Junior Alix Von Borries is a Double Winner at 2024 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage

German Alix von Borries became a double winner in the junior riders division at the 2024 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage on 27 - 31 March 2024.  The newcomer to international dressage sport claimed victory in two tests and placed second in the freestyle. 

The junior division in the outdoor season opener in Aachen had a packed field of 22 riders from 8 different nations. 

The 17-year old Alix von Borries only made her international show debut four months ago at the CDI Aachen indoor at the start of December 2023 and gained more miles in February at the CDI Lier in Belgium. The Festival 4 Dressage was only her third international outing but she made this one count.

Aboard Gaby Heye-Hammerlage's 9-year old Hanoverian mare Feingefühl (by Furstenball x Farewell III), von Borries won the team championship test with 71.919% and left Belgian Anna Peeters on Harlekin (by Chinook x Don Gregory) behind her. In the individual test she topped the board with  72.304% and had Danish Josephine Gert Nielsen on the 9-year old Hanoverian Bravio Bianco (by Belantis x de Niro) in her track. In the freestyle, Dutch Yasmin Westerink cut her off and claimed victory with Amphitryon (by Ampere x Rosario) on 75.525%, while Alix was second with only a fraction less (75.325%).

"Feingefühl felt very good in all three tests," von Borries told Eurodressage. "It is so much fun riding her and having the opportunity to ride in Aachen in the Stadium is amazing." Alix is thrilled that her horse is on a winning wave after also claiming the Kur victory in Lier. "Showing three good tests again after Lier is amazing!! We developed so much. We did not expect to win so it is very special for me."

Von Borries started her national show career in 2016 on pony Pinocchio (by Pan Tau B x Derano Gold) and two years later also got Morgenstern's Devina (by Don't Worry x Champion de Luxe) to ride. In 2020 she already moved on to horses and got Ballantine's Finest (by Belissimo M x Davignon) for the children division. In 2022 she briefly showed Dante ST (by Jazz x Don Schufro) before Feingefühl arrived in the barn. 

Trained by Stefanie Wittmann, Alix took over the ride on the mare one year ago from junior Matilda Tietje. Feingefühl is a highly decorated mare in Germany who was the reserve champion at the 2018 Hanoverian Elite Mare Show. Under Sandra Kötter she won the 2018 Hanoverian and Bundeschampion as a 3-year old and was 8th and 7th at the 2020 and 2021 Bundeschampionate.  Von Borries is the one who took her on the CDI stage and she has now recorded three victories out of eight CDI starts. 

When asked what her goals for the season are, Von Borries does not name the traditional Preis der Besten or coveted European Junior Riders Championships as target. "My plan with Feingefühl is to have a lot of fun and (for her) to stay healthy," she said. "We try our best at every competition and I am looking forward to compete with her again."

- Text and Photos © Eurodressage - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS 

Eurodressage's Astrid Appels was on the scene and took photos of most riders competing in Aachen. if you are interested in ordering photos, send us an email with the name of the rider/horse you are interested in. NO use of photos without paying.

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