Germany Seeks Series Three-peat as 2025 FEI Nations Cup Starts in Wellington

-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion)  - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media

There has been a common theme for Germany over the course of the last two seasons of the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™—both of which ended with season titles for the powerhouse nation: Each season has started with a victory in Wellington. 

The 2025 season kicks off Thursday at Wellington's Global Dressage Festival, which could be considered a home away from home for the German Dressage squad. Germany will be among four nations looking to start their seasons strongly in the Grand Prix test. 

All Horses Pass Vet Inspection

The horse inspection took place on Wednesday 19 February 2025 with all horses - young and old, fit or a bit stiff or tender - passing through with flying colours. It was easy breezing in balmy weather as Florida has been heating up to 29 ° C today.

After the horse inspection the five teams walked to the Derby field for the annual team photo with the flags. 

Germany Going for Fifth Consecutive Wellington Win

But it will be a tall order for Australia, Canada, Sweden and the home nation United States to dethrone the two-time defending series champions, as their reign over Wellington has been even lengthier. Germany has won this event in each of the last four years.

Michael Klimke has been a pillar of Germany's Wellington squad, contributing to all four victories between 2021 and 2024, when he also doubled as the team's chef d'equipe. He returns in 2025, this time with the 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding Fado, an 11-year old Oldenburg by Fairytale x Sir Donnerhall which sponsor Harmony Sport Horses bought at the 2017 PSI auction for him. With just eight international starts, the beautiful black gelding will make his third start at Grand Prix in his team debut.  He said; "Yes, we won—not one time. We've won four times in a row. For me, it's an honour to be here and all of these years." 

Evelyn Eger, Felicitas Hendricks, and Lars Ligus complete the German team. The trio is a group brimming with young talent, as all three athletes are under the age of 30. Despite being the youngest of the group, Hendricks, 24, boasts the best recent form with her longtime partner, 14-year-old Drombusch OLD (by Destano x Dimaggio) . The duo posted the leading score for Germany in last year's Wellington leg, and they kicked off the 2025 season with an World Cup™ victory in January at the same venue.

"Every time, he just leaves his heart in the ring. I can tell he's very happy to be back," said Felicitas Hendricks 

Family ties

The United States finished second in last year's season opener, with Kevin Kohmann (USA) coming closest to Hendrick's top score; he finished second individually in the Grand Prix test aboard his top mount, 16-year old Hanoverian Dünensee (by Dancier x Davignon). Kohmann is one of three riders from last year's U.S. squad that return in 2025, as Erin Nichols and Jennifer Williams will also be back, but the notable addition is Devon Kane, Kohmann's wife. While Kohmann focuses on pursuing the     World Cup Final with Duenensee, he will ride Kane's former mount in the Nations Cup—the 14-year-old KWPN mare Guilietta (by Bordeaux), with whom he partnered in December. 

Sweden and Canada are back to compete again in 2025 after finishing third and fourth, respectively, last year, while Australia is the newest addition to the lineup for the one-test competition. Teams will be classified based on their collective scores from the Grand Prix: Each team's top three scores are added up for a total score, with the winning team tallying the highest percentage. Teams may bring forward four athletes, with the lowest score dropped from the team total, but if a team brings forward three athletes, there is no drop score.

Five Legs

In 2025, five legs make up the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season, which will span from Wellington to Europe, with the remaining legs taking place at Compiegne (FRA), Lier (BEL), Rotterdam (NED), and Falsterbo (SWE). Teams will earn points based on their placings at each event that will determine the series champion, with a maximum of four events to count toward the standings. 

Check out my selection of moments that caught my eye in the image gallery below. 

- Text © Eurodressage - Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media

If interested in photos, please send me an email. Florida rates apply for this horse show as our colleague Sue Stickle is the official photographer.

Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDIO Wellington
Australian Team Announced for 2025 CDIO Wellington
Canada Enters Late Team for 2025 CDIO Wellington Nations Cup
Swedish Team for 2025 CDIO Wellington Nations Cup Named
German Team Named for 2025 CDIO Wellington Nations Cup
U.S. Team Named for 2025 CDIO Wellington