Justin Verboomen and his uber-talented stallion Zonik Plus are back at the top of the world rankings after their most recent success, leading Team Belgium to Nations Cup victory on home soil in Lier last month. Verboomen now leads the athlete rankings on 2,026 points at the expense of former world number one Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (DEN) on 2,018, with Charlotte (Lottie) Fry (GBR) also down a place to third on 1,971.

Photo – Justin Verboomen and the stallion Zonik Plus have each returned to their world number one slots in the FEI Dressage Rankings. (© FEI/Leanjo de Koster)

The separate horse rankings mirror those for the athletes, both in standings and points, with Zonik Plus back out in front (up from third), followed by Mount St John Freestyle (Laudrup-Dufour) and Glamourdale (Lottie Fry). Isabell Werth (GER), who remains fourth in the athlete rankings while her mare Wendy de la Fontaine similarly stays fourth in the horses, has also partnered Viva Gold OLD at just three international shows for six tests and five wins to see the 10-year-old stallion leap up from 111th to sixth.

Dominating

Verboomen and Zonik Plus had dominated the rankings since claiming historic double individual gold at the FEI Dressage European Championship in Crozet (FRA) last August, a first for Belgium, which shot them up into pole position in the rankings, but they were relegated by Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle at the end of March. After a planned break from competition for the 10-year-old stallion at the start of the year, he and Verboomen are back in the limelight after just three shows and a 100% strike rate this season.

“Of course, it is wonderful to be world number one again. It is a great recognition of the work that has been done, but it is not my main goal. For me, the most important thing is that my horse feels well, remains happy in his work, and wants to keep learning”, Verboomen says of his young horse.

“Zonik still has enormous room for improvement. I feel that we have not yet shown everything he is capable of. I hope we can continue to build together, step by step, and show even better things in the future.”

Beyond the individual results, the 38-year-old athlete also emphasises the importance of the team that works with him every day. He is particularly grateful for the support of those close to him, especially his sister Clarisse, who accompanies him as his groom.

“A place as world number one is never achieved alone. I am fortunate to be very well surrounded. My sister plays an essential role with Zonik, and all of this contributes to our results.”

Rewriting the Record Books

The pair keep rewriting the record books, not just for Belgium but for Dressage globally, with their tests always a picture of harmony and lightness. Verboomen bought Zonik as a two-year-old colt and they have been inseparable ever since, and Verboomen intends that it will remain that way as he has turned down multi-million euro offers for the stallion. They have won 20 of their 29 FEI starts, and have only been outside the top three twice in their stellar international career.

Verboomen was declared the Peden Bloodstock FEI best athlete of 2025 at the FEI Awards in Hong Kong, China (HKG), the first Belgian across any discipline to win this accolade. The combination also topped the FEI Dressage World Cup™ Western European League 2025/2026, but with this year’s FEI Dressage World Championship and qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games in mind, the decision was made not to travel to the Final in Texas (USA). Zonik will now enjoy another break from competition as Verboomen plans a calm and progressive preparation for the Championship in Aachen (GER), the iconic venue where the pair first came to global attention when winning both the Grand Prix Special and the Freestyle last July.

Quick links:

Full FEI Dressage World Ranking – Athletes

Full Dressage World Ranking – Horses

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.