Moody Wins the Grand Prix Special in Rotterdam; Marieke van der Putten Wins the Freestyle

Grand Prix Special goes to the British rider

Becky Moody skipped her favorite discipline, the free skate, to perform her “Jagerbomb” once again in a Grand Prix Special. It’s been a while since their last one—almost ten months, to be exact. Their most recent appearance in this event, where the first set of individual medals is awarded at all championships except the Olympic Games, was at the 2025 European Championships in Crozet. Back then, the pair placed fifth with a score of 77.796 percent. In Rotterdam, 77.575 percent was enough for them to take the win.

Becky Moody wasn’t entirely satisfied with their Grand Prix performance, even though they placed second there. For today, she had resolved to step it up a notch. The key factor for the pair is Jagerbomb’s enthusiasm. The electric atmosphere of the freestyle suits him well, giving him a boost, so to speak. But today, Moody also presented her 12-year-old with plenty of energy and forward drive in the Special, even in the piaffes.

The gelding’s exemplary connection from the hind leg to the hand—which extends over the supple back and the flexible neck all the way to the mouth—is a joy to behold. This results in a constant, subtle contact, always within the appropriate framework for the respective tempos. This allows for extensions to be demonstrated with a genuine widening of the frame—how much more beautiful than forced, rigid kicking. The pair also executes the flying changes beautifully, as well as the pirouettes.

In short: It was a really great run, and World Cup champion Moody must have been very pleased with it.

Van Lieres’ Mauro in second place

Second place went to Dinja van Liere and her nine-year-old Mauro Turfhorst with a score of 74.064 percent. Just a few months ago, the Dutch rider had made her national Grand Prix debut with her horse, who had placed fourth twice at the World Dressage Championships. That went so well that they immediately put themselves in contention for the World Championships in Aachen. In Rotterdam, they finally secured their formal qualification for the championships. To qualify, they needed at least two international Grand Prix or Special results of 66 percent or better at different events. They earned their first qualifying result in early May in Exloo, where they placed second in both the Grand Prix and the Special. At their home CHIO in Rotterdam, they secured their spot in Aachen in the Grand Prix and confirmed it once again today.

One might have wished for a bit more bend in the left-hand half-pass from the beautiful black horse by Zonik. Also, the first extension was more of a run than one developed from the supporting hind leg. This worked better in the extensions developed from the passage—provided Mauro didn’t accidentally break into a canter, as happened to them once today. But Dinja van Liere quickly regained control of the situation. It was lovely to see how calmly the stallion then set off at a walk. The piaffes were also a highlight; in the first one, he was still a bit behind the hand and thus leaning on his shoulder, but he maintained a steady rhythm, was active, and showed good hock flexion. In the second piaffe, for some inexplicable reason, the stallion kicked out backward once. That was all the more frustrating because he simply continued piaffing afterward as if nothing had happened. Among the highlights of the canter sequence were the smoothly executed double changes, the pirouettes, and the single changes on the center line.

Neumünster winner in third place

Third place went to a much more experienced pair: Larissa Pauluis and her Ampere son Flambeau, who had competed for Belgium at the Olympic Games in Paris and, among other achievements, won this year’s World Cup stop in Neumünster, though they chose not to compete in the finals in Texas. As part of their World Championship preparations, the pair once again had a Special on the program today. They, too, had most recently completed this test in Crozet. A personal best of 73.830 percent should leave Pauluis feeling satisfied as she continues her journey toward Aachen.

Marieke van der Putten took fourth place on her current second horse in the stable, the 11-year-old Glamourdale son Kuvazs, who is the spitting image of his world champion sire, though slightly more delicate in build. For the pair, it was their Grand Prix Special debut, which they mastered with flying colors: 73.106 percent.

Zantana Dominates the Free Skating

Fourth place in the first Special for Kuvasz wasn’t the only reason for Marieke van der Putten to be beaming today. Riding her number one horse, the 12-year-old Zonik daughter Zantana—bred by Paul Schockemöhle’s Lewitz Stud and a half-sister to, among others, Edward Gal’s 2021 Olympic horse— Total US, she won the freestyle—and did so with a lead of nearly eight percent over the rest of the field.

84.580 percent is by far the pair’s best score to date in an international freestyle. In fact, the mare moved with greater suppleness in Rotterdam than had ever been seen from her before. Furthermore, she is able to fully showcase her strengths in piaffe and passage during the freestyle. But it wasn’t just the typical Grand Prix movements that impressed; even at a walk, the mare demonstrated a steady rhythm, suppleness, and diligence.

Once again, it became clear that Zantana has what it takes for a dressage horse to win an individual medal. But she needs to become even more relaxed, both mentally and physically, so that van der Putten can relax even more. And using the curb bit less would also be desirable.

The winners

Behind the outstanding winners, France’s Corentin Pottier, riding Gotilas du Feuillard, was the last rider to compete in the event and edged out the Dutch 2025 European Championship pair Rowena Weggelaar and Don Quichot into third place. Olympic rider Pottier and his Totilas son received 76.635 percent for their freestyle. Weggelaar and her 18-year-old star scored 75.475 percent.

The dressage competition in Rotterdam will take place without any German participants. You can find the results of the Dutch CHIO here.