German U25 dressage riders win the title in commanding fashion at the European Championships in Pilisjaszfalu

In the Young Riders category, the placements in Pilisjaszfalu were hotly contested. The outcome of the team competition for titles and medals at the European Championships for U25 riders was much clearer—in favor of the German team, whose riders took first, second, fourth, and fifth place. All of them scored more than 70 percent. No other team managed to do that.

The competition wasn’t even over yet, but it was already clear that Germany couldn’t be denied the title. Alexander Yde Helgstrand, riding as Denmark’s final team rider, would have had to score over 74 percent. However, his best score with Inspiration in the Intermédiaire II was 70.618 percent. In fact, the World Cup-seasoned duo delivered what was certainly the best piaffe-passage sequence of the day and beat their personal best by about 1.5 percent. That wasn’t enough to overtake Germany, but it was enough to secure the silver medal for Denmark ahead of the Netherlands.

In the end, Germany took gold with 215.412 percent, ahead of Denmark with 213.235 percent and the Netherlands, which scored 210.412 percent.

Oatley and Baumgürtel in first and second place

Katharina Schuster on Qence L and Pia-Carlotta Gagel on Riccio had already exceeded all expectations twice yesterday, setting personal bests on both occasions. Things went just as well today for the other two team riders.

Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel and her self-trained mare First Vienna were the first pair to compete for Germany today. Their movements lacked a bit of fluidity; the mare seemed to be holding back slightly. Given these circumstances, it was a masterful riding performance that the European Champion in the Pony, Junior, and Young Rider categories still managed to guide the mare through the test without any major errors in the dressage movements, while still delivering highlights such as the perfectly straight flying changes, and took the lead for the time being with a score of 72.088.

Only one pair managed to do even better: Rose Oatley and Alive and Kicking. Although the daughter of Australian Olympic rider Kristy Oatley and the Westphalian All at Once daughter—trained by Charlotte Dujardin—didn’t quite reach the over 74 percent they had achieved at their international debut in Mannheim, but 72.118 percent was enough to take the lead and essentially seal the victory for Germany—even though several other strong pairs were still to come.

Hermès’ Total Failure

The fact that the gap between the Netherlands and Denmark was relatively large was primarily due to one of the strongest Dutch pairs, Eline Anker and Hermès. Anker took over the Easy Game son this year from Dinja van Liere, who had trained him, won individual bronze with him at the 2022 World Championships, and competed with him at the 2024 Olympic Games and the 2025 European Championships. With his new rider, the gelding (he was castrated) made a strong international debut in Exloo. They won the Intermédiaire II with a score of 73.774 percent.

They were far from that today. To be more precise, they couldn’t finish the test because Hermès found the corners of the dressage arena too scary. Eline had to use all her skill just to maneuver him into the arena. She made it as far as the “X” marker, but after approaching it, it was over. Hermès refused three times, so to speak, and the pair were disqualified. As a result, Micky van Schelstraete and Karim’s score of 68.441 percent from yesterday stood.

In addition to the beautiful performance by Tessa Kole and Hexagon’s King Robert—who placed ninth in the final standings with 70.265 percent—Johnny, ridden by Marten Luiten and showing perfect form, rounded out the team. The pair placed fourth in the individual standings with 71.706 percent.

A well-balanced Danish team

The silver-medal-winning Danish team impressed with consistently good—or “pretty good”—performances, as all riders scored 70 percent or higher, with the exception of Laura Jarlkvist Rasmussen and Seventeen JR, whose score of 68.617 percent was the team’s lowest. One of them was Ida Kirstine Björn with Hotson, who had already impressed yesterday with a score of 70.588 percent. Then there was Frederikke Gram Jacobsen and Finest Alegra, who still looked like title contenders during the trot test but couldn’t quite maintain that level until the end and finished seventh with 70.735 percent. And finally, as previously reported, Andreas Helgstrand’s son Alexander Ade Helgstrand and Inspiration with 71.912 percent.

Strong Swiss

Incidentally, the Swiss riders—who competed with only three riders but still secured a strong fourth-place finish with 205.677 percent—also impressed the crowd with their beautiful rides. The Swiss heroes of the moment were Robynne Graf on Domino (67.853), Milena Sophia Sulzer on Roksanda (69.50), and Meilin Ngovan on Dreamdancer (68.324).

You can find all the results here.