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Grand Prix riders Moritz Treffinger, Wim Verwimp and Nadine Plaster booked the four big tour victories at the 2025 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage on 3 - 6 April 2025. With 37 big tour riders entered for this early spring season outdoor competition, this version of "small Aachen" was a major success.
The Festival 4 Dressage is in Belgian show management, led by Josy Everars. The competition was originally held at Sentower Park in Opglabbeek in 2021 and 2022 before moving to Aachen. It's early spring date on the calendar has led to challenging weather conditions over the years, with snow in 2022 and rain storms in 2024. This year, however, the show was blessed with the most magical, sunny weather on all four days of the competition which kept everyone in best spirit.
First Senior Grand Prix Win for Treffinger on Fiderdance
For 21-year old Moritz Treffinger the 2025 Aachen Festival will go in the books as the first show where he scored a double victory as a senior Grand Prix rider. Even though he's still eligible to ride three more years in the Under 25 division, Treffinger got his feet wet in the pool of the big boys.
"After (winning) the Piaff Förderpreis Final Cadeau Noir got some well deserved rest. Fiderdance turned 16 this year and is in a super shape," Moritz said about his choice to ride the senior tour. Fiderdance had a longer break and rest from competitions. I decided to take the opportunity to try some CDI3* with him to get more experience at this level."
"It was our first outdoor show this year but he did it like a pro," said Moritz with a smile. "I really built up a special bond between us and that makes me really happy! I was mentally more relaxed in Aachen as in Herning. Herning was a huge show with many spectators and in Aachen we’ve been almost by ourselves which was super for the riders & horses. It was a calm atmosphere and I enjoyed it very much."
Moritz trains with Robert Conredel on a daily basis and occasionally gets help from Sebastian Heinze and Agusti Elias.
"Robert Conredel is my boss and main trainer at Bonhomme," Moritz told Eurodressage. "Whenever he has time he has an eye on me and helps me with all horses, the GP horses as well as youngsters. We do have our own system, which works out very well for me."
Lutkemeier and Weggelaar Follow
"I was super content with our two tests because I could give her the relaxation she needed during most of the test," said Fabienne. "Unfortunately some more expensive mistakes crept in but we're working on that. I have the feeling we are on the right way."
Dutch Rowena Weggelaar also made the leap into the senior ranks in 2025 and showed consistency in Aachen with her 17-year old KWPN bred Don Quichot (by United x Gribaldi). They moved from fourth place in the Grand Prix (68.087%) to third in the Special (69.447%).
"Donnie showed himself wonderfully," said Rowena. "It was our first time riding the Grand Prix Special. I couldn’t be prouder of my best buddy and dearest friend."
Career Revival for Verwimp
In the Kur tour Belgian Grand Prix rider Wim Verwimp celebrated his first, major international victory in his career. The 57-year old rider is experiencing an incredible renaissance of his career after not having competed internationally for ten years.
Wim debuted him at the CDI Ermelo in September 2024 and went to Leeuwarden, Kronenberg, and Lier before making it to Aachen, where they won the Grand Prix for Kur with 70.565% and placed third in the freestyle with 74.330%. Wim runs his own training stable in Wiekevorst, Belgium, with his daughter Jorinde and life partner, Russian born Belgian Olga Slacheva.
Laura Strobel and Sissy Max-Theurer's 14-year old Westfalian stallion Valparaiso (by Vitalis x Furst Piccolo) twice landed second place. In the Grand Prix with 70.391% and in the Kur to Music with 74.370%.
Kur Victory for Plaster
Plaster made a big impression in Aachen with her very fine riding. She and the bay mare have been a pair since 2019. At the 2020 Bundeschampionate they were 7th in the 5-year old consolation final and at the 2021 Bundeschampionate they were 27th in the 6-year old preliminary round. At the 2022 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo they finished 10th in the 7-year old consolation finals. They won the Stars of Tomorrow national circuit in Germany before finishing third in the 2024 Louisdor Cup finals. Both rider and horse have only competed in four international Grand Prix classes in their life and Aachen was their first major win.
Photos © Eurodressage
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Related Links
Scores: 2025 CDI Aachen Festival 4 Dressage
Moritz Treffinger Joins Gestut Bonhomme's Riders' Team
Moritz Treffinger Wins 2024 Piaff Forderpreis Selection Trial, Eleven Qualified for Show Circuit
Jorinde Verwimp Gets Ride on New Grand Prix Horse, Jedai de Massa
Shiva S, 2024 Louisdor Cup Third, Sold to Rider
