Outlook for dressage at the German Championships in Balve

In Balve, it’s all about titles, sashes and medals – and a place in the World Championship squad. For the dressage riders, the German Championships as part of the Balve Optimum are traditionally the first official inspection on the way to the championships. As is well known, this year’s event is the World Championships in Aachen. A WEG in your own country – that’s something extra that everyone wants to be part of.

The participants in Balve

It is already certain that the 2025 European Championship gold medal team will be competing in Balve: Isabell Werth, Frederic Wandres, Katharina Hemmer and Ingrid Klimke. Some of them will be riding two horses, announced national coach Monica Theodorescu. This could, for example, result in the first direct encounter between Olympic mare Wendy and young star Viva Gold OLD from the Werth stable.

Semmieke Rothenberger and Raphael Netz are expected to take part from the perspective squad. And Theodorescu promises further: “The field will be supplemented by rider-horse pairs who were successful in the final of the Louisdor Prize. There will also definitely be a few surprises.” Jessica von Bredow-Werndl/Kismet? Benjamin Werndl/Quick Decision? The sibling duo from Aubenhausen have definitely announced their participation at the Pferd International in Munich from May 14th to 17th. Then you could also imagine the shooting stars from Fontainebleau in Balve, Evelyn Eger and Global Power.

Monica Theodorescu is convinced: “It will be incredibly exciting!”

The DM begins on Thursday, June 4, with the Grand Prix. The Special is scheduled for Saturday and the Freestyle for Sunday.

Moritz Treffinger – one who made it

Balve is an important location not only for the established greats, but also for the next generation. The German U25 riders’ championships are also held here. One rider who knows what it feels like to stand on the top step of the podium here is Moritz Treffinger. After winning two German Championship titles, he went straight on to the U25 European Championships, where he snatched victory in the freestyle. All of this was only topped by his indoor season, which culminated in his participation in the World Cup final. In his home story with EQUI PAGES, he revealed how this came about and how he managed to become a rider at Bonhomme Stud, which provides him with his four-legged partners. In conversation with our colleagues from Balve, he talks about his World Cup experiences and more.

Interview

Moritz, your season has been exceptional so far – at the latest with your performance At the World Cup final, you finally arrived at the top of the world. When did you realize: “Now I can really compete here”?

I really felt it at the World Cup in Amsterdam. The starting field there was incredibly high-class and renowned – and then to ride over 78% in the freestyle was a very special moment. That’s when I realized: I can really be in the thick of things here.

Amsterdam was also the first World Cup stop with Fiderdance. I had previously competed with Cadeau Noir in Herning, Stuttgart and London. Cadeau was actually also scheduled for Amsterdam, but couldn’t start because of the quarantine at the breeding station. That’s why Fiderdance stepped in at short notice – and it worked out fantastically. In the end, both horses actually qualified for the World Cup Final. That was of course an absolute luxury problem. We then opted for Fiderdance because he was simply the more experienced rider, had experience of flying and was already familiar with the change in climate. The European Championships were my absolute highlight with Cadeau Noir, and then the World Cup final with Fiderdance. The fact that I can ride two horses like this at the age of just 22 is anything but a matter of course. I’m extremely grateful for that – it’s a real privilege.

You not only impressed in Fort Worth in sporting terms, but also showed some very emotional moments in the interview. What was going through your mind at that moment?

It was just pure gratitude that bubbled out of me at that moment. That was actually the first time I really realized where we were and what we had achieved. Before that, I was in a tunnel the whole time – preparation, training, organization. At that moment during the interview, everything suddenly fell away from me. I was just incredibly proud and grateful – to my whole team, my family and of course to the horses. Especially because the whole trip involved an enormous amount of organization and bureaucracy. Just the entry and exit with the horses, all the paperwork – it was completely new territory, I’d never flown with horses before. The fact that everything worked out in the end was a huge feat.

Of course, you also have your own expectations. Once you get the chance to take part in a World Cup final, you want to make the most of it. When the pressure was off after the ride, all the emotions just came out at once. It was an incredibly beautiful moment. And I don’t think anything is as special as the first time.

As a rider at Bonhomme Stud Farm, you work with top-class horses every day. How much has this environment shaped you in your development?

The move to Bonhomme Stud had a huge impact on me. Suddenly I was no longer responsible for just three horses as before, but eleven horses a day. The trust placed in me there is something special – and I do my best every day to live up to this trust. Working with the stallions in particular has helped me a lot. They are all great personalities with their very own characters. Every stallion needs time, attention and individual management. You have to be present and really learn to respond to each individual horse. Especially when you are managing so many horses at the same time, it is important to find the right balance. Each horse has its own way – and I first had to find the right ‘instruction manual’ for each one. Over time, you also learn exactly where the strengths lie, but also when a horse reaches its limits. I come from a small stable with seven horses myself, and we always did everything ourselves at home. That’s why I know exactly how much work is behind everything. It wasn’t easy for me at first to hand over responsibility, for example when mucking out, because I’m quite a control freak. But that’s exactly how you grow, of course.

Looking ahead to Balve, it remains to be seen whether we will see you in the U25s or already in the seniors. will see. What would the respective decision mean to you – in sporting terms, but also personally – and have you already made up your mind?

Let’s put it this way: last year in the U25 tour was so great. I won everything apart from one gold – and now I feel ready for the next step.

Your riding seems incredibly harmonious and refined – almost effortless. What is behind this lightness and what is particularly important to you in your daily work with your horses?

First of all, thank you very much. Behind this lightness is above all a great deal of passion and the daily desire to constantly develop myself further. In the end, it’s always a joint development process with the horse. The experienced horses in particular teach me something new every day. With them, it’s often less about teaching the horse something and more about working on myself – on my seat, my aids and making everything look even finer and easier. It is particularly important to me to create something new every day. I don’t see my horses the way a teacher sees their pupils. I would rather be a ‘cool teacher’ and work on something together with them. The horses should really want to work with me. That’s why I try not to create stubborn routines. I want to offer my horses variety so that not every day looks the same. I want them to stay curious and enjoy their work. My aim is that when I arrive at the stables in the morning, they are already hoofing it and really want to train with me.