A team result with an average (!) score of 80,75% per counting test: with that overwhelming number of points, the all-British team consisting entirely of KWPN (Dutch Warmblood) horses secured the gold at the European Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck this afternoon. The team, consisting of Charlotte Dujardin with Imhotep, Glamourdale with Charlotte Fry, Fame with Carl Hester, and Classic Briolinca with Gareth Hughes, convinced on all fronts. The KWPN stallion Indian Rock was the best Dutch combination, together with Emmelie Scholtens.

Imhotep (by Everdale) achieved the second-highest position in the field with Charlotte Dujardin, scoring 82.44%. The gelding, bred from Della d'Ottie stb-ext prest by Vivaldi (breeder T. Huizing from Donderen), is only ten years old but performed as if he has been competing for many years. "This was the best he could do now. It all felt effortless, and from our training at home, I know there is much more to come in the future," said an emotional Dujardin. Dujardin finished second behind the German home favourite Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with TSF Talera BB, who was bred from the recently deceased KWPN-approved stallion Easy Game.

Glamourdale had a stallion show vibe
Leading world champion Glamourdale (Lord Leatherdale out of Thuja stb pref prest by Negro, breeder J.W. Rodenburg from Ouderkerk aan den IJssel) also delivered a world-class performance but seemed somewhat distracted at times, particularly in the final test, resulting in a third-place finish with a score of 81.25%. "He had a bit of a stallion show vibe today," smiled Charlotte Fry afterwards, looking forward to the Grand Prix Special which is a test that suits the stallion well. Her British colleague Carl Hester skilfully and harmoniously guided Fame (Bordeaux out of Bonaventura ster prest sport-dres by Rhodium, breeders V.O.F. G. & M. Gerritsen from Leerdam) through the test, earning a score of 78.54%. Classic Briolinca (Trento B out of Trolinca stb prest by Royal Dance, breeders Gebr. van der Steen from Den Dungen) also presented a harmonious picture under Hester's student Gareth Hughes, achieving a beautiful 74.56%, which was the dropped score for the team.

Impressive performance by Indian Rock
Emmelie Scholtens and the KWPN stallion Indian Rock (Apache out of Crisjena keur pref prest IBOP-dres by Vivaldi, breeder J. de Bruijn from Schelluinen) finished as the best Dutch combination in thirteenth place. The stallion impressed with beautiful extensions and continues to show great potential in piaffe and passage work. Marlies van Baalen rode Habibi DVB (Don Schufro out of Davina DVB elite pref prest IBOP-dres sport-dres PROK by Johnson bred by Dressuurstal van Baalen) to twentieth place, presenting a forward show in the test. Team Netherlands debutant Devande Dijkstra skillfully guided Hero (Johnson out of Alanda stb by OO Seven, breeder J.L. van de Moosdijk from Someren) flawless through the test and also qualified for tomorrow's Grand Prix Special.