Nilshagen, Schürmann, Jimenez Top the Board at the 2026 CDI Tolbert

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2026 CDI Tolbert

Swedish Olympian Therese Nilshagen made her first mark at the start of the 2026 outdoor show season with her rising star Navarro by winning the packed Grand Prix class at the CDI Tolbert on 10 - 12 April 2026. She topped the board in a field of 35 competitors.

On the next two days the big tour field split into two with Charlott-Maria Schürmann moving on to win the Grand Prix Special on her young Grand Prix hope Dante's Pearl OLD, while Spanish routinier Juan Antonio Jimenez claimed victory in the Kur to Music.

Nilshagen and Navarro in the Picture

After the retirement of her top horse Dante Weltino OLD, Therese Nilshagen has been quietly working on reconnecting with the Swedish top on a new horse. Dressage Performance Center Lodbergen's 10-year old Hanoverian stallion Navarro (by Negro x San Remo) is her new ticket to success and after her international break through in Görlitz in August 2025, Tolbert is her next big milestone. The pair won the Grand Prix with 72.935%. The class was judged by Kurt Christensen, Jean-Michel Roudier, Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel, Omar Zayrik, and Janine van Twist.

"He is really starting to blossom, you could say. It feels so promising," said Nilshagen. "It went well, I have to say. We have done a good autumn and winter training with a good plan that has strengthened him. He did everything with more self-confidence and that is a very big plus. He has made great progress and we really managed to show it, which is not always easy when the horse is a bit shy like he is."

Nilshagen went on to place second in the Special with 73.574%

"It was a competition where a lot was happening around and there were a few mistakes because of that," said Theresa. "We had a miss in the pirouette in the Special and still the percentage was over 73.5%. He has such quality and so many highlights that it will be a good percentage even with these mistakes. And that this ability is there is very important to be able to get high percentages in the future."

Schürmann and Dante's Pearl Shine

After a highly successful career as a German youth team rider, young professional Charlott-Maria Schürmann is working hard at finding connection with the German Grand Prix top. Aboard Caroline Scheufeel's 11-year old Oldenburg mare Dante's Pearl (by Dante Weltino x San Amour) she might have the quality she needs to get the attention of the team trainer and selectors.

The pair made their international Grand Prix debut in February 2026 at the CDI Lier and scored 68.109% in the Grand Prix (14th) and 69.681% (2nd). They seemed to need the first test - the Grand Prix - as a warm-up round and then shine in the second test. A similar scenario happened in Tolbert, where they were fourth in the Grand Prix (68.630%) and then won the Special with a whopping 74.064%. Fifteen riders opted to compete in the Special.

"We had a few costly mistakes in the (Grand Prix) test, but it was still a solid round and an important step forward," said Schürmann. In the Special "everything came together. We were able to secure the win and with it a personal best score, which makes this result even more special. Dante’s Pearl OLD continues to impress me every single time we enter the arena. There is still plenty of routine to build, but results like today show us that we are truly on the right path. This mare is simply unbelievable and thinking about what the future might hold already gives me goosebumps."

Jimenez Has the Music

Ten riders opted to compete in the freestyle, in which Spanish multi team rider Juan Antonio Jimenez secured the win. Aboard the 12-year old Hanoverian Quatar (by Quantensprung x Laurentio) he scored 73.430% for the victory. Quarter has been Juan's competition horse since 2022 and this is the 12-year old's fifth year at international Grand Prix level.

The Madrid based Olympic team rider Jimenez edged out small tour winner Diederik van Silfhout on his rising GP horse Dante US. Van Silfhout scored 73.230% with the 10-year old Oldenburg by Dante Weltino out of Sondra (by Sir Donnerhall). Dante US is a half brother to Dutch team horse Zantana (by Zonik out of Sondra).