Isabell Werth Wins Gold at 2026 German Dressage Championships

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2026 German Dressage Championships

-- FN press release, edited by Eurodressage with its observations from the Grand Prix

Isabell Werth won the gold medal at the German Dressage Championships in Balve on Saturday noon 6 June 2026, adding a 19th gold medal to her tally in her collection of 43 (!) medals at the German Nationals. The medal deciding class was the Grand Prix Special after a warm-up round in the Grand Prix. The silver was for Frederic Wandres and bronze went to shooting star Charlott-Maria Schürmann.

Easy Win

When Isabell Werth rode Bolette Wandt and Madeleine Winter-Schulze's Danish warmblood mare (Queenparks) Wendy (by Sezuan x Soprano) into the arena as the last competitor in the Special, She already had gold in the bag. With the younger, 10-year old Oldenburg stallion Viva Gold (by Vivaldi x For Romance) she had scored 77,824% which was the best result so far in a field of 17 pairs.

In the Grand Prix the talented liver chestnut had shown good overtrack in the trot extensions, much reach in the half passes (although they were a bit uneven in the rhythm) and a light footed passage, but there were issues in the changes and the self carriage, regularity in the rhythm and balance in the pi-pa are not yet fully established. Overall the rider had to work hard to pilot the inexperienced stallion through the test and her hand aids were not really subtle with a lot of opening of the mouth. In the Grand Prix they scored 76.520%. The all German judges panel (Ebert , Eisenhardt, Lehrmann, Danzberg, R. Richenhagen) loved their performance in the Special even more and rewarded it with 77,824%.

The ride that counted for the medal though was Werth's turn on Wendy, an experienced Grand Prix horse and Olympic team gold medal winner, who showed much maturity and stability in the test. The rider had to work far less on the black mare and was able to present a more harmonious picture. The zig zag was very solid, the ones went smoothly, the pirouettes could have a bit more bending but were small. They were spot on in the rhythm on the final centerline, but Wendy got crooked to the right in the final passage and end halt. Overall the mare still needs to move more without leaning into the curb. They won the Grand Prix with 81.240% and upped the ante in the medal-deciding Special, which they won with 81.510%

Werth was particularly pleased with her progress with Wendy. "We're becoming more and more relaxed, more calm, and can achieve so much more with that than with control. Our approach over the past few weeks has proven successful. The atmosphere was tense today, but we found our rhythm more and more during the test. Lately, I've been trying to control her more during the flying changes, but I've noticed that this only makes us more tense. More composure will help us progress."

Werth will compete in the freestyle with Viva Gold OLD, performing her Neil Diamond routine. Wendy will be spared as she wants to maintain the calm and collected approach the pair has developed over the past few weeks.

Silver for Wandres

Frederic Wandres and the 16-year old Oldenburg gelding Bluetooth (by Bordeaux x Samarant) had the third highest score in the class, 77.686%, and got the silver.

Wandres and the Russian owned gelding had started off strongly in Balve with a Grand Prix test that showed good energy in the trot extension, a well regulated extended walk, secure two tempi changes and zig zag. In the ones the rider swung heavily in the saddle and the pirouettes were a little imperfect with a big onset in the left one and double beats behind in the right on. They were second in the Grand Prix with 76.560%.

In the Special the pair was able to improve that score to 77.686% to collect his eight medal in his career. Last year he also got silver.

"In today's field, he's one of the older horses. Yet he's very consistent, and I can always get the best out of him. He was fresher today than in the Grand Prix, and despite a small mistake in the one-tempi changes, I'm very satisfied. It was a very energetic and good round," said a delighted Frederic.

Bronze for Shooting Stars Schürmann and Dante's Pearl OLD

In the absence of Ingrid Klimke/Vayron and Katharina Hemmer/Denoix, the field was wide open for shooting stars Charlott Maria Schürmann and the 11-year old Oldenburg mare Dante's Pearl (by Dante Weltino x San Amour) to move on the podium for bronze.

Charlott Maria Schürmann on Dante's Pearl

In the Grand Prix the mare showed trot extensions with a lot of freedom of shoulder in front, but good overtrack. There was much crossing and ground cover in the half passes, but the one to the right was smoother than to the left. The rein back was not on the aids. The passage could have been a bit more collected but the piaffes were on the spot. In the transitions the mare needs to gain more strength for a better rhythm. Overall Dante's Pearl opened the mouth and showed the tongue on the right side at times, which proves that the connection with the bit is not yet as light and even on both reins. The two's were big and uphill, the left pirouette was lovely. She swayed in the final passage on the centerline but overall it was a very promising test of a high class horse. Their Grand Prix score was 76.520%for third place.

In the Special they got 76.431% for bronze.

“Dante’s Pearl is an absolute gift," said a thrilled Schürmann, who has launched herself as a clear contender for a team spot for this summer's World Championships. "I enjoy every minute with her because she’s my once-in-a-lifetime horse. I’m incredibly proud of her development. We mature from competition to competition, and I’m so happy that we’ve been on this journey together for five years." Dante's Pearl is owned by the Swiss Scheufele family, the owners of the jewellery brand Chopard. They purchased the horse in the PSI Auction.

On Sunday, Schurmann will ride her freestyle for the first time in Balve with “Year of the Fire Horse" as theme.