Blog Report: Here We Go To Ermelo for the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships

-- Text and Photos © Silke Rottermann for Eurodressage

Here we go to Ermelo. At least that’s what I thought when I started my journey Monday morning 1 September 2025 from my home near Heidelberg to Ermelo, the national equestrian centre of The Netherlands. As the weather forecast for the week had changed daily until my departure I had a good excuse packing the usual two bags full of stuff for all eventualities and I’ll bet you anything that I’ll end up using just a fraction…

Car packed, even laptop and camera batteries fully loaded in advance, I felt well prepared tackling the 500 km drive to The Netherlands and I was curious if Ermelo indeed was as great a venue as everybody claimed who had been there for the WCYH.

I had to hold my curiosity at bay for a totally unexpected almost ten hours drive, because that’s what it took to cover the distance. The final straw came with a traffic jam after I crossed the border, covering 2 kilometers in about two hours, before I could escape to an exit for some country-roads.

Stallions first at the horse inspection: The 19-year-old
Bojengel (by Uptown x Gribaldi) of Hungary’s sole
representative Ildikó Fonyódi

I had a lovely dinner in a restaurant nearby, which recharged my batteries in the company of two para riders thanks to much laughter. After I suffered a fries-and-desert calorie-induced coma (thanks Kevin for ducking out last minute to share the huge ice-cream cup with us ladies), I prepared myself for another 14 km drive to the Bed&Breakfast - at least that was the distance an app had told me. To my utter surprise my GPS said it would be just 5 minutes. What a nice and most welcome surprise! And on top at my destination I found a fabulous one room-apartment, the cleanest I have ever seen, well equipped to the smallest detail, and with lots of charm and a very friendly owner.

"Don’t give up your hopes too soon," seemed the motto of this long day.

On Hold

Eagle eyes from the officials during the vet-check

Tuesday morning could be considered the most important part of the Europeans in a way because oh so many dreams have been shattered in the vet checks before and finished championships early, after often back breaking long traveling distances.

Before the horse inspection for Ermelo 2025 kicked off at 10h00 on the lane between the warm-up rings and the competition arena, I had a chat with a para rider who made me think and scratch my head in disapproval. Her point of view is that if a Grade 1 horse only has to contest in walk one shouldn’t be so strict in a vet check like with a horse in Grade 5 who has to show a medium level dressage test, hence is asked to show all three gaits and a certain degree of collection.

The vet check in Ermelo took place on a sandy surface and perhaps it is also worth a thought that horses can trot either way, depending on their handler’s expertise. With a few horses one couldn’t help, but get the impression that they would trot quite differently if the handler would have practiced this (more) at home. Instructive examples and lessons can easily be taken at any 5-star three-day-event, just like Burghley which also takes place this week. That's how a trot-up is done!

IA little dance by Latvia’s Paralympic champion
King of the Dance (by Kadilak x Kings)

One who certainly is a routinier in presenting horses well at vet-checks is Belgium’s paralympian Kevin van Ham. Though not selected on his team this year, he trotted up team-mate Barbara Minneci’s Stuart (by Sir Donnerhall) whom he also grooms this week, as well Austrian Julia Sciancalepore’s horse who was in need of a handler after her groom dropped out last minute before the departure to Holland.

Talk about last minute drop outs: After former Paralympic champion Pepo Puch had to withdraw before Ermelo due to an injury, also Julia’s team-mate Bernd Brugger withdrew, leaving the Corinthian Grade 1 rider in the very unusual role of lone fighter. Former I-judge Dr. Eva-Maria Bachinger came to the rescue and offered the all-round carefree package, helping with the mucking out. Belgium also saw one team mate drop out before the event, Manon Claeys called in sick.

Most of the horses were on their better or even best behavior, despite the rather windy weather which belied the sunshine in the morning hours, chilling one easily until the temperatures warmed up around lunchtime.

Athene Lindebjerg, one of the most accomplished para
horses of the past decade, for Great Britain

Britain’s drop dead gorgeous Connemara crossbred Strong Beau (by Spinway Blackthorn-Balda Beau) as well as Latvia’s King of the Dance (by Kadilak-Kings), both Grade 1 horses, showed their fresh and frisky mood by putting in a joyful buck on the way down the lane towards the officials Both passed, in the proverbial sense, with flying colours.

Three medal contenders in their respective grades were sent to the holding box though. The Paralympic gold medalists Jolene Hill (by Blue Hors Schufro Hit x Winsor) and Athene Lindebjerg (by Gribaldi x Diamant) and Heidemarie Dresing’s mare Poesie (by Fürstenball x Kostolany) suffered the same fate. All three finally passed on second attempt, much to the relief of their teams, while Spanish Grade V horse Brujo Car (by Espada Cerubin x Levante IV) was held and scheduled for re-inspection Wednesday morning at 8 am.

Familiarisation

Alessandro Benedetti from the Italian team
schooling Sara Morganti’s mare Mariebelle
(by Lissaro van de Helle x Lys de Damen)

After lunch the familiarization started and went until after 5 pm. On three Olympic sized arenas and the two in the main area horses kept coming and going. Who thought para horses are sleeping pills, even some of the usually most reliable, got wound up by the hustle bustle, keeping their riders…and trainers on their toes.

Let’s see if everybody on four hooves can hold it together when the competition kick off with chase for the individual medals over two days in all five grades.

-- Text and Photos © Silke Rottermann for Eurodressage - No Reproduction allowed

Rixt van der Horst’s stunning stallion Fonq

France’s Sultan (by Sarotti Mokka Sahne x Weltmeyer I) on the way to the vet-check

A very small Austrian team this year: Julia Sciancalepore, Dr. Eva-Maria Bachinger and Heinrich IV (by Heinrich Heine-de Niro)

Tobias Thorning Jörgensen.

Great Britain’s Jemima Green’s Fantabulous (by Foundation x Fürst Romancier) awaiting his turn

Pia Wulff Jelstrup’s DWB mare Zafia (by Blue Hors Zee Me Blue x Carentino)

Last minute preparations for Jonna Aaltonen’s SWB gelding Laxton for U (by Bocelli x Zuidenwind)

Regine Mispelkamp’s eye-catching mare Bayala (by Barroso x Self Made)

Latvia’s Rihards Snikus

Full focus: Jolene Hill (by Blue Hors Schufro Hit x Windsor)

Sweden’s Lena Malmström watching her home-bred mare Fabulous Fidelie during the vet-check

The always happy looking Westfalian gelding Escari (by Escamillo x Diamond Hit) and Norma Paoli awaiting the vet check

A horse with a great personality: Latvia’s King of the Dance

Chief steward Juliet Whately

Swedish newbie Pam Svane’s stunning mare Raja (by Rock Forever II-Reva) watching her stablemates passing the vet-check

Will these European championships turn orange?

Latvia’s Alise Muizniece hacking her Belissimo mare Baily

Who wouldn’t smile sitting on a horse like Jolene Hill?

Peeckaboo! Melanie Wienand’s Lemony’s Loverboy (by Lemony’s Nicket x Fürst Piccolo)

Another "Plus" horse, this time Figo Plus (by Fürst Romancier x Blue Hors Romancier) for Portugal

German team coach Silke Fütterer giving advice to Grade V rider Isabell Nowak and Siracusa OLD (by Sir Donnerhall-Blue Hors Don Schufro)

Julia Sciancalepore and Eva-Maria Bachinger

British Grade 1 rider Gabby Blake and Strong Beau waiting to enter the stadium for their familiarization

Danish Paralympic medalist in Grade 1, Katrine Bjelke Kristensen, and her 17-year-old DWB Goerklintgaards Quarter (by Quarterback x Blue Hors Don Schufro)

Katrine Bjelke Kristensen on Gorklintsgaards Quarter

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and the Fürstenball mare Poesie in a picture perfect frame.