Görlitz Summer Weeks Dressage 2026: Grand Prix Victory for Dorothee Schneider and Karlijn; Times Kismet Forces Jessica von Bredow-Werndl to Withdraw

Three horses cleared the 70-percent mark in the Grand Prix in Görlitz. Two of them scored more than 71 percent. The victory went to Dorothee Schneider riding the 11-year-old mare Karlijn V (71.239 percent). They would have scored a few more points had the pair not lost their rhythm during the flying changes—resulting in two jumps—after a strong start.

Getting Better and Better at Teaching: Karlijn and Dorothee Schneider

For much of the test, the bay mare responded confidently to the driving aids. In the piaffes, she moved diligently and in perfect rhythm, remaining almost exactly in place. As her strength increases, this exercise is likely to become even more expressive—especially since the passage is one of the strengths of this mare, who was born in the Netherlands. Before the first pirouette, there was a slight snag in her hind leg.

By the way, Karlijn was ridden with a snaffle bit —that’s allowed in international competitions up to CDI3*.

On the podcast *ERZÄHL MIR WAS VOM PFERD*, Danish Olympic judge and veterinarian Hans-Christina Matthiesen discussed his experience with Grand Prix competitions using a snaffle bit. In his native Denmark, the freedom to choose has been standard practice for more than ten years. Click here to listen to the episode.

A difference of more than five percent in the rating of Diamante Negro

Juliane Brunkhorst and DSP Diamante Negro almost became the first pair to ride to victory in the arena. But Dorothee Schneider scored two points more than the rider from Hamburg. That said, the judges were anything but unanimous in their assessment of the pair’s harmonious ride: scores ranged from 69.022 to 74.239 percent, with placement scores from one to five. In the end, they recorded a score of 71.152, securing second place.

The scoring for third-place finisher Lena Haßmann followed a similar pattern. Riding the mare—which placed seventh in the 2024 Nuremberg Burg-Pokal final and in the 2025 Louisdor Prize—she also received scores with a difference of 5.5 percentage points. The pair left the arena with a score of 70.13 percent.

Imhotep, who finished on the podium at the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck under British rider Charlotte Dujardin, was sold to Diana Porsche some time ago. The 30-year-old, who now competes for Hungary, placed fourth after a ride without any technical faults.

Times Kismet Stuck in a Piaffe

This was exactly the kind of ride Jessica von Bredow-Werndl had probably dreamed of with Times Kismet. At first, it looked as though it was going to be just that. After a hesitant start into the trot, the Dutch mare traversed evenly to the right and left, maintaining a secure position and bend. The supple half-pass to the left was a sight to behold. The half-pass backward could have been executed with a touch of finesse. The first piaffe was very secure, with active, even strides and a supple transition into the passage.

Everything Was Fine at First

The pair demonstrated a strong stride with sufficient reach. But then came the transition to the second piaffe. The first impression: hesitant. The second: uncooperative. The mare initially veered to the right, resisting the aids. On several occasions, Times Kismet began to rise as she started the piaffe. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl eventually managed to guide the Ampere daughter toward the track and have her break into a canter there. The judges still awarded a 0.6 for this piaffe, which was not actually performed.

Harmony Restored

After that, the pair seemed to have regained their composure in the canter, despite errors in the flying changes at two jumps and noticeable wobbling in the hindquarters. A very well-executed zigzag half-pass and the pirouettes reinforced that impression.

… but then

The passage on the final center line looked as though Jessica von Bredow-Werndl had deliberately ridden it with a slightly forward tempo. Presumably to keep the mare—once ridden by Charlotte Dujardin—safe from the driving aids. Then came the final piaffe: This time, the mare pushed out over her left shoulder toward the rail and threw her head up. Jessica von Bredow-Werndl had no choice but to raise her hand and give up. She then trotted lightly toward C and, in a light trot, attempted another piaffe. When Times Kismet proved to be much more cooperative this time, she praised her effusively.

Results of the 2026 Görlitz Summer Weeks Dressage Competition