Heidemarie Dresing Wins Germany's First Medal in Para-Dressage at the World Championships in Aachen—Gold in Grade II

Today, the first individual medals in para-dressage were awarded to riders in Grades I through III. Germany was represented in Grade II by Heidemarie Dresing and her Princes’ Ball-daughter Poesie. The pair competed as European champions and thus as favorites, and they fully lived up to that role. With a score of 75.483 percent, the 71-year-old, who at age 50 had Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis She advanced, just as she had at the European Championships against Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen on Goerklintgaard’s Quater. Here, she scored 75.31 percent. The bronze medal went to Britain’s Jemima Green riding Fantabulous, a daughter of Oldenburger Foundation (75.241). This mirrored the European Championship podium exactly.

The fact that it was so close came mainly because, just as they were lining up for the greeting, a loud noise rang out from outside the competition arena, and Dresing’s Poesie was terribly startled. Stopping was out of the question; Poesie went into reverse. But she clearly trusts her rider so much that she was able to convince her to stay with her and start the test—no easy feat when you’re already having trouble keeping your balance in the saddle. But Dresing says, “Fortunately, I was able to quickly regain her trust because I’ve come to know her really well by now. I do everything with my horse: I don’t just ride her, I also take care of her. I go for walks with her, as far as I’m able to.”

Grade III Gold for van der Horst, Silver for Joergensen, Bronze for Salvadé

Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. won the gold medal in Grade III with a score of 77.534 percent—a personal best for the pair and the Dutch rider’s sixth World Championship gold medal overall. As a three-time European champion, van der Horst went into the competition as one of the favorites; she was the second pair to compete and set the bar high early on. Seventeen other pairs followed before it became clear that her score would be enough. “That was really nerve-wracking,” the 34-year-old admitted. Van der Horst had discovered her 11-year-old Westphalian chestnut stallion, Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P., three years ago at Dinja van Liere’s stable. “He has a heart of gold,” she said of her partner. “For our first competition, I’m more than happy with how we both handled it.”

The silver medal went to Tobias Thorning Joergensen, the two-time Paralympic champion from the 2021 Tokyo Games. Riding Jolene Hill, he also won double gold at the 2022 World Championships in Herning, as well as double gold at the 2019 European Championships in Rotterdam and the 2023 European Championships in Riesenbeck. In Aachen, the 25-year-old competed for the first time with the 10-year-old Oldenburg stallion Blue Hors Zackorado and scored 75.100 percent.

The bronze medal went to 37-year-old Francesca Salvadé of Italy riding Escari (74.767 percent). For the rider, who has lived with spina bifida since birth, this was her second international individual medal following the bronze in the freestyle at the 2025 European Championships in Ermelo, where she had also won her first championship medal with Escari. Salvadé had previously competed at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Grade I: Vonderheyden Wins Gold on Her Birthday

American Marie Vonderheyden won the gold medal in Grade I with a score of 76.709 percent—on her World Championship debut and on her birthday. Silver went to Britain’s Mari Durward-Akhurst riding Athene Lindebjerg (74.542 percent). Bronze was secured by the experienced Italian rider Sara Morganti riding Bond Girl (74.459 percent).

Vonderheyden, who once competed successfully for France in eventing, made her World Championship debut riding the experienced Fan Tastico H, who had carried Roxanne Trunnell to three gold medals at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. For the 46-year-old, this victory holds special personal significance: After a serious riding accident eleven years ago, she was in a coma for two months and continues to struggle with significant health challenges to this day. “My horse is such a great guy,” said the winner. “I’m very happy with my performance—even though, of course, there are still things we can improve on.”

Durward-Akhurst had already ridden Athene Lindebjerg at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, where the pair won bronze in the freestyle—her greatest international success to date. The black mare had previously won Paralympic gold with Sophie Christiansen in Rio in 2016.

Sara Morganti is one of the defining figures in para-dressage: The 49-year-old from Tuscany, who has been living with multiple sclerosis since she was 19, has won four World Championship titles in Grade I and is one of Italy’s most successful para-athletes of all time. In Tokyo 2021, she won two bronze medals with Royal Delight, and in Paris 2024, she won silver in the freestyle with Mariebelle. In Aachen, she presented Bond Girl—a seven-year-old daughter of Bon Coeur—at a championship for the first time.

Preview

On Thursday, riders in Grades IV and V will begin their individual competitions. Here are the start times for the German riders:

9:42 a.m. Helen Brandt and Vulkan Vegas IB (Grade IV)

10:24 a.m. Anna-Lena Niehues and Vive L’amour (Grade IV)

2:24 p.m. Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s (Grade V)