Belgian Justin Verboomen and German Semmieke Rothenberger became the winners of the 4* and 3* Grand Prix tests held at the 2025 CDI Lier in Belgium on 28 February - 2 March 2024.
Battle of the Black Horses
Verboomen continued his stellar ascent to the highest echelons of international dressage sport by claiming the victory i the 4* Grand Prix class on Friday 28 February. Aboard the Portuguese bred Hanoverian black licensed stallion Zonik Plus (by Zonik x Hohenstein) he posted a winning 75.761%.
“I am really very proud of my horse, he gave me a very good feeling. Compared to Mechelen, he was even nicer to ride, he was even more concentrated on me,” Justin praised the nine-year-old stallion. “Zonik Plus is always so cheerful, he always wants to do his best. He really is such a pleasure horse to deal with.”
Justin Verboomen bought the stallion as a two-year-old from the breeder. “The first time I saw him as a two-year-old I thought 'oh my god, this horse is from another planet.' I really didn't understand why the breeder wanted to sell him, so I very quickly shook his hand at the time,” Justin laughs. “I really had a lot of trust and faith in this horse from the beginning. Zonik Plus gives me a feeling I can't explain.”
Verboomen has set the 2025 European Championships in Crozet as target.
“As a child, I dreamed of one day being able to ride at this level. But since two years I think a little differently about that. As long as I can do this, that's very nice, but when it's no longer the case, that's not the end of the world. I am enjoying it now and I really hope to be able to do this with Zonik Plus for a very long time. But nothing in life is certain. For this year, the European Championships are the goal.” First, we get to enjoy this combination again tomorrow in the freestyle.
In the 4* Grand Prix Justin narrowly beat Polish Sandra Sysojeva on the black Oldenburg mare Maxima Bella (by Millennium x Christ), who started her 2025 show campaign three weeks ago by presenting the mare at the Gestut Sprehe stallion show in Germany. After that she flew her horse to Doha, Qatar, to score a double victory at the invitational CDI and from there went straight to the CDI Lier with her rising 9-year old mare to post a personal best of 75.413% in the 4* Grand Prix for a second place.
On Sundau 2 March Verboomen went on to win the Kur to Music with 81.420%, while Sysojeva was second with 80.570%
Rothenberger Scores a Double on Farrington
Semmieke Rothenberger scored a double win in the 3* tour at the CDI Lier aboard the KWPN bred Farrington, whose international career took flight under Belgian Nico Nyssen in the Under 25 division before selling to Semmieke.
“Super super happy!” said Semmieke Rothenberger enthusiastically afterwards. “Last year I was already here with Flanell and was hugely impressed with this competition. The conditions are great, so this year I thought, 'I'll bring Ferri'. He felt completely at home in the main ring. You really have the feeling of a big competition here, and he loves that. The more spectators, flowers and lights, the more he steals the show!”
It was the first international Grand Prix victory for Semmieke and Farrington, and only their third senior Grand Prix ever on this horse. “This was our first competition of the year and a wonderful way to start the season. I really had a super good feeling. Of course there are always things that could be better, but it's almost crazy to say that when you win with such a percentage.” About her future with Farrington, she is clear: “I really feel like this horse has no limit. He has so much potential, and if he feels good, then the possibilities are endless.”
Rothenberger went on to win the Kur to Music with a massive score of 79.235%.
Photos © Digishots
Related Link
Scores: 2025 CDI Lier