappointed I made mistakes because they weren’t huge mistakes.
“What [the horse has] done in one year — he’d never have gone into that arena a year ago.”
Germany finished on a final tally of 238.944 and Britain’s closing score was 232.345, while Denmark finished close behind on 231.165.
The contest for individual medals kicks off tomorrow with the Grand Prix Special.
Main photo: the silver medal-winning British team. Credit: FEI/Liz Gregg
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