Freestyle gold for Moritz Treffinger
Silver for Denmark's Sara Aagaard Hyrm, bronze for Felicitas Hendricks
The tears wouldn't stop flowing - tears of joy, bewilderment and gratitude - perhaps also a little exhaustion after a long week at the European Championships. He was still sitting on his winning partner Cadeau Noir shaking his head at the championship ceremony and couldn't believe what had happened: gold for Moritz Treffinger in the freestyle at the FEI European Dressage Championships at the Schafhof in Kronberg, victory in the Dreame.de Prize. Denmark's Sara Aagaard Hyrm took silver ahead of Felicitas Hendricks in bronze.
One thing in advance: Europe's best U25 riders offered super sport, provided every conceivable pinch of excitement and used the European Championship stage in a marvellous way to present their sport and wonderful horses.
"I love this horse"
"It hasn't been easy over the last few days. I didn't have the feeling that I could be sure that it would work," admitted the European freestyle champion. "I also don't really know what Cadeau is doing in the test, he just performed. It was a bit shaky today in the warm-up, we had our little problems, but he fought so hard in the freestyle. It felt like our best freestyle ever. I had the feeling that Cadeau knew exactly that these seven minutes were what mattered. He gave it his all, he was electric, relaxed, with me. I could just sit on him and enjoy. This is just a declaration of love for this horse - I love this horse!" And then they started flowing again, Moritz Treffinger's tears of gold at the European Championships. With a personal best of 80.400 per cent points, the 22-year-old celebrated the biggest success of his life so far.
"I trust him and he trusts me and I think that helped," gushed silver medallist Sara, who had already secured bronze in the individual competition with Atterupgaard's Cooper. "Cooper was incredible in there in the freestyle. The atmosphere was so great, it gave us another 'kick' - an insanely great experience!" She also set a personal best with 79.925 per cent points. "I think the canter tour was particularly good today. It was a great feeling when he really sat on his hindquarters in the pirouettes and then waited for me. I was able to give a little push forwards from the pirouettes into the series changes - it all worked really well."
The most experienced of the three medallists was the 14-year-old Drombusch, who had already won a World Cup freestyle in Wellington this year under Felicitas. "But I've never had such a good feeling as I did today," beamed the bronze medallist. "Drombusch gave everything right up to the last halt, I'm over the moon." The 25-year-old even rode the last piaffe on the final line one-handed as a 'treat' on top. She only does this when she has a really good feeling, she explains and laughs: "Christoph (Koschel, her trainer and uncle) said straight away that the one-handed piaffe was the best." It had been a very long week, but her 'Drömmel' was 'on fire'. "Well on fire!" she emphasises and laughs again.
The individual European champion Anna Schölermann naturally started the competition in a certain role as favourite. For the very first time, she rode the eleven-year-old Springborgs Guardian in the former Grönemeyer freestyle with Wansuela Suerte, Hubertus Schmidt's Olympic horse. It started well, but in the trot traversal he was confused and cantered. Anna remained wonderfully calm and rode on in her super harmonious manner. The result was 77.735 per cent and sixth place. Places four to six were incredibly close together. Last year's freestyle winner Annabella Pidgley (GBR) on Vamos Amigos came fourth with 77.970 per cent ahead of Switzerland's Tallulah Lynn Nater on Flynn FRH with 77.885 per cent.
The President of the Hessian State Parliament, Astrid Wallmann, travelled to the event especially for the U25 dressage riders' freestyle and took the opportunity to offer her congratulations during the ceremony. In addition to sashes and medals, there were also prizes of honour at the championship ceremony. European freestyle champion Moritz Treffinger received a Dreame Airstyle Pro for perfect hair styling. The prize could not have been more fitting. With a beaming face, Moritz handed the styler to his mum Santina, who was celebrating her birthday that very day!
"Ideal and beautiful!"
"The European Championships here are great. The facility is of course ideal, beautiful, also with the whole ambience. And the Germans also did well, but the others didn't ride badly either," said a delighted Prof Dr Martin Richenhagen, President of the German Equestrian Federation. "We saw fine riding from all nations and great horses. I believe we will see many of these riders here again later in the big sport with the seniors - if they find the right horses."