
-- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion) - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media
The last time I visited the CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch was in 2018. Since then conflicting travel schedules (Wellington), the commodity of Clip My Horse, a repetitive starters field, and other reasons kept me from returning to Den Bosch. This year, however, the entry field enticed me enough to do the one-hour drive to the very conveniently located Brabanthallen.
As soon as I entered the building on Friday morning 9 AM and walked through the luxurious trade fair with its beautiful shops, great bars (coffee, cocktail, champagne, wine) and an array of restaurants (sushi!!) I remember how "Indoor Brabant" is probably the best indoor competition I have been to when it comes to lifestyle.
Wanderlust
In between breaks I wandered round and went to the warm-up arena where Isabell Werth was schooling Quantaz a few hours before her start. Werth has experimented with bits and bridles on all her horses and this time Quantaz had no pad underneath his usual noseband. I wonder if it's in preparation of the FEI implementing the measurement device which will be slid under the noseband? A pad will obstruct that. I double checked my old photos to verify this. Lottie Fry's Nespresso had a cute red ribbon in his forelock and delicate red flag not to ride too closely.
I had planned on doing extensive notes of the Grand Prix 3* and CDI-W 5* class, but after not having seen the "photo boys" since the Olympics, we had a lot of catching up to do and we became like four people sitting at the bar in a cafe, reminiscing and exchanging stories while the class was happening.
Something Is in the Air
Dressage with its open mouths, blue tongues and enhanced sugar mouths (fluff, polo, mini marshmallows, etc) are serving as catnip to Scandinavian tabloids and their harassment has one positive: it's pushing long-awaited change which in all fairness the riders and judges have been obstructing from the inside out, preferring a status quo. Change in dressage came at snail speed and now stakeholders have been put on a roller coaster with no wheels.
Brabant sports director Anky van Grunsven
While watching the classes I thought the contact with the bridle was better in several horses, but if you look at the close-ups of the photos, it's still not that great. The photos used to vilify dressage right now, can easily be taken in show jumping and eventing too, though. I don't want to step into the pitfall of whataboutism, though.
I couldn't help but wonder that it would be a mega bold move of the FEI to do a "test year" of only having a snaffle for dressage at all levels (and ideally in the greater picture also for show jumping and eventing ;) It would not interrupt world ranking points as there is a level field of play for all and it would be the perfect scientific research on a grand scale, not just 10 horses in a lab. Let's see how much the sport changes with the snaffle as only bit to rely on. Will the discolouration of the tongue be different? Will riders change their riding? Are some horses not going be suitable for the sport anymore as they are too "strong"? Of course noseband tightness will still need to be checked... just a thought..
The 3* Action
The million dollar question that keeps being asked: what will happen to the Glock horses? Minderhoud and Gal signed a non-disclosure agreement and are not allowed to talk, but the rumour is they filed an injunction and won in court. They get to keep the ride until the end of the contract (June or August 2025). Gal shows little interest in competing, but Minderhoud is certainly giving it his all and he is now Holland's number two best scoring rider of the moment.
Lottie Fry finished second on the 16-year old KWPN stallion Nespresso (by Negro x Tenerife) which she premiered in 2023. Den Bosch in 2025 is their sixth's CDI as a pair.
Thamar Zweistra rode her second big tour international on the 9-year old Hexagon's Luxuriouzz (by Johnson x San Remo). The chestnut is a sympathetic horse but it was a lot of "high knees" and short neck. A mistake in the one tempi changes was not spotted by all judges. They placed fifth with 69.022%.
Big Names in the 5*
In the 5* CDI-W Grand Prix some of the biggest names in the sport lined up, who are expected to be the players at the Europeans Championships in Crozet next summer. The class was judged by Isobel Wessels, Christine Prip, Ulrike Nivelle, Maarten Van der Heijden, and Francis Verbeek - Van Rooy.
Britain's Lottie Fry and the 14-year old Glamourdale (by Lord Leatherdale x Negro) topped the board with 75.978%. The powerful black stallion always brims with energy and willingness to work. The trot extensions could show more overtrack and lengthening of the top line, just like the extended walk. The passage work was strong, the piaffe is not his forté. There was a bobble in the canter strike off and mistakes in the one tempi changes (still scoring 5.5!!). The pirouettes and the two tempi changes were fabulous.
Belgian newbie Justin Verboomen and his 9-year old Hanoverian bred and AES/SBS licensed stallion Zonik Plus (by Zonik x Hohenstein) landed third place with 74.652% and continues breaking Belgian records. The pair excels with its lightness and ease in the piaffe-passage with flawless transitions. At times you wish to see the hinglegs come under a fraction more, but it all looked featherlight and easy. The collected walk was a highlight in its clarity. In the half pass right Zonik Plus tends to get a little passagey and for the young Grand Prix horse the tempi changes are still the working point with the changes to the right shorter than to the left. Verboomen had a low score of 71.957 and a high score of 76.522%
By the way: from Grand Prix riders you would expect them to ride from marker to marker. So many riders did the flying change at the end of the extended canter diagonal three strides too early! Do the judges properly downscore that, I wonder?
Photos © Astrid Appels - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS for social media
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Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch
Lottie Fry Wins Final Western European League World Cup Qualifier at 2025 CDI-W 's Hertogenbosch, WEL Tickets to Basel Decided