In a weatherly dramatic conclusion of the 2026 European Junior Riders Championships, Danish Ida Bøllingtoft Asmussen stormed to the gold medal in the Kur to Music finals on Sunday afternoon 19 July 2026.
The 2026 Children and Junior Riders Europeans wrapped up at the Equine Center Olomouc after a week of excitement competition in the U14 and U18 youth classes, hopefully sparking the ambition and perseverance of riders, parents and sponsors for the future of dressage sport.
The Junior Riders Kur to Music was the final class of the week on Sunday afternoon but the class had to be interrupted almost at the end by a impending, "thunderstormy" weather as the sky grew dark and a too strong wind blew over the show grounds.
Asmussen Rises to Gold
Denmark's first time team rider Ida Bøllingtoft Asmussen was not shaken by the conditions and after winning team and individual test silver, she upped the ante in the freestyle and finished at the top of the leaderboard for a Kur gold medal.
Judges Marlena Gruca Rucinska, Frederico Pinteus, Henning Lehrmann, Mariette Sanders-van Gansewinkel, and Christine Prip rewarded her with a personal best of 78.610% for the victory. Three judges had her first, two second.
Asmussen's partner-in-crime is the 11-year old Danish warmblood Gozzip (by Sezuan x De Noir). Asmussen, who trains with Nadja Aaboe Sloth, has only been competing the mare internationally since June 2025 and did two CDI's in 2026 in preparation of the Europeans, winning all six classes she entered in in Lier and Falsterbo. Gozzip was previously trained and shown by Susanne Barnow.
Silver Lining for Kohoutek
Her freestyle ride was particularly challenging as she made a strong start to her test when heavy rain and strong winds swept across the venue and her ride had to be interrupted. The competition got suspended as riders, officials and spectators took shelter. After a lengthy delay, Kohoutek had to ride her kur again from the beginning. Although she was unable to recreate the same feeling, particularly in the canter work, she still produced an impressive score of 78.030% for second place.
Clara rode her first Europeans this year after debuting internationally as a junior in 2024. A student of Julia Kühn, she piloted the 11-year old Oldenburg bred Dark Dancer (by Danone x Furst Romancier).
Looking back on her week, Clara stated, "Dancer felt fit and happy. He's really my dream horse."
Second Bronze for Wagner
Aboard the 10-year old Hanoverian mare Vanessa H (by Vivaldi x Le Rouge), she won team gold and individual bronze medal earlier in the week and finished her Euros with another Kur bronze medal after scoring a personal best of 76,200%. Wagner trains with Nicole Rex.
Just missing out on a medal - twice this week - was Italian Matteo Borghesi and the 13-year old KWPN bred gelding Incognito (by Desperado x Sandro Hit). A student of Dr. Ulf Möller, Borghesi was fourth in the individual test and fourth again in the freestyle with a personal best of 76.035%. Bearice Hoffrogge's student Birte Niessing was the first reserve for Germany. She ended with team gold and in the freestyle rode the 14-year old Oldenburg bred Destino (by Destano x Rohdiamant) to a fifth place with a PB of 75.795%.
Text © Eurodressage - Photos © Lukasz Kowalski
Related Links
Scores: 2026 European Children and Junior Riders Championships
Eurodressage Coverage of the European Children and Junior Riders Championships