Nations Cup for dressage riders in Fontainebleau

The last time Benjamin Werndl rode for Germany in the Nations Cup was in 2022 with Famoso, who sadly passed away far too early. With Quick Decision, he now has a horse for the grand tour under the saddle again. The Quaterhall son, sponsored by Uta Gräf up to Grand Prix level, may only be ten years old, but he has long since proven himself as a reliable dance partner. He ended the 2025 season with a third place in the final of the Louisdor Prize, but had already made a name for himself at national and international level with several wins and placings in Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special. He recently won the Grand Prix in Ornago with a new personal best of 71.5 percent and his first freestyle with 77.995 percent.

Now national coach Monica Theodorescu has nominated the pair for the CDIO5* Nations’ Cup in Fontainebleau. And they will do so alongside the two European champion pairs Frederic Wandres with Bluetooth and Isabell Werth with Wendy. The team is completed by Dr. Svenja Kämper-Meyer and her home-bred Amanyara M, a horse that is just as well trained and reliable as Werndl’s Quick Decision.

Competition from Glamourdale to Zonik Plus

This Nations Cup will not be a sure-fire success. The competition is fierce. Belgium’s team boss Jeroen van Lent is sending the double European champions Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus into the race. Riding alongside the multi-champions will be Larissa Pauluis on Flambeau, Charlotte Defalque with First-Step Valentin and Wim Verwimp on Jedai de Massa.

The British have named Olympic pair Carl Hester with Fame and world champion Charlotte Fry with top horse Glamourdale, plus Fiona Bigwood with a new horse in international sport, the ten-year-old Donna Bella, a Don Juan de Hus daughter out of her former super mare Atterupgaards Orthilia. The pair competed once each at the CDI3* in Hartpury last year and this year, winning the Grand Prix at the end of March with 72.217 percent and coming second in the Special with 71.426 percent. The team is completed by Lewis Carrier on Diego V.

There are five Dutch pairs on the starting list: Geert Jan Raateland with the Totilas son Gladiator, Thalia Rockx with her long-time partner from her junior days, Golden Dancer de la Fanzenda, Marie-José Calis on Limited Edition, Dominique Filion on The Boss and Lynne Maas with Happyness E.

Competing for Spain are Beatriz Ferrer-Salat on Elegance, Lucia Gallardo Muñoz with Hip By Johnson, José Antonio Garcia Mena in the saddle on Gladiador Do Lis and Paula Matute Guimon with Navaltocon.

Portugal sends Maria Caetano with Hit Plus, Vasco Mira Godinho on Marques Dos Cedros, João Pedro Moreira with Fürst Kennedy and João Miguel Torrao on Lirio MVL.

Last but not least, host nation France will also be fielding a team with Alexandre Apache on Ruling Olivia, Pauline Basquin with Sertorius de Rima Z, Bertrand Liegard on Ginger and Alizee Roussel with Bel Amour.

You can find all information about Fontainebleau here.