The Spanish equestrian federation has announced the team that will represent Spain at the 2025 European Dressage Championships in Crozet, France, on 26 - 31 August 2025.
After a string of selection observation events including the Spanish Championships and the CDI's in Jardy, Aachen and Deauville. After those shows the choice was not made and the CDI Macon was added last minute as final observation. Van der Schaft then visited some riders at home before making his final pick.
With Crozet not counting as an Olympic team qualifier and Spain not in the medal race, Crozet could be the turf to test new upcoming combinations. Van der Schaft picked a mix of old and new pairs for Crozet.
The Spanish team includes:
- Francisco Benitez Sanchez - Lord Platinum
- Borja Carrascosa - Frizzantino
- Ferrer-salat, Beatriz - Elegance
- Teia Hernandez Vila - Romero De Trujillo
No reserve combination was named on the official announcement page. However nominatively entered are also Carrascosa's second horse Sir Hubert, which could function as a reas well as Claudio Castilla with two horses (Hi Rico do Sobral) as well as Juan Antonio Jimenez (Quartar). Jose Antonio Garcia Mena (Gladiador do Lis) are nominatively entered but dropped out of the CDI Deauville because his horse had a fever. All of them can still be called up as reserves.
at the CDIO Aachen, flanked by team trainer Rien van der Schaft
Teia Hernandez won the 2022 WEG team but failed to get the scores since then. She made a come back this year with 69.085% at the Spanish Championships and did one (!) CDI in Deauville where they got 70.543%. Team new comer is the Dutch based Francisco Benitez Sanchez with 9-year old Lord Platinum. He got 69.447% at the Spanish Championships, 67.413% at the CDI Brno, and 69.587% in Deauville.
The biggest absentee from the team is Olympian Claudia Castilla Ruiz on Lusitano Hi Rico do Sobral. He was in the race for a spot seemingly against Ferrer-Salat and Hernandez. Claudio bested (70.404%) both Hernandez and Ferrer-Salat (70.043%) at the Spanish Championships. He got 68.891% in the 5* in Compiegne and 67.739% in the 5* in Aachen. Ferrer-Salat got 66.739% at the 5* in Aachen and 70.587% at the 3* in Macon.
Photos © Astrid Appels
Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2025 European Dressage. Championships