Belgium’s Justin Verboomen and his nine-year-old stallion Zonik Plus triumphed at the European dressage Championships freestyle at Jiva Hill Stables, France, scoring a personal best of 89.96% to claim gold. This victory followed their historic win in the grand prix special, marking Belgium’s first gold in that event. Despite a minor mistake during the test, their performance was praised for its maturity and harmony, establishing Zonik as a new leader in dressage.

The competition for silver and bronze was fiercely contested, with Denmark’s Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour taking silver with 89.82% on Mount St John Freestyle, and Germany’s Isabell Werth earning bronze with 88.05% on Wendy De Fontaine. Both riders delivered technically impressive and expressive routines, with Laudrup-Dufour narrowly missing gold and Werth showcasing a powerful, harmonious test. Britain’s Becky Moody finished just outside the medals in fourth place.