Hans Peter Minderhoud has announced the death of Nadine, the mare who launched his career and took him to his first Olympics in 2008.

“Last week our wonderful Nadine left us for ever at the proud age of 29,” said Hans Peter. “After a severe case of colic, we had the heartbreaking decision to have to put her to sleep.

“We are deeply saddened, but equally grateful for 21 years together full of joyous moments, successes and friendship.”

Nadine (Partout x Roemer) was bred by Gerard Vervoon in the Netherlands. She had two foals – Salvia (by Havidoff, born 1999) and Tibouchina (by Osmium, born 2000) – before she started her competitive career.

Hans Peter Minderhoud took over Nadine when she was eight, competing her under the prefix “Exquis”. The combination shot to stardom when the Netherlands took European gold at Turin in 2007 – beating Germany at a major championships for the first time in 42 years.

At the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong they were on the Dutch silver medal-winning team and finished seventh in the freestyle with 75.15%.

Nadine became a reliable team horse and was reserve for the 2009 European Championships and was on the team that won gold at the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

She was a crowd favourite from the start and packed a fiery character into a petite frame.

Hans Peter Minderhoud: “I am eternally grateful for all the unforgettable moments”

Her freestyle performance at the 2009 World Cup Finals where she scored a career-best 81.05% to place fourth stands out as a career highlight. Featuring excerpts from The Turtles’ Happy Together, their performance went viral and has so far racked up more than one million views on YouTube. In the video, the crowd can be heard breaking into applause and cheers at several points, which Nadine lapped up with aplomb.

At the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam, they were on the team that won the bronze; this was Nadine’s last competition and she retired at 16. The occasion was marked by a ceremony in Rotterdam after the freestyle. Hans Peter led Nadine out in hand to meet a sold-out Dutch crowd one last time. Hans Peter then bought Nadine from his owner A M Kies so she could stay with him in retirement.

“Nadine enjoyed the last 13 years with her friends Flirt, Undercover, Next One and Tony in the meadows of the Glock Horse Performance Centre (GHPC),” Hans Peter said.

“I want to thank the whole GHPC team for looking after Nadine day in, day out – especially Anna [Visser] who was by Nadine’s side for 20 years and was her closest friend. Nadine couldn’t have had it any better.

“It’s hard to walk past the pasture and know Nadine is no longer there. But I am eternally grateful for all the unforgettable moments that this fantastic mare gave us. We will honour her memories for ever.

“My dear Nadine, I hope you are reunited with your friends up there. Thank you for everything. You will always be in my heart and I will never forget you.”

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Olympic dressage horse Glock’s Dream Boy will be retired from competition in front of a home crowd following a superb top-level career.

The 16-year-old medal-winning stallion was a stalwart of Dutch dressage teams with rider Hans Peter Minderhoud. The pair were part of the team that won silver at the 2019 Europeans, competed on numerous Nations Cup sides, were placed at the World Cup finals, and represented their country at the 2018 World Equestrian Games, the Tokyo Olympics and the 2021 Europeans.

“Dreamy is a sensational stallion who has performed consistently for so many years and has shown top performances in so many championships,” said Hans Peter.

“I started riding him when he was seven years old and am delighted that he is now going into his well-deserved retirement in really good health.

“He can enjoy breeding, relaxed riding and being out in our pastures all day.”

Glock’s Dream Boy had success as a young horse, winning bronze as a six-year-old at the World Breeding Dressage Championships in Verden with his then owner/rider Gerdine Maree.

The late Gaston Glock secured ownership of the stallion with Tim Coomans, Jacques Maree and Stal Brinkman in 2017.

The Vivaldi son made his international grand prix debut with Hans Peter in April 2018, which would prove to be a charmed year for the stallion. The partnership made their Nations Cup team debut two months later and that September, they were on the plane to the US for the World Equestrian Games. They contested their first World Cup leg at London, winning the grand prix and finishing third in the freestyle, concluding 2018 with double victory in the World Cup leg at Mechelen.

Glock’s Dream Boy has already proven himself in the breeding ranks, having sired several licensed sones and elite mares. These include Dynamic Dream, who sold for €1.9m (£1.63m) at auction in 2019.

Dream Boy will retire following one final appearance at the KWPN Stallion Show in ‘sHertogenbosch on 2 February.

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The European silver medal-winning stallion Glock’s Zonik has been put down, aged 13.

The Blue Hors Zack x Romanov son, who was the championship ride of the Netherlands’ Edward Gal in 2018 and 2019, suffered a catastrophic injury following surgery on 13 July.

“It is so unbelievable and so unreal. We are in deep shock, full of grief and horror,” said a statement from Glock Horse Performance Centre, owners of Zonik.

“Zonik became lame shortly before CHIO Rotterdam [in early July] and, following suspicion of a problem with a hoof, thorough examination led to diagnosis of an injury. We decided to have him operated upon and, to this end, transported him to Germany to what is indeed one of the most renowned equine veterinary clinics. The operation went well but, in the recovery box, Zonik injured himself so badly that we could only put him out of his misery. He had broken both of his hind legs.

“We have lost our wonderful stallion, this exceptional sire, our sporting partner. We are deeply saddened and shaken to the core by the loss of our great equine friend.”

Bred in Denmark by Linette Jaeger, Glock’s Zonik was Danish young horse champion as a four-year-old with Andreas Helgstrand, before being sold to Gaston Glock. He competed at the World Breeding Championships as a five-year-old under Hans Peter Minderhoud, before Edward Gal took over the ride.

The pair made a winning international grand prix debut in 2017 and, later that same year, Edward and Zonik won the grand prix at Olympia. In 2018 they finished eighth at the World Cup Final, and also swept the board at the prestigious Rotterdam Nations Cup leg.

They were selected for the Dutch team at the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon, USA, where they finished seventh individually in both the grand prix and the special, and led the Netherlands to a fifth place team finish, and Tokyo Olympic qualification.

In 2019, they won team silver on home soil at the European Championships, finishing fourth individually in the grand prix with 78.76% – just 0.1% ahead of his sire, Blue Hors Zack, in fifth with Daniel Bachmann Andersen. Edward and Zonik were also sixth in the grand prix freestyle, scoring 84.27%.

The pair’s final show before the coronavirus pandemic – and final appearance as a combination – was at the Amsterdam World Cup qualifier in January 2021, where they posted a personal best of over 85% for third.

Article continues below…

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With Edward concentrating on his younger, upcoming horses in 2021, including his Tokyo Olympics ride Total US, Hans Peter took over the ride on Zonik, competing at Compiègne CDI3* and Le Mans CDI4* in May and June this year. At Le Mans, the Zonik’s competition, he won both the grand prix and the freestyle.

Glock’s Zonik has sired many hugely successful dressage horses, including the world young horse champion Zucchero, and has more than 20 licensed sons.

“He still had such a bright future ahead of him, but it was not to be,” added Glock Horse Performance Centre. “Rest in peace and shine like a star, because that is what you were; a star, truly a king. Now we have to carry on without you, and that is hard, very hard.”

Both Edward and Hans Peter are members of the Dutch Olympic team currently in Tokyo. Edward rides the Totilas son Total US and Hans Peter will partner Glock’s Dream Boy. Zonik’s sire, Blue Hors Zack, will also be in action in Tokyo, ridden by Nanna Skodberg Merrald for Denmark.

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British Olympic team contenders will be in action at the first five-star dressage show of the year in Europe, which kicks off tomorrow at Compiègne, France. It will serve as the final outing for some of Britain’s top combinations ahead of Olympic team selection next month. 

As well as elite British riders, several Olympic team and medal contenders from other countries will be among those contesting the CDIO5* Nations Cup leg – the first of three in 2021 (the others are at Rotterdam, the Netherlands, in July and Aachen, Germany, in September) – and the CDI3* competition, which runs alongside. 

The CDI3* grand prix will take place on Friday, 28 May, with the special and freestyle the following day, while the Nations Cup competition begins with the grand prix on Saturday and concludes with the special and freestyle on Sunday. Britain are the defending champions of the Compiègne Nations Cup leg, having won it in 2019 with Carl Hester, Richard Davison, Lottie Fry and Gareth Hughes. The show did not go ahead in 2020. 

A live stream is available; meanwhile, we round up the best Brits and most exciting combinations to watch…

Britain’s Nations Cup team

Lottie Fry – Dark Legend (13yo gelding, Zucchero x Tango)

A member of the 2019 winning British team here, Lottie brings forward her 2018 under-25 European champion and 2019 British senior Europeans team horse, Dark Legend (pictured, above). This tall, elegant gelding is one of two horses with whom Lottie has already made a strong bid for a place on the Tokyo Olympic team, and a good performance here could help cement this. In 2019, Lottie was the rookie of the British team at this Nations Cup; now she returns as the rider who could lead this trio to victory in Compiègne. 

Emile Faurie – Dono Di Maggio (14yo gelding, Dimaggio x Santander H)

This British-bred gelding is in the form of his life, and Emile will certainly have his eye on a place on another championship team – the pair were members of the British quartet that brought home team bronze from the World Equestrian Games in 2018. They missed their chance to compete in Belgium at the end of April, but enjoyed a super show at Wellington with plus-75% in the special. Compiègne could see their scores climb higher. 

Louise Bell – Into The Blue (15yo gelding, Ublesco x Calvaro Z)

This lovable pair of former working hunter champions are always crowd favourites, but that’s not all they bring to the table. This will be their fourth time on a Nations Cup team, and having enjoyed a positive run at Wellington earlier this month to help blow away the lockdown cobwebs, finishing third in the freestyle, expect to see them put in a solid showing here. 

Remaining British contingent in the CDI3*

Fiona Bigwood – Hawtins Delicato (13yo gelding, Diamond Hit x Regazzoni)

Olympic silver medallist Fiona made a successful international debut with Carl Hester’s former world medallist at Wellington in mid-May, and this will be the first time this new combination have ventured onto foreign soil to show the world what they can do. They make a good partnership and, while still getting to know each other, are capable of some very useful, and eye-catching, scores here. 

Lottie Fry – Everdale (12yo stallion, Lord Leatherdale x Negro)

After 15 months away from competition, this striking stallion burst back on to the international scene this spring, and most recently scored a plus-77% grand prix special win in Exloo, the Netherlands. He is up against his more experienced stablemate Dark Legend in the fight for a place on the Olympic team, but arguably has more potential to access the very highest scores. Compiègne will be an important test for these British Olympic team contenders. 

Laura Tomlinson – Rose Of Bavaria (11yo mare, Bordeaux x Florestan I)

Laura and “Betty’s” 2021 Olympic selection campaign was delayed in getting off the ground, after the mare suffered a reaction to an EHV vaccine earlier in the year. Happily, she is back to fitness and ready to throw her hat in the ring for an Olympic team place. They have had limited international outings so far, and haven’t crossed the Channel since last September, but you wouldn’t be surprised to see them finish among the leaders here. 

Richard Davison – Bubblingh (15yo gelding, Lingh x Picandt)

Four-time Olympian Richard has exercised impressive patience in developing this talented, but quirky home-bred “Bubbles”. They had a quiet 2020, returning to the international arena for the first time since March last year at Wellington CDI3*, where they performed strongly in the grand prix, but withdrew from the special. It will be interesting to see the impression they can make here.

Best of the rest

Cathrine Dufour DEN – Bohemian (11yo gelding, Bordeaux x Samarant)

Her multi-medalled Atterupgaards Cassidy made have just landed a fifth Danish national title for Cathrine, but it is this young superstar who will likely spearhead the Danish team in Tokyo. This will be his first international outing of 2021, but as he has already exceeded 82% in the special, and 88% in the freestyle – twice – you can expect impressive things, and quite possibly a victory, from him in the five-star tour here. 

Patrik Kittel SWE – Well Done De La Roche CMF (13yo mare, Furstentraum x Walt Disney)

Adding to the strong Scandinavian representation here is Patrik on his European team bronze medallist, who is expected to be his Tokyo contender. This will be an especially important appearance for the pair, who were eliminated on their first outing since last July, at Mariakalnok in Hungary, after traces of blood were spotted in the mare’s mouth. They have a good track record at Compiègne, having finished second in the five-star special in 2019 behind Britain’s Gareth Hughes. 

Continued below…

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Andreas Helgstrand DEN – Fiontini (11yo mare, Fassbinder x Romanov)

Until late last year, it had been more than four years since world and Olympic medallist Andreas had competed internationally at grand prix level, instead concentrating on his rapidly expanding sales and breeding business. However, since taking over the ride on this talented mare from former Helgstrand head rider Severo Jurado Lopez, he has enjoyed a string of good results that could put him in contention for a position on the Danish Olympic team this summer. Another strong showing here in the CDI3* would boost those chances. 

Hans Peter Minderhoud NED – Glock’s Zonik (13yo stallion, Blue Hors Zack x Romanov)

This will be Hans Peter’s first competition aboard his partner Edward Gal’s European medallist Zonik, having announced earlier this week that he would be taking over the ride on this imposing stallion. With Edward concentrating on younger grand prix rides, Zonik hasn’t competed since January 2020, where he scored over 85% to finish third in the freestyle at Amsterdam. It will be fascinating to see what Hans Peter can bring out of him in the CDI3* in Compiègne. 

All seven US horses originally entered at Compiegne – three in the CDIO5* and four in the young rider section – have been withdrawn due to “adverse results” among the the horses’ EHV-1 test results, conducted before their departure.

In a statement, US Equestrian said: “In accordance with the FEI Return to Competition protocols, all U.S. horses were tested for EHV-1 prior to departure from their layover base to the competition venue. A limited number of PCR tests returned with adverse results. Horses within the US contingent have not shown any symptoms or clinical signs of the virus, are not febrile, and are all vaccinated. Out of an abundance of precaution, the team has decided to withdraw. US Equestrian is working directly with the FEI to determine appropriate next steps and an acceptable timeline for a return to competition based on the outlined protocols.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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Tributes have been paid to the “extraordinary” dressage stallion Romanov, who has been put down aged 20.

The son of Rohdiamant X Grundstein II, who had been based at Glock Horse Performance Center in Austria for the past nine years, was put down on 20 February owing to health issues arising from pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID, formerly known as Cushing’s disease).

A spokesman for Glock said: “When is the time right to say farewell to your horse? Our hearts say never, yet we know that one day it will be time. Today was such a day. The day we had to bid farewell to our utterly beloved Glock’s Romanov. Our charmer, our heartbreaker is no more. He reached the age of 20, nine of those spent with us. Years for which we give our heartfelt thanks.

“Our Romanov was being treated by specialists. Unfortunately he became ever worse, with the consequence that on the advice of the veterinarians in attendance, we let him go over the rainbow bridge in order to spare him extended suffering. So it is that we say adieu and reflect with heavy hearts.”

The stallion, bred by Harli Seifert, was sold to the Blue Hors Stud in 2000. He had a distinguished career, taking reserve champion at the Oldenburg stallion licensing in 2002, and in 2004 was named best dressage stallion at the Danish licensing event. He was the champion of five-year-old dressage horses in Denmark in 2005, and in 2008 named VTV dressage stallion of the year.

Romanov had grand prix success with Danish rider Sune Hansen including winning the Media Cup in Hamburg, Germany in 2010, and the grand prix at the CDI3* Copenhagen in 2011. The combination appeared on the Danish team at the 2011 European Championships – but in a surprising move by Blue Hors, Dutch rider Edward Gal was later given the ride – the first time a Dutch rider had taken on a stallion from the stud.

Under Edward, the stallion achieved “new captivating form” achieving top-three placings at grands prix throughout 2012, and in 2013 Glock teammate Hans-Peter Minderhoud took on the ride, enjoying many successes including team silver at the 2013 European Championships.

“In addition to his performances in top dressage, Romanov was one of the most sought-after dressage sires in Denmark and a popular stud in Europe,” said the spokesman.

“The elegant Oldenburg stallion offered extraordinary foal crops and a considerable number of descendants, which are being presented successfully internationally.”

His successful offspring include Honnerups Driver, the 2009 champion five-year-old at the World Breeding Championships. Romanov sired more than 10 licensed sons on the German equestrian federation breeding register, and more than 100 registered mares – 20 of which are federal premium mares. Other success stories include the 2019 Danish warmblood stallion of the year Skovens Rafael.

The spokesman said Hans-Peter was with Romanov to the “last minute”.

Article continued below… 

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“It’s desperately sad and yet, at the same time, you know it’s right,” said Hans-Peter.

“Romanov was a really special stallion. Simply fantastic to ride and it was such a wonderful feeling to have the privilege of sitting in his saddle.

“He was a horse of such character, a real stallion and yet he really got to your heart. I stroked him till the last moment and told him we would see each other again.”

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German rider Frederic Wandres caused a stir when he claimed the Olympia grand prix freestyle title this evening (18 December), by the smallest of margins.

Frederic and the British-bred 11-year-old Duke Of Britain (by Dimaggio) finished their stunning freestyle on exactly the same score as Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin and the 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato — posting 80.03%. However, it was Frederic who had the slightly higher artistic score, and therefore clinched the victory.

”This is the best show I’ve ever been to — and we reached the magical 80%,” said Frederic who, despite being in his first season with “Harry”, has previously scored up to 79% for this freestyle.

“To win this, against Charlotte and Hans Peter — it’s a very nice Christmas present!”

Charlotte used Valegro’s 2011 freestyle routine for her test on Carl Hester, Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory’s Diamond Hit son Del (above), who has only ever completed one previous grand prix freestyle.

“Last night he was a bit sticky, but today he felt much more ready and prepared,” Charlotte said. “It’s only his second freestyle test, and it didn’t have a very high degree of difficulty — there’s no piaffe turns — but he will have come away from it really confident.”

Article continues below…

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Last night’s grand prix winner Hans Peter Minderhoud, from the Netherlands, had to settle for third on the 10-year-old stallion Glock’s Dream Boy NOP, after a couple of expensive mistakes kept their score at 77.99%.

Hans Peter was disappointed with his performance overall — he reported that the Vivaldi son warmed up very well, but felt a little behind him once in the arena.

Britain’s Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite produced another super performance, this time with their new, incredibly difficult freestyle routine, which earned them 77.7% for fourth, even with a blip in the one-time changes.

Richard Davison filled fifth once again, posting 75.68% with Bubblingh, while Lara Butler and a very fresh Rubin Al Asad took sixth on 74.17%.

Don’t miss the full report from Olympia, in the 28 December issue of H&H.

What did you think of the dressage at Olympia this year? Write to hhletters@ti-media.com for a chance to see your views in H&H magazine and win a bottle of Champagne Taittinger (please include your name and address; letters may be edited). 

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

Tonight’s Olympia grand prix (17 December) went the way of the Dutch as Hans Peter Minderhoud took the top spot with the 10-year-old black stallion Glock’s Dream Boy NOP.

Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin held the lead for a long time from first draw, having posted 73.03% on Carl Hester, Lady Anne Evans and Ann Cory’s 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato. But Hans Peter and the stunning Vivaldi son just edged into the lead with 73.89%, much to the excitement of the crowd.

This is Dream Boy’s first competition since WEG and his first major indoor show, being still in his first year of grand prix, but his only major error was a mistake in the two-time changes.

“I was very happy with his score tonight; he has a lot of talent and there were some things that can go better, so we can still improve a lot,” said Hans Peter, who plans to next campaign the horse at Amsterdam CDI at the end of January.

Charlotte also had a mistake in the changes with Del (above) — this time in the ones — but showed some super piaffe and lovely two-time changes.

“I’m really pleased with him — going first meant I didn’t have a chance to watch anyone else ride the new test, but I actually quite enjoyed it,” said Charlotte, referring to the new, shortened grand prix routine that was piloted here. “This was a great experience for him; he just got a bit tense towards the end.”

Germany’s Frederic Wandres completed the top three, riding the 11-year-old Dimaggio gelding Duke Of Britain to 72.63% on his first appearance at Olympia.

The next three spots were filled by Brits, with Hayley Watson-Greaves pulling out a super test to take fourth with Rubins Nite, just ahead of Richard Davison and Bubblingh in fifth. A couple of mistakes had Lara Butler and Rubin Al Asad in sixth.

All 12 combinations will go forward to compete in tomorrow night’s grand prix freestyle, which serves at the World Cup qualifier. Lara will be the first British rider on, at 8.10pm, while Charlotte will be in action at 9.20pm. Hayley will compete next, at 9.30pm, with Richard in action at 9.50pm. Hans Peter Minderhoud will be the final rider of the evening, entering the arena at 10pm.

Don’t miss our full coverage from Olympia, plus all the reaction from the new grand prix, in the 28 December issue.

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The line-up for the World Cup dressage at Olympia (17-18 December) has taken a hit as top Dutch combination Edward Gal and Glock’s Zonik announced their withdrawal from the competition.

“Glock’s Zonik didn’t really eat today and in the evening he had fever. So we had to cancel the horseshow in London because we won’t risk the long travel,” said the Glock Horse Performance Centre on Friday night. “We’re very sad but the welfare of the horse comes first.”

Edward and the 10-year-old Blue Hors Zack stallion won last year’s grand prix at Olympia, and also finished seventh individually in both the grand prix and the special at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in September.

Glock will still be represented at Olympia by Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Dream Boy, who will be in action at 9.27pm this evening (17 December).

The young Spanish rider Juan Matute Guimon, who was due to make his Olympia debut with Quantico, has also been forced to withdraw after the 12-year-old gelding suffered a bout of colic.

Home favourite Charlotte Dujardin will be the first rider to enter the Olympia arena this evening at 8pm. She will ride Carl Hester’s WEG bronze medallist, the 10-year-old Hawtins Delicato, as her top ride Mount St John Freestyle is currently recovering from a cough.

The remaining British riders will have to wait until the latter stages of the class to begin their Olympia campaigns, with Hayley Watson-Greaves and Rubins Nite on at 9.36pm, Richard Davison and Bubblingh in action at 9.45pm and Lara Butler and Rubin Al Asad the final combination of the class at 9.54pm.

Continues below…

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Tonight’s class, which determines the order for tomorrow evening’s freestyle and World Cup qualifier, will trial a new grand prix test, which has been shortened by 45 seconds to five minutes. Riders will also be interviewed immediately after finishing their test, while still mounted.

Don’t miss our full coverage from the Olympia dressage, featuring expert analysis and views, online and in the 28 December issue.

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The dressage competition at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon gets underway on the first day on competition (12 September) with two-days of grand prix action. Horse & Hound’s dressage editor Polly Bryan will be on site to watch all the action as it happens. Here are nine partnerships she believes are worth looking out for…

1. Hans Peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Dream Boy (NED)

One of several riding young horses making their championship debut in Tryon, Hans Peter Minderhoud has a seriously exciting prospect in Glock’s Dream Boy. The 10-year-old Vivaldi stallion is proving as successful a sire as he is as a competitor, becoming one of Holland’s most popular KWPN stallions. He has taken a break from breeding to concentrate on his dressage career this year, and could well produce great things in Tryon.

2. Severo Jurado López and Deep Impact 3 (ESP)

Severo became a firm crowd-favourite at the Rio Olympics, and his one-handed passage down the centre line at the end of his freestyle — in which he finished fifth — became an iconic moment of the Games. His performances at the Gothenburg Europeans last year with Deep Impact 3, the 15-year-old black De Niro gelding he will ride in Tryon, featured similar Spanish flair, and with a freestyle personal best of plus-81% in Aachen in July, this pair are sure to produce something special at WEG.

3. Kazuki Sado and Barolo (JPN)

Eagled-eyed British fans are sure to spot a familiar name on the entry list — Barolo, former ride of Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin. The 12-year-old chestnut gelding, by Breitling W, swept the board at both Windsor and Bolesworth with Carl in 2017, before going to Japanese rider Kazuki Sado in early 2018. This new pair have been cementing their partnership during this year — watch out for them in Tryon.

4. Patrik Kittel and Well Done De La Roche (SWE)

Patrik Kittel is no stranger to championships — Tryon will be his 11^th — but this year he brings forward the least experienced of his three world-ranked rides. Patrik rates the 10-year-old Furstentraum mare as the best horse he’s ever had and, with a grand prix personal best of nearly 76%, she is sure to be a valuable asset to the Swedish team, as well as well in contention for the individual medals.

5. Isabell Werth and Bella Rose (GER)

This elegant Belissimo M mare was deemed one of the biggest threats to Valegro’s dominance in the run-up to the 2014 WEG in Normandy. She and Germany’s Isabell Werth finished second to him in the grand prix with 81.5%, but had to be withdrawn before the special and, with the exception of one CDI that autumn, was not seen again for almost four years due to injury. This June, she burst back onto the scene with a string of international wins and, while her selection for WEG over the higher scoring Weihegold OLD may seem a strange move, she was Isabell’s personal choice ride. She stands an excellent chance of individual gold, but whatever the outcome, enjoy watching this lovely mare back on the biggest stage.

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6. Christian Zimmerman and Roble (PLE)

German-born and -based Christian raised eyebrows ahead of the last WEG when he obtained Palestinian citizenship in 2013 and went on to represent the country in Normandy in 2014 and at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Tryon will be the first championship where the full-time businessman will ride the 15-year-old Ravallo gelding Roble.

7. Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and Don Auriello (SWE)

Look out for the 
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of Sweden’s Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén and her partner of five championships, Don Auriello. The 16-year-old Don Davidoff gelding was off games for two years, his second-place finish in Rotterdam this year being his first show since finishing eighth in the freestyle at Rio in 2016.

8. Jackie Siu and Ferrera (HKG)

Fresh from landing Hong Kong’s first ever Asian Games gold medal in Indonesia last week, Britain-based Jackie Siu will begin her WEG campaign on top form. She is Hong Kong’s first ever dressage competitor at a WEG, and will partner Ferrera, the 15-year-old Sandro Hit mare with whom she finished fourth in the freestyle at Bolesworth this year.

9. Julio Mendoza Loor and Chardonnay (ECU)

Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor will also be the first dressage rider to represent his country at a WEG. Just qualifying was a hugely emotional experience for the 39-year-old, who was raised in a small town in Ecuador, but is now based in North Carolina, not far from Tryon. He will ride the 13-year-old gelding Chardonnay.

Don’t miss the full World Equestrian Games preview in this week’s Horse & Hound (issue dated 30 September).

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Several teams expected to fight it out for the medals have been announced for September’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Tryon, North Carolina. The battle will also be on to achieve one of the five qualification spots for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The home side looks particularly strong, with current world number three combination Laura Graves and the 16-year-old gelding Verdades leading the charge after their grand prix victory in Aachen in July. Joining her are three combinations who all performed strongly in Aachen: Kasey Parry-Glass with the Diamond Hit 15-year-old Goerklintgaards Dublet, Adrienne Lyle with Salvino, by Sandro Hit, and Steffen Peters with the Rock Forever mare Rosamunde.

The Netherlands will also be sending a strong quartet to Tryon, hoping to win their first team medal since 2015. Edward Gal will spearhead the team on the impressive 10-year-old stallion Glock’s Zonik, by Blue Hors Zack. Edward will be joined by his partner Hans Peter Minderhoud, riding another exciting young stallion, Glock’s Dream Boy, by Vivaldi.

Also selected are Emmelie Scholtens and the UB40 stallion Apache, who had super results in Aachen, and Madeleine Witte-Vrees with her 2017 European Championships ride Cennin.

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Denmark and Sweden, who took European silver and bronze respectively in 2017, have also put forward strong sides that will be vying for the podium.

Patrik Kittel has booked his place at his third WEG, and 11^th senior championship, with two rides: his Rio Olympic partner Deja and the exciting 10-year-old mare Well Done De La Roche CMF. Championship veteran Tinne Vilhelmson Silfvén has also been selected with her 2017 Europeans ride Paridon Magi as well as her double Olympic and 2014 WEG horse Don Auriello, who returned to competition at the Rotterdam CDI in June after nearly two years out.

Therese Nilshagen and the 11-year-old Danone stallion Dante Weltino — who are currently ranked 12^th in the world after taking individual European fourth and fifth in Gothenburg last year — will head to their first WEG. Juliette Ramel and her Rio partner Buriel KH complete the Swedish team.

The double individual European bronze medallists Cathrine Dufour and Atterupgaards Cassidy will lead the Danish quartet, which also features Daniel Bachmann Andersen with Blue Hors Zack, who banked a personal best kür score of plus-82% in Aachen. Betina Jaeger (Belstaff) and Britain-based Anders Dahl (Selten HW) complete the team.

Gold medal favourites Germany are yet to announce their team, as are Great Britain. Stay up to date with all the WEG team announcements as they come in here.

Don’t miss our full preview of the FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon, on sale Thursday 30 August

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Top riders are adding their voices to calls for the Dutch government to save thousands of “starving” horses and other animals.

Britain’s Fiona Bigwood and Hans Peter Minderhoud of the Netherlands are among those speaking out on behalf of the equines, deer and cattle kept in a large nature reserve in coastal province Flevoland, while Charlotte Dujardin has also called for action.

The site is reclaimed marshland and those campaigning on its inhabitants’ behalf say it is not suitable to support the large number of animals living on it.

“I just can’t sit back and do nothing when these animals are starving,” Rio Olympics team silver medallist Fiona Bigwood, who has been alerting people to the animals’ plight, told H&H.

“The Dutch are desperate to help them but they’re being arrested and fined if they try to feed them.

“It’s heartbreaking; we can’t just let animals starve to death in this day and age.”

Local campaigner Cynthia Danvers told H&H the reserve covers thousands of acres but much of this is water. It was enclosed in the early 1980s, after which horses, cattle and deer were introduced.

“And of course they’ve multiplied so there are thousands now,” she said.

“[Officials] have killed 3,000 animals in the past three months because they were starving to death. They won’t let people give them more food because they say it’s nature.

“The winter here hasn’t been that bad but the ground’s salty and bad, and there are too many animals. They even started eating bark from the trees but now there’s nothing left.

“There are a lot of people in Holland who don’t want them to starve so they started coming to bring them hay – then the government started arresting people for it and fining them.

“They said if we feed them, they will feel better and breed, and then there will be more animals, but for lots of people, that’s a very strange thing to say.”

A petition has been launched calling for the Dutch government to make changes.

Cynthia said that after sustained campaigning, and meetings with the provincial government, officials did start giving the animals some hay.

“They didn’t want to but we made them,” she said. “But it’s not enough. People are still trying to feed them but they’re building more fences.

“Money isn’t a problem – lots of farmers said they’d donate hay – but the province said it wasn’t good enough. They said nature should do its work, but how can it be nature when there’s a fence stopping the animals going anywhere?”

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Cynthia said the government agreed to feed hay until the grass comes through.

“But then this will happen again next year,” she said. “They have to take these animals out of there. It’s horrible and it has to change.”

H&H has contacted the Dutch government for a response.

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.

In next week’s issue (19 April), full reports from the World Cup finals and the Grand National.

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Leading dressage rider Hans Peter Minderhoud has paid tribute to the shy stallion who grew into one of his top horses.

Glock’s Tango was put down this month aged 18 due to ongoing health problems.

The Dutch rider took Tango on as a three-year-old and remembers how spooky he was at his first stallion performance test.

“It was terrible,” said Hans Peter. “I wasn’t at all sure how things could work with him at tournaments. But with time he became more trusting and his quirks became a thing of the past.”

Groom Anna Visser looked after the stallion from his arrival and accompanied him to all the major shows.

“Tango and Anna were a super team,” added Hans Peter. “She loved him.”

Tango went on to compete in young horse classes and took part in his first grand prix as a 10-year-old.

“Tango was a stallion and you noticed it, but he always behaved,” said Hans Peter.

“He learned the exercises incredibly fast.

“He had a lot of talent for the passage-piaffe and, above all, the passage was easy-going. Tango didn’t have the largest canter but it was very easy to teach him the canter exercises, like pirouettes and changes of leg.”

The combination took the Dutch national champion title in 2011 and won the World Cup freestyle qualifier at the Odense leg of the series the same year.

They came sixth at the final, held in s’Hertogenbosch, and also had numerous other top 10 finishes at international grands prix.

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“In terms of sport it was a bit of a shame for Tango that I also had Nadine [Eqxuis Nadine] at the same time,” said Hans Peter.

“She was the more reliable horse, so she got chosen for the big championships like the 2010 World Equestrian Games in Kentucky and the 2011 European Championships in Rotterdam. Otherwise he would certainly have gone to several championships.”

He added Tango could be naughty, but was “never dangerous or mean”.

“He was often frisky, jumping and playing around, but he was always under control,” he said.

“He loved sugar above all, behaved like a gentleman with his grooms and rider, but displayed his dominance around other stallions.

“For me he was a special horse — he was my first horse when I set myself up as self-employed.

“I relocated many times and he was always there, as indeed [he was] when we moved to the Glock Horse Performance Center Netherlands.

“He was a big part of my life and my career. It is a pleasure to be able to experience how a horse can develop from a young, timid and anxious creature into a horse that’s even a little macho, like Tango was later on.

“As a youngster he was frightened by applause, but a little later he started to enjoy it. I can only say ‘thank you’ for many wonderful years and ‘farewell’. We will miss him.”

For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday

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The Dutch team for the European Dressage Championships has undergone two late changes as the substitute for an injured horse has also sustained an injury.

Hans Peter Minderhoud’s ride Glock’s Johnson, aka ‘Johnny’, had suffered an injury and it was decided it was not in the horse’s best interests to travel to Gothenburg for the competition (22–27 August).

“Glock’s Johnson lost a shoe at night,” said Hans Peter.

“We called the farrier right away. There is an inflammation in spite of correct treatment, and Johnson was clearly in pain.

“We had to make a decision and Johnny was not fit enough for the European Championships.

“It’s a lot of bad luck, but the horse comes first and we hope that Johnny will soon be on top of it.

“We wish the Dutch team a lot of success during the championships!”

Johnny has not yet returned to ridden work yet, but Hans Peter hopes he will do some World Cup shows this winter.

“And I would​ really like to ride him ​at Olympia this year,” he added.

Reserve combination Emmelie Scholtens and Apache were due to attend in Hans Peter’s place, but this combination were also forced to stay at home as Apache suffered a minor injury.

“I was, of course, very happy to go to the championships,” said Emmelie.

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“It’s a huge disappointment. I noticed that Apache was not completely [right] during training.

“After examination it has been found that recovery of this injury requires a few weeks.”

Patrick van der Meer and Zippo will take Emmelie’s place on the Dutch team, joining Edward Gal and Glock’s Voice, Madeleine Witte Vrees Fear and Cennin, Diederik van Silfhout and Four Seasons.

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The first Dutch team member in the dressage at the Rio Olympics today, Adelinde Cornelissen, retired after just a handful of movements. Adelinde was riding her 19-year-old Jazz gelding Parzival, who won individual silver and team bronze at London 2012.

He had been running a fever after being bitten by something on the face, she said.

“Yesterday I came to the stables and his cheek was completely swollen and it appeared he was bitten by a spider or a mosquito or something,” said Adelinde. “His body was full of toxic fever [with a fever of] over 40.

“We manged to get his temperature down, and yesterday he was on liquids for nine hours.”

Things had looked up for the horse later on.

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“In the evening it was all good, his temperature was back down; this morning also,” she said.

The Dutch team did not bring a travelling reserve with them, as all the riders who were possibles elected not to travel their horses.

“I discussed it with the team vet and we decided we’d give it [the grand prix] a try for the team result,” she added. “But he felt totally empty and I didn’t want to put him through that. He didn’t deserve that, did he?

The Dutch team is now down to three, with all scores from Edward Gal, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Diederik van Silfhout to count for their result. As the grand prix acts as the first individual qualifying round, Adelinde and Parzival cannot start in the grand prix special and their Rio journey is over.

Britain’s first team member into the arena, Spencer Wilton, scored 72.686% riding Super Nova II. Britain’s second rider, Fiona Bigwood, takes to the arena at 3.06pm local time (7.06pm in Britain) with Orthilia.

Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin will ride tomorrow. Click here for full times and information. 

Full 20-page report on the dressage from Rio in H&H next week, out Thursday 18 August, including full analysis of how the medals were won and comment from Richard Davison and Gareth Hughes. 

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The Netherlands’ Hans peter Minderhoud and Glock’s Flirt (pictured) won the opening grand prix of the 2016 Reem Acra FEI World Cup final in Gothenburg, Sweden today (Friday, 25 March).

Riding Glock’s Flirt — a 15-year-old Florestan gelding — Hans Peter put an unassailable 76.871% on the scoreboard to scoop the winner’s purse of €7,000 (£5,000); not a bad income for a nine-minute ride.

“If I want to win once, this is my chance,” said Hans Peter, referring to a number of high profile withdrawals from this final, most notably his partner Edward Gal and Isabell Werth. “Glock’s Flirt is in really good shape and he was really with me and concentrated in there.”

Hans Peter was chased closely by the two riders competing on home turf, Tinne Vilhelmson SilfvŽén and Patrik Kittel, who filled second and third place.

Tinne’s ride, Antonia Ax:son Johnson’s Don Auriello (Don Davidoff x White Star) had a nervy start to the test, but clawed back the marks to finish second and claim €5,500.

“I was super happy but had a very shaky start. We had no halt, then he cantered off. I got a bit scared that I wasn’t where I should be with him, but as soon as I turned, he felt good. He hasn’t shown indoors for a very long time.”

Patrik (who finished 0.1% behind Tinne) was riding Watermill Scandic — one of four 17-year-old horses in the competition.

“He’s in great shape,” said the affable rider, who was the clear crown favourite. “He has so much energy and is such a special character, just like his father Solos Carex, who Tinne used to ride.”

The Swedish judge Gustav Svalling had his two riders in first and second, with the 74.4% he awarded Hans Peter only good enough for seventh by his reckoning. But it is all the scores from all seven judges that count.

Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her faithful partner Unee BB finished fourth, with the top five being rounded out by Anna Kasprzak and Donnerperignon for Denmark.

The scores from today’s grand prix serve to shape the starting order of Sunday’s freestyle to music final, where the scores from that test alone will determine the new champion. And it will certainly be a new champion as there are no previous winners among this year’s field.

Just 3.5% covered from first to eighth places in this class, so the winner of Sunday’s freestyle is hard to predict.

Ireland’s Judy Reynold and Vancouver K finished just outside the money in ninth with 73%.

Click here for full results.

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Carl Hester raised the roof with his brand new freestyle, posting 83.75% to win the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Grand Prix Freestyle aboard his own and Jane de la Mare’s Nip Tuck.

Their new routine was daring, carrying a very high degree of difficulty, but the 11-year-old Don Ruto gelding pulled it off with flair. The first centre line especially made the judges sit up in their seats, with a full piaffe pirouette, passage and a double canter pirouette all featuring before the pair reached C.

“I’m pretty ecstatic,” said an emotional Carl. “It was hard enough for ‘Barney’ to go round the edge of this arena last year, let alone do the test, so it’s incredible what a year can do.

“The horse isn’t blessed with the best physical attributes, but has a very good brain, so I decided to put together what I thought were the most difficult things we could do.”

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The freestyle results reversed that of Tuesday night’s grand prix, with Charlotte Duajrdin having to settle for second with Carl Hester and Sasha Stewart’s Uthopia. Charlotte scored 82.55% for Valegro’s How To Train A Dragon programme, coaxing a fluid and expressive performance out of the 14-year-old Metall stallion.

“Uti felt a bit tired tonight, but he tried very hard,” said Charlotte. “He felt fantastic last night – I think I surprised myself actually.

“If there is one person to be beaten by it’s Grandad. He did a cracking job – watching him out there tonight gave me goosepimples.”

Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud scored 80.97% with Glock’s Flirt to finish third for the second night on the trot. The pair bettered their winning freestyle score from Stockholm last month by 0.02% to secure a personal best.

Britain’s Lara Griffith jumped up four places from the previous night to fill fourth position, with the Bechtolsheimers’ 13-year-old Rubin Royal gelding Rubin Al Asad. Lara was delighted to score 78.02% – by far the combination’s highest score to date.

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Riding Carl Hester and Sasha Stewart’s 14-year-old Metall stallion Uthopia, Charlotte Dujardin once again impressed not only the crowds but also the judges, scoring 77.46% to claim the top spot in Tuesday night’s Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage grand prix, supported by Horse & Hound.

The pair pipped Carl Hester to the post, he and his own and Jane de la Mare’s Don Ruto 11-year-old Nip Tuck posting 76.66% to finish second with an athletic, confident performance to make it a British one-two.

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Dutch rider Hans Peter Minderhoud filled third position with the Florestan I 14-year-old Glock’s Flirt, snapping at Carl’s heels with a score of 76.12%. The pair made it look easy with a virtually mistake-free test, just marred by a loss of balance in the piaffe on the final centre line.

“I’m over the moon with that test,” said Charlotte afterwards. “Uthopia hasn’t competed for a long time and it’s a big atmosphere so I was thrilled with him. We haven’t done an awful lot of tests together, so it’s still a new partnership.

“Being a stallion, he is totally different to Valegro,” she added. “On Valegro I think and it just happens, whereas Uthopia I really have to ride every second. Being a stallion, he’s a bit smarter and more switched on, but he’s great fun to ride.

“Just the left pirouette was a little small. He knows that test inside out and he knew where that pirouette was before I got there.”

The top 15 combinations from the grand prix will go forward to contest Wednesday evening’s freestyle, when Carl and Nip Tuck will unveil their much-anticipated new routine, set to music from Mr Selfridge.

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The 16 confirmed entries for this year’s World Cup dressage qualifier throw up some fresh faces to the London arena, as well as some better-known horses and riders.

Valegro is a notable absentee from the list. Charlotte Dujardin will instead partner Carl Hester’s London Olympics ride Uthopia. This will be the combination’s sixth international show, the last being at Windsor CDI in May 2014 (pictured), where they won the grand prix and freestyle with 76.9% and 83.6% – the 14-year-old Metall stallion’s second best freestyle to music score.

His best was under Carl at the European Championships in Herning, Denmark, where their score of 84.17% earned them the silver medal.

At Olympia this year, Carl will ride his recent championship partner, Nip Tuck. Together they represented Great Britain at the World Equestrian Games in 2014 and at the 2015 European Championships and are currently ranked 12th in the world. This will be the 11-year-old gelding by Don Ruto’s second trip to Olympia, having finished fifth in the freestyle last year.

Another British silver medal winning-team horse from the European Championships in Aachen this year, Atterupgaards Orthilia, will start at Olympia, under Fiona Bigwood.

“Tillie”, a 10-year-old mare by Gribaldi, will be at just her seventh international show with Fiona.

Fiona’s partner Anders Dahl rides the experienced campaigner Wie Atlantico, a horse in his eighth year of international grand prix level competition.

Another rider carrying the British flag will be Henriette Andersen on the Jazz gelding Warlock’s Charm. The rider and Jennifer Charlsworth’s 12-year-old hasn’t been out since Saumur in September, where he finished fourth in the freestyle with 74.17%.

Lara Griffith makes a return to the London show, having formerly competed there on Andretti H. This year she rides the Bechtolsheimers’ Rubin Al Asad, a 13-year-old gelding by Rubin Royal.

From across the pond, the most notable campaigner is Hans Peter Minderhoud. The popular Dutch rider will bring Glock’s Flirt. And Ireland’s in-form Judy Reynolds returns with her springy Jazz son Vancouver K.

The grand prix takes place in the evening of Tuesday 15 December, with the freestyle to music on Wednesday 16 December during the gala performance.

Olympia Horse Show dressage entries full list

• Henriette Andersen (GBR) Warlocks Charm
• Fiona Bigwood (GBR) Atterupgaards Orthilia
• Mr Gonçalo Carvalho (POR) Batuta
• Anders Dahl (DEN) Wie-Atlantico De Ymas
• Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) Uthopia
• Ms Lara Griffith (GBR) Rubin Al Asad
• Carl Hester (GBR) Nip Tuck
• Agnete Kirk Thinggaard (DEN) Jojo Az
• Inna Logutenkova (UKR) Fleraro
• Hans Peter Minderhoud (NED) Glock’s Flirt
• Daniel Pinto (POR) Santurion De Massa
• Judy Reynolds (IRL) Vancouver K
• Diederik Van Silfhout (NED) Bonzanjo
• Fanny Verliefden (BEL) Annarico
• Jorinde Verwimp (BEL) Tiamo

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The team competition at the FEI European Dressage Championships in Aachen today (Thursday, 13 August) went right down to the wire. Ultimately, the last competitor in the ring, Germany’s Kristina Bröring-Sprehe could not do enough to pull her team up the medal table from bronze position.

The Netherlands won gold, with the British team of Charlotte Dujardin (video interview above), Carl Hester, Fiona Bigwood and Michael Eilberg claiming silver.

The pressure was on Charlotte to deliver a performance good enough to overtake the Dutch, but mistakes in the zig-zag and the one-time changes prevented that. She and Valegro still lead the individual rankings, having scored 83.029% to second-placed Edward Gal’s 82.229%. Two judges preferred Edward’s test to Charlotte’s.

Kristina and the black De Niro stallion Desperados FRH finished third individually with 79.986%.

Despite winning the class individually, Charlotte was disappointed.

“The mistakes were all my fault and I’m annoyed with myself,” said the world number one.

“The beginning felt really good, but it’s tough out there – and there aren’t many horses who haven’t made mistakes. Unfortunately mine cost us the gold, but as a team we’ve performed brilliantly.”

Edward Gal eeked every single possible mark from Glock’s Undercover (pictured below), recovering from a torrid outing in Rotterdam; their 76.6% being well below their usual scores in this test.

“He felt really really good from beginning to end,” beamed the popular Dutch rider.

“When he’s like that, I feel I can piaffe as long as I want and go in and out smoothly.”

The top 30 individuals from the grand prix qualify for the grand prix special, which means all four Brits go through, as Michael Eilberg finished in 29th. The special takes place on Saturday, with tomorrow being a rest day.

The teams finishing in fourth, fifth and sixth — Spain, Sweden and France — secured their Olympic qualification today as there were three spots up for grabs and the podium teams had all qualified before this championships.

For a full report on all the action, including the controversy surrounding Totilas’ performance, see the full report in Horse & Hound magazine, out on Thursday 20 August.

Team medal results

Netherlands

Edward Gal 82.229%

Hans Peter Minderhoud 77.586%

Diederik van Silfhout 75.814%

Patrick van der Meer 72.4%

Great Britain

Charlotte Dujardin 83.029%

Fiona Bigwood 75.8%

Carl Hester 75.4%

Michael Eilberg 69.943%

Germany

Kristina Bröring-Sprehe 79.743%

Matthias Alexander Rath 75.971%

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl 75.2%

Isabell Werth 74.9%

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The list of riders nominated to compete in the FEI World Cup dressage qualifier at Olympia Horse Show (16-22 December) has been released and includes 3 of the 4 bronze medal-winning British team riders from this year’s European Championships.

World No.1 Charlotte Dujardin is nominated on both Valegro (pictured) and Uthopia, though H&H columnist Carl Hester has confirmed that Valegro is the more likely starter. Carl will ride Gemma Green’s Florestan stallion Fine Time, with whom he is the current British Dressage national champion.

A total of 9 British riders have made the starting line-up.

Lara Griffith will make her Olympia debut with Laura Tomlinson’s former ride Andretti H. Roland Tong, riding for Ireland, will also make his debut on his Europeans ride Pompidou.

Laura is not competing, but will attend Olympia with Mistral Hojris for an official retirement ceremony.

Emile Faurie partners his new grand prix horse Topolino (by Tip Top), while Michael Eilberg has the choice of either his Europeans ride Half Moon Delphi or Marakov. Judy Harvey, Nikki Crisp and Anna Ross Davies complete the strong British contingent.

Fans of the popular Dutch couple Edward Gal and Hans Peter Minderhoud will be pleased to see that both are set to compete at the popular show, though it is still uncertain which of their massive string of top level horses they will ride. Dutch rising star and Olympia debutante Danielle Heijkoop comes fresh from dual victories at the CDI4* Oldenburg earlier this month on her Gribaldi son Kingsley Siro.

Germany’s sole representative, the multi-talented Ingrid Klimke, will ride the British-owned Dresden Mann. The former breeding stallion, now gelded, is only nine.

British-based Dane Anders Dahl partners his wife Fiona Bigwood’s Wie Weltmeyer gelding Wie Atlantico, while his compatriot Nathalie zu Sayn-Wittgenstein will ride the charismatic and high-scoring Donnerhall gelding, Digby.

The grand prix takes place at 3pm on Monday, 16 December with the freestyle to music the following evening. H&H will be offering free, live, interactive written commentary from the show.

Definite entries will be announced on 6 December.

The nominated entries are:

AUS BERESFORD, Hayley — Jaybee Alabaster

AUS OATLEY, Lyndal — Sandro Boy

BEL MISSIAEN, Simon — Vradin

DEN DAHL, Anders — Wie Atlantico de Ymas

DEN SAYN-WITTGENSTEIN, Nathalie zu — Digby

GBR CRISP, Nikki — Pasoa

GBR DU JARDIN, Charlotte — Uthopia or Valegro

GBR EILBERG, Michael — Half Moon Delphi or Marakov

GBR FAURIE, Emile — Topolino

GBR GRIFFITH, Lara — Andretti H

GBR HARVEY, Judith — Fitzcerraldo

GBR HESTER, Carl — Fine Time

GBR ROSS DAVIES, Anna — Pegasus MK

GBR WATSON, Daniel — Fideramber

GER KLIMKE, Ingrid — Dresden Mann

IRL DWYER, Kate — Reve Dor

IRL TONG, Roland — Pompidou

NED ESSEN, Aat van — Macrider Premier or Sebastian

NED GAL, Edward — Glock’s Undercover or Glock’s Voice or Interfloor Next One

NED GEVERS, Katja — Thriller

NED HEIJKOOP, Danielle — Kingsley Siro

NED HEUITINK, Joyce — Wup

NED MINDERHOUD, Hans Peter — Glock’s Romanov or Glock’s Tango or Glock’s Ziesto

SWE HAMILTON, Malin — Fleetwood

SWE TELDE, Minna — Santana

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Dutch grand prix dressage rider Hans Peter Minderhoud – born on 7 October 1973 – comes from an unhorsey family of jewellers.

He first came into contact with horses at the age of six at a local stables in Westkapelle, Holland where he spent much of his spare time as a child.

From the age of 16 Hans Peter worked with Olympian Anky van Grunsven during his school holidays in Erp, southern Holland.

He accompanied Anky to the 1994 World Equestrian Games in The Hague as competition groom and when she won a gold medal with Bonfire, Hans Peter was inspired to pursue a career in the equestrian world.

After gaining considerable experience working for various yards – including Bollvorm, Van de Broek and at Gertjan van Olst’s stud farm – Hans Peter decided to set up on his own in 2003.

Together with his partner Edward Gal – who he met at a stallion testing station – Hans Peter has now built up a yard of about 50 horses including six at grand prix level.

His first grand prix horse was Carl Hester’s Escapado who came to him just after the European Championships in 2005.

Escapado has now returned to Carl’s yard in Gloucestershire to live out his retirement.

In 2007 Antony Kies – CEO of equestrian sponsor Exquis – bought Nadine for Hans Peter to ride. The mare was competing small tour when she came to Hans Peter but would prove to be hugely influential in his grand prix career.

Nadine is now retired from competition but remains at the MinderGal base where she is likely to be put into foal or have embryo transfer.

Hans Peter has been hailed one of Holland’s best riders and producers of young horses having won the world championships for young horses in Verden twice with Rubels.

Other career highlights include making the Dutch grand prix team in 2007 with Nadine and winning team gold for Holland at the 2007 European Championships in Turin, Italy.

Hans Peter hopes to represent the Netherlands at London 2012 and is on the long list for both the provisional A and B teams. His grand prix rides include Vivaldi, Whitney van ‘t Genthof and Donna Silver.

In this week’s dressage special (22 March 2012), read an exclusive interview with Hans Peter Minderhoud and Edward Gal, get advice on giving freestyle to music a go and find out who the upcoming stars of the dressage world are.

Read all the latest dressage news

View our dressage galleries

For the first time in 40 years, The Netherlands beat Germany at the European dressage championships held in Turin, Italy (30 August – 2 September).

Top performances from Hans Peter Minderhoud (Exquis Nadine), Imke Schellekens-Bartels (Hunter Douglas Sunrise) and Anky van Grunsven (Salinero, pictured right) were enough to put the pressure on Germany’s Isabell Werth, who was the last to go.

Isabell needed 78% on Satchmo in order for Germany to win again, but they fell short of this with 76.71% after a mistake in the first trot half-pass in an otherwise solid performance.

Anky said: “We thought before we came here that team gold was a possibility. We had a really good team and apart from Laurens [van Lieren — the drop score with 68.54%] we had no real mistakes. You have to have no mistakes if you want to beat Germany.”

Isabell Werth added: “It was very close and I’m sorry we lost gold, but The Netherlands have been fighting for this medal for a long time — congratulations to them. Today it is their show and tomorrow is another day.”

Britain finished in fifth place, meaning they have qualified for the Olympics in Hong Kong 2008.

Laura Bechtolsheimer was best of the Brits riding Mistral Hojris to 69.583%, despite a mistake in the one-time changes. Their highlights were the passage and extensions. Team-mate Emma Hindle scored a respectable 68.042%, but also had a mistake in the one-time changes, plus the canter zig-zag.

All four British riders finished in the top 30 and so are through to tomorrow’s grand prix special (1 September).

The fight for bronze was close and Sweden took the honours, finishing 3% ahead of Britain. Switzerland just pipped Britain to fourth place by 0.3% after a stunning 74.58% test by Silvia Ikle and Salieri, who scored consistent nines for their piaffe/passage tour.

The Danes fought hard but their top rider, Andreas Helgstrand, was missing his world medallist Blue Hors Matine. He scored 70.25% on the eight-year-old Gredstedgaards Casmir, but the team still had to settle for sixth place and so do not qualify for Hong Kong.

Individuals are still able to qualify, with riders being selected from the world rankings until all the places are filled.

Don’t miss the full report from the European dressage championships in next week’s Horse & Hound (6 September)

Team result

GOLD: The Netherlands 222.083

SILVER: Germany 220.792

BRONZE: Sweden 208.000

FIFTH PLACE: Britain 205.042

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now