Germany Wins Team Gold in Dressage at the European Pony Championships in Le Mans

As the final rider for the Danish team—and in the competition—Filippa Jæger Jensen would have had to score just under 82 percent to prevent another team victory by the German quartet in dressage at the 2026 European Pony Championships. She did not succeed in doing so.

In the end, Germany took gold with 224.771 percentage points, ahead of Denmark (218.828) and Sweden (214.971). It goes without saying that Victoria Winkmann’s 73.543 percent from yesterday was the lowest score to be discarded. Remarkably, all four pairs managed to set new personal bests. After yesterday’s debutants, Victoria Winkmann/Peach and Lilli von Helldorff/Nabucco HW, had paved the way, today it was the turn of the two pairs with European Championship experience.

The Two Final Rides for Gold

One of them was Lilly Kasselmann riding Nasdaq FH. It was their first European Championship as a pair, although Lilly had already represented Germany at the Children’s Championships last year, and 15-year-old Nasdaq is a true veteran. He has already helped two riders win European Championship gold medals—first Lucie-Anouk Baumgürtel, with whom he also set a world record in the freestyle, and then Maya Irene Wächter. He also helped Lucie’s sister, Lana-Pinou, win her first international ribbons, followed by Veronica Pawluk, and now Lilly Kasselmann, who celebrated a score of 74.857 percent today.

For the fourth pair on Team Germany—Leni-Sophie Gosmann and Diamantini EA WE—the story is quite different. They’ve grown into the international pony sport together. In 2024, they competed in their first European Championships. Leni was 14 at the time, and Diamantini was just eight years old. Now Leni is in the middle of her final year in pony competition and has won team gold for the third time at her third European Championships. In 2024, she also took bronze in the freestyle, and last year she won two silver medals. Maybe this year she’ll even win an individual gold medal. In the team event, the pair were already the best with a score of 75.6 percent. Lilly Kasselmann took second place, and Lilli von Helldorff came in third. Victoria Winkmann placed sixth behind the two top Danish riders, Filippa Jæger Jensen on Sir Sansibar (73.914) and Steffanie Victoria Horsted Dyrlund riding Cosmo Callidus (73.857).

Versatility – Germany Also at the Top

The European Pony Championships are typically the only junior championships where all three Olympic disciplines compete together. Today, the first half of the eventing riders took to the arena, and Germany is leading the team standings here as well.

Justus Hayessen and Miss Windsor received 33.3 penalty points for their performance at their first European Championships (and their fourth international tournament) and are currently ranked tenth. Charlotte Eilers and Nadeshi—who also have no European Championship experience but are now in their third international season—managed to move into fourth place in the provisional standings with 31.7 penalty points.

Tomorrow it’s Anna von Helldorff on Marlon and Lea Brügger on Golden Girl’s Nelly’s turn. Anna probably watched closely yesterday when her cousin Lilli competed in the dressage arena. The 14-year-old herself has never competed in the European Championships, but in 17-year-old Marlon she has a partner who, with his previous rider Nell Röming, won double gold at the 2023 European Championships.

Lea Brügger was a member of the German bronze-medal-winning team last year, though at that time she was riding Next Generation, the dam of Golden Girl’s Nelly. Golden Girl’s Nelly is competing in her first European Championships.

A German pair is also in the lead in the individual standings for the competition: individual rider Greta Marie Löhr on Rathcline Dream, who posted a strong round with 27.1 penalty points.

There’s still room for improvement on the course

The show jumping competition got off to a less successful start than the dressage event. The German team is currently in eighth place out of eight teams. The favorites from Ireland lead the standings, ahead of Great Britain and France.

Joost Fallenberg and Bella Donna TF posted the German team’s best result with one knockdown (16th place). Benedikt Raab and his horse Marie Luise knocked down three poles, as did Janne Neumann riding Hegerie de Lanlore. Frida Obermowe and Tyona had 16 faults.

You can find all the results from Le Mans here.