Belgian Dressage Team Makes History

For the first time ever, an FEI Nations Cup Dressage competition was held in Belgium today. The Belgian dressage team came out in full force to Lier, determined to make this a historic edition of the prestigious team event. And they succeeded; claiming victory on home soil. Germany took second place, followed by the Netherlands.

The competition remained tense until the very end. After a top score by Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, Belgium took the lead. Germany, Great Britain, and the Netherlands also delivered strong performances. But it was ultimately Larissa Pauluis, the last rider for Belgium, who secured the win.

Dreams come true
“Wow!” said national coach Jeroen van Lent afterwards. “This was something I could only dream of. A huge thank you to the organisers for making this event happen and putting Belgium on the map as a dressage nation.” High praise from the coach. “This was truly a dream for me and for the riders. Everyone was incredibly eager and motivated, but it still has to come together on the day. The riders and their horses really delivered a fantastic performance,” he added, clearly more than satisfied.

Talk of the town
The entire dressage world has its eyes on one combination: Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. They were once again the talk of the town today. With a perfect 10 for a pirouette, Verboomen rode his jet-black stallion to a score of 78.543%. It was his very first outdoor CDI and his debut on the Belgian team. “This feels surreal,” was Verboomen’s first reaction. “Zonik really is the complete package.”

A true team effort
Chair of the ground jury, Maarten van der Heijden, said he thoroughly enjoyed the Nations Cup, which featured nine participating countries. “It’s already incredibly special to have a Nations Cup dressage competition in Belgium, and then to see them win it as well is just wonderful.” He continued: “This is truly a top-level team achievement. When you’re aiming for a team victory, you need more than just one standout combination, it takes depth,” referring to the attention surrounding Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. “These riders already made history in Riesenbeck and Paris. The level in Belgium is clearly rising.” Van der Heijden also praised the very harmonious riding style of Verboomen and the other Belgian team members.

In short, it was a day to remember. Tomorrow, the Grand Prix Special and Freestyle will take place on the final day of CDI Lier.

Results

Photo: Digishots