Fifth gold for Jessica von Bredow-Werndl At The Grand Prix Freestyle FEI Dressage European Championships

It Was The Perfect Ride For Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

 "I was very emotional at the end of the freestyle," admitted Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, "but it was the perfect ride for my feeling. I've got higher scores before, but I've never had the feeling of perfection like that." The fifth gold with TSF Dalera BB - won in the Grand Prix Freestyle at the FEI Dressage European Championships - within just two months topped off the most successful season so far for the 35-year-old dressage rider from Aubenhausen in Bavaria.

Today She Was Hot

With a score of 91.02 percent, the double Olympic gold medallist came out on top of the competition and was enthusiastically celebrated by the audience in the sold-out stadium at Hof Kasselmann. Nothing had weighed her down, the European Champion let it be known, because Dalera had learned so much: "Yesterday we had a test-free day, I just jogged with her a bit. Today she was hot - really - though never too much, never too little, it was perfect." The mare has also learnt to " litter" during the test. "I'm not afraid of that anymore, I know she can do it now yes."

He Went In There And Wanted To Get Going

Cathrine Dufour also looked radiant with happiness. The 29-year-old won her first European Championship silver medal with the eleven-year-old Westphalian gelding Bohemian (88.43 percent). Dufour admitted that she had not really expected this. "It has actually become a little better with each passing day," said the Dane, "today I had the feeling that he had really arrived in the stadium and felt totally at ease. He went in there and wanted to get going."

The Best News Is Bella Rose Is Doing Well

Britain's Charlotte Dujardin won bronze with her chestnut gelding Gio. The 36-year-old two-time Olympic champion (2012 and 2016) thus improved on her performance in the Grand Prix Special decision and repeated her success at the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Isabell Werth (Rheinberg) and her 16-year-old Weihegold OLD collected one or two too many faults and finished the European Championships in fourth place with a score of 84.89 percent. The most successful German dressage rider, however, was at peace with herself and the world: "There wasn't more in it today and it wasn't down to the horse." For Werth, one of the best news is that her mare Bella Rose, who was successfully operated on for colic, is doing well.

At Hof Kasselmann, 4,900 spectators were admitted and "voted with their feet" - sold out was reported by the organizers and they were happy about enthusiastic dressage fans in the stands.

Official Results FEI Dressage European Championship, Grand Prix Freestyle Individual Competition

1. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, 31 TSF Dalera BB dbay / 14y / M / Easy Game / Handryk / TRAK / 105AH62 / Béatrice A. Buerchler-Keller / 91.021%

2. Cathrine Dufour, 10 Bohemian dches / 11y / G / Bordeaux / Samarant / WESTF / 105HB71 / Abildgaard Equestrian ApS / 88.436%

3. Charlotte Dujardin, 25 Gio chest / 10y / G / Apache / Tango / KWPN / 106GY48 / Charlotte Dujardin, Renai Hart / 87.246%

For more information on the FEI Dressage European Championship Event click HERE.

(Top Photo - Jessica von Bredow-Werndl FEI Dressage European Championship 2021. Photo Credit: Stephan Lafrentz)