CDIO Lier as the final preparation for the World Championships in Aachen for Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus

Justin Verboomen returns to familiar ground this week. At Belgium Dressage Events in Lier, he will once again compete with his remarkable stallion Zonik Plus in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™, a competition that has become closely connected to special memories for the Belgian combination. Will they manage to make history once again?

“Two years ago, it all really started here in the Medium Tour,” Verboomen says two days before the Nations Cup begins. “Then came the victory with the Belgian team in the Nations Cup. I have so many great memories of Lier. The organization is fantastic, the atmosphere and the facilities as well. I really enjoy coming to Lier.”

“Zonik Plus feels really good”
A lot has changed over the past two years. In a short period of time, the combination has grown into one of the absolute highlights of international dressage sport. Yet there is no sign of rushing or big statements from Verboomen. Quite the opposite. Calmness, details and feeling are central in his preparation towards the World Championships in FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 this summer. “I’m really happy with how Zonik Plus feels at the moment,” he explains. “I was very pleased with the test in Fontainebleau. Since then, I’ve actually hardly ridden any exercises at home. I mainly focused on the small details: relaxation in the canter, the connection. But in the end, those are not details at all. That’s the foundation.”

All about feeling
For Verboomen, everything revolves around the feeling he has built at home during training. That is exactly the feeling he wants to bring into the arena in Lier this weekend. “The goal is to have the same feeling in the arena as I have at home. A canter with a relaxed back and once again that harmony in the passage and piaffe like in Fontainebleau,” where the combination achieved an impressive personal best score of 91.855%. Representing Belgium once again on home soil in the Nations Cup means a lot to him. “It’s always special to ride for your country. We have a really nice team. And it’s beautiful to hear the applause and support from the home crowd.”

World Championship preparation
After CDIO Lier, Zonik Plus will take a competition break in preparation for the World Championships, with Verboomen consciously choosing rest and routine over extra starts. “After Lier, I will stay home with Zonik for the entire month of June. He will also get a bit of a holiday. I won’t compete him again before the World Championships in Aachen. At the end of July we still have a training camp with the Belgian team and for me that’s enough. I couldn’t really find another show where I thought: I really want to compete there. I prefer focusing on the details at home.” According to Verboomen, Zonik Plus simply does not need additional competition mileage. What is essential for the stallion, however, is calmness around shows. “What he really needs is arriving early at the show so he can settle and acclimatize. That really makes him relaxed.”

Travelling loose in the truck
Even during transport, Verboomen searched for ways to make the stallion more comfortable. With success. “Recently he started travelling loose in the truck. On the two-horse truck he was always a bit nervous. A friend told me: ‘Just try letting him stand loose.’ So now I move the partitions to the side and since then he travels incredibly calmly.” It perfectly reflects the relationship between rider and horse. Verboomen constantly looks at what Zonik Plus needs to feel comfortable. “I’m not constantly worried about what could happen, also not when he’s outside in the field. If he prefers this, then we do it this way. Anything can always happen. In the end, he is the love of my life and I do everything for him.”

No Belgian Championships for Justin
During next week’s Belgian Championships, Verboomen himself will not compete. The original plan was to present his newest talent, Fellini du Soleil, but he decided to change course. “I had planned to compete Fellini, but we are not completely ready yet. I want to do everything as well as possible and take the time for it. That’s why I won’t compete next week, but of course I will come and support during the Belgian Championships.”

 Nations Cup on Saturday at 13.00
This Saturday, the FEI Dressage Nations Cup will take place in Lier for only the second time in Belgian dressage history. Spectators are warmly welcome, with tickets available online or at the entrance. The Nations Cup starts on Saturday at 13.00.

Tickets
Startlists & results