-- FEI press release, edited by Eurodressage - Photos © Digishots
On the first two days of competition at the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships at the KNHS headquarters in Ermelo, The Netherlands, riders Rihards Snikus, Heidemarie Dresing, Rixt Van der Horst, Louise Etzner Jakobsson, and Regine Mispelkamp picked up the individual gold medal.
Grade I: Latvia’s Snikus crowned champion once more
Retaining their Grade I individual Champion title were crowd favourites, Latvia’s Rihards Snikus and King of the Dance, posting the highest score of the day of 78.792.
The pair performed a graceful and accurate test, but ever the competitor - speaking through his sister Elene Brigman - Rihards felt there was more to improve upon for the team test, on Friday.
“Of course, Rihards is happy with first place, but he knows some little things that could be improved which we will try to get on point and even better for the next start,” Elene said of the result.
Being a seasoned campaigner with multiple World, European and Paralympic medals to his name, the 17-year-old Latvian warmblood King of the Dance knows when he is in the white boards of the arena and when he needs to perform.
“He really enjoys competing and actually being the king of the dance, he knows it’s his job and both he and Rihards are very similar in that way,” she said, to which Rihards smiles.
Making it a battle for the title was Italian world number one, Sara Morganti riding Mariebelle, finishing on a score of 77.414 to claim the silver.
“The test felt beautiful because the mare was really listening to me,” Sara said of her partner from the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. “She was attentive and really concentrating, so it was one of those tests that you hope to have in your life, where it all comes together.”
The 13-year-old Belgian warmblood gave Sara an active ride, really demonstrating to the crowds just how much trust exists between the horse and athlete. “One of the main things that made me really happy is that she was very calm, which is my main aim of the test,” Sara said of their performance.
For the second time today, bronze was claimed by Great Britain, this time Mari Durward-Akhurst took the accolade with the ever-dependable Grade I expert, Athene Lindebjerg on a score of 75.958.
The combination has really solidified their partnership in the 12 months since their bronze medal winning performance in Paris, and Mari was delighted with the horse’s test today.
“She felt amazing, it was a really good test, she was so forward. She loved it and that’s what really matters,” she said of the 18-year-old mare. “It makes it so special because she just loves every minute, as do I, but it’s just so nice that she enjoys it so much.”
Grade II: Dresing Clinches Gold
Germany’s team stalwart Heidemarie Dresing clinched the gold with a classy performance riding the 10-year-old Poesie 143 for a score of 77.267. This was the young horse’s first Championship, and Heidemarie was thrilled with their result.
Many athletes have decided to take the opportunity this year to present their younger horses and give them some much needed experience of a Championship atmosphere, Heidemarie being one of them. “I’m really aiming to build Poesie up for the future [with this experience]. I want her to be with me all the way until the Paralympic Games in Brisbane 2032,” she said of her talented equine partner.
The silver medal went to Katrine Kristensen of Denmark with her partner from the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, Goerklintgaards Quater, with the combination finishing on a score of 74.586.
“I’m so satisfied with Quater today, he really tried to stay focused in the arena and I took a very cautious approach,” Katrine said of the 17-year-old gelding. “I didn’t press him too much to give him a very good experience, as we are in here two more times this week.”
The Danish warmblood gave Katrine a fluid, relaxed test allowing her to ride into the transitions between the walk and trot movements which punctuate this A test.
“It’s the hard part of riding in this Grade because we need to have an active trot but a relaxed walk, and we have to trust that if we ask the horse for more, they also stay calm in the walk,” Katrine explained. “But today, I think I managed that balance between them.”
Katrine also announced that she is competing while 21 weeks pregnant with her second child at this event. “I could feel the baby kick as I went up the centre line, as if they were saying 'come on!',” she beamed.
Taking the bronze medal was Great Britain’s Jemima Green with the expressive and exciting Fantabulous, scoring 73.000 at the first Championship for both.
Elated with their result, Jemima was emotional when talking of their time in the arena together.
“I’m just very overwhelmed and surprised, I wasn’t expecting this at our first Championship as he’s only seven,” she smiled through the tears. “It was such a big ask of him and he really tried for me, he felt nervous, but he really worked with me. You just hope these kinds of outcomes find you, but until it really happens, you don’t want to actually realise it.”
Grade III: Van Der Horst Secures Home Side Win
Finishing up the first day was the hotly contested Grade III individual competition, which saw the home nation claim two of the three medals on offer.
“It’s always exciting to be the first one into the arena and Fonq was a little tense, but I think we did a proper test with no big mistakes so I’m very happy”, Rixt said. “I think the picture was really harmonious and he settled in, but I was also pleased with the level of activity. It’s really nice to be here on home soil and I feel a little bit of pressure with everyone expecting results after having such a good result in Paris, but it’s really nice to be here.”
Team compatriot, Tessa Baaijens-van de Vrie took the bronze medal with a score of 73.000 at what is her mare’s first ever Championship.
“I am very happy with Happy Grace,” Tessa smiled, speaking of her and J.P. Baaijens’ Dutch warmblood. “At first she was scared of all the flowers, but her trot was very nice, so she is a drama queen but a lovely one. I was particularly pleased with the walk on the long rein, we have trained for it so much and now, for the first time, she did it well and she was relaxed.”
Interrupting the Dutch duo was Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen, who took the silver medal with Jolene Hill to score 76.400. The combination performed a cohesive test.
“I’m just happy to have her back in the arena and with the level of fluency I got in the test. The transitions are our strength and going back and forward between the strides, but to be honest, I just enjoyed the moment,” he said, clearly pleased with the result.
Tobias also announced that this Championship is to be the 17-year-old mare’s final competition.
“She’s happy and I’m just going to enjoy my last competition with her, she has been with me for so many years now, and we never competed without getting a medal, so I wanted to stop at the top.”
Grade IV: Etzner Jakobsson At the Top
It was a closely fought battle for the medals on the morning of 4 September 2025. Louise Etzner Jakobsson of Sweden won her first gold medal at the age of 65, in Grade IV, earning herself the title of ‘golden grandma’, competing in front of her grandson who was at the event to see her crowned champion. Riding the extravagant Goldstrike B.J, the pair produced a soft yet expressive test to take the top mark of 72.917%.
Less than a mark behind Louise was Denmark’s Pia Wulff Jelstrup riding Zafia to a Championship personal best score of 72.222 to take the silver, and Pia was thrilled with the 11-year-old mare.
“It’s our best performance in this programme, it felt so harmonious, and she was with me the whole way round” she beamed. “We’ve had a lot of problem with her halts in the past, but all three were outstanding. We’ve been working towards this for two years and today it finally came together for us.”
Great Britain is making a habit of winning the bronze medal at this year’s Championship, with Nicola Naylor claiming the nation’s third of the competition. Riding Humberto L at their first championship together, the athlete was overjoyed with their result and first experience in the arena.
“To go in there and have a solid test where he felt happy was my goal. We really went in with that aim of enjoying our moment and I’m so pleased that’s what we got,” Nicola said of the 13-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding. “His canter work was breathtaking, the other highlight was that he stayed soft and he felt on-side, which is great for his first time in that environment.”
Grade V: Mispelkamp in Gold
In another thrilling battle for the title, it was the smallest of margins that saw Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp top the podium in the Grade V individual competition, beating the Netherlands’ Britney de Jong by just 0.025 marks, one of the closest wins that has been witnessed in recent Para Dressage Championships. The excitement was palpable and it was clear from the start that in this Grade, the podium placements are no longer a foregone conclusion.
“I’m so happy with the mare, she was concentrating so hard for me, and we were together the whole test. She gave me a really strong walk, and her canter felt so uphill and forward,” Regine said of her rising star, Bayala.
“I wanted to give her the experience of a Championship so that she can learn, but I never expected this result. I came into this competition thinking that Britney will be the European champion. But now, we are the winners! I can’t put it into words what this means, I’ll need some time to process it.”
It was down to Britney de Jong and Caramba’s final centre line to determine who would win the gold, their marks coming in throughout the test were constantly jostling the Dutch duo between first and second place. Although it wasn’t maybe the medal she had hoped for, the young rider was pleased with their performance.
“My result could have been a little bit better, but I think we rode a good test, we didn’t have any big mistakes, so I am happy with our score,” Britney said of her silver medal at her first senior European Championship, with the 18-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding.
Caramba is no stranger to a competition arena, and lit up their test with his active trot work. “His trot felt good, and the half passes were great. The simple changes are one of his best parts of the test,” said Britney.
Competing on home soil made the silver medal even more special for the 24-year-old athlete. “For the last four years we have been first reserve for the Netherlands, so this was our first really big competition, and it feels amazing to represent my country at a European Championship in the Netherlands.”
It was down to the final combination into the arena this afternoon to decide who would claim the bronze and it was Sweden’s Lena Malmström who filled the third spot, with Fabulous Fidelie’s expressive trot work propelling them onto the podium. The athlete was overjoyed with the 13-year-old chestnut mare’s test.
“This is my first ever medal at Championship level so I’m feeling great. I was so happy I just cracked [with emotion]. You build up so much expectation, but we did it! Her trot work was fantastic, maybe she was a little bit excited in the canter at times, but she was amazing,” Lena said of her Swedish Warmblood partner of six years.
Related Links
Scores: 2025 European Para Dressage Championships
Blog Report: Here We Go To Ermelo for the 2025 European Para Dressage Championships