Rothenberger rides to gold: A triumph at the German championships!

Rothenberger rides to gold: A triumph at the German championships!

Amidst brilliant performances and emotional moments, the German Championships in the Grand Prix Freestyle were held at the Longines Balve Optimum on June 15, 2025. Sönke Rothenberger took the title with his horse Fendi and secured the gold medal with an impressive score of 81.6 percent. The joy of his success was synonymous with gratitude, because Rothenberger looks back on a difficult phase from which he emerged stronger with a close bond with his horse. “The performance is more important than the medal,” was his reflected assessment after the triumph. Rothenberger had already won gold at the championships seven years ago with his former horse Cosmo, and now used his freestyle music to illustrate the connection to his successes. Horse currently reported that this is Rothenberger's second freestyle title at the German Championships.

But the competition was also strong: Matthias Alexander Rath took second place with his horse Destacado FRH and achieved a score of 80.25 percent. It is noteworthy that Rath last stood on a podium eleven years ago and is now reporting his success with joy. The support of his children also played an important role in his emotional development. The Süddeutsche Zeitung highlights how important this support is for Rath.

More outstanding performances

Isabell Werth, the legendary dressage rider, performed with her horse Special Blend and came in third place with a score of 79.85 percent. This was the first time Special Blend had performed in a freestyle, making the achievement even more remarkable. She had practiced her freestyle in walk the morning before and was happy with the result despite small mistakes. Werth had already won the Grand Prix Spécial with her horse Wendy, and shows that she also has the potential to reach the top with her new partner.

It was an exciting day for Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, where she took seventh place with Diallo and achieved a score of 77.35 percent. The strong presence of dressage riders from Hesse and beyond shows that equestrian sport continues to be very popular in this country.

Overall, this event was not only a place for medal ceremonies, but also a sign that, despite the competition, the focus is on cohesion and trust between horse and rider. Sönke Rothenberger and his impressive performance with Fendi are a shining example of how passion and dedication can inspire people in sport.