Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus win Lier Grand Prix Freestyle, Semmieke Rothenberger third

It was foreseeable that Justine Verboomen and Zonik Plus would win the Grand Prix Freestyle in Lier. The question was rather how. The answer: with 90.015 percent.

The music by Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus is an original composition. Unlike many other pairs that piaffe and passagate as rhythmically as the ten-year-old Rhenish-bred Zonik son from Portugal, the beat here is not set by percussion but by piano. The dramaturgy is created by the strings – soft tones in the assembly, more energy for the reinforcements. In the first piaff pirouette, Zonik Plus showed tension kicks. This was much better in the second.

Overall, however, the stallion did not always appear fully relaxed. This could be seen, for example, in the frequently brushing tail, as well as the somewhat restless mouth and the stomping front leg in collected walk.

It wasn’t the rider’s fault. As always, Justin Verboomen guided his stallion through the test with the lightest of hands and the finest of aids. He rode the last passage on the center line one-handed. Despite the moments of tension, it is simply fun to watch this pair – very similar to Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Freestyle. The WEG in Aachen definitely promises to be extremely exciting.

But a lot can still happen between now and then.

Semmieke Rothenberger and her Ferrari

Semmieke Rothenberger and Farrington’s (aka “Ferrari”) freestyle begins with the 16-year-old KWPN gelding by Jazz’s greatest strength, the piaffe-passage-tour. The whole thing is underlined by Kool & The Gang’s classic, “Get down on it”. When it comes to rhythm, activity and picking up loads, Farrington is second to none in these lessons. A somewhat lighter approach would be desirable.

The walk tour was completed safely in time and well controlled with sufficient diligence.

In the canter tour, they made a mistake on the first line with the single changes. They were able to make up for it on the joker line, but they are actually better at it. The canter pirouettes were a highlight.

The couple’s routine is not peppered with difficulties, but what they show, they master.

With 79.745 percent, they just missed the 80 percent mark. That is hardly less than they achieved in their biggest success to date in the senior camp, winning the Grand Prix Freestyle of the CDI4* Tour CHIO Aachen 2025, where they scored 79.980 percent.

Pauluis follows up

Another Belgian pair has been increasingly in the spotlight in recent months: Larissa Pauluis with Flambeau. The Belgian rider and the 16-year-old KWPN gelding by Ampere, who was actually meant to be a show jumper, were victorious in the World Cup in Neumünster, among others. Today, they came second with 81.750 percent; Rothenberger was delighted with third place behind them.

The other three pairs in the German team from the Nations Cup had already competed in the Grand Prix Special.

All results from the CDI Lier can be found here.