Para Dressage got underway this Wednesday at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen with the staging of the first individual finals in Grades I, II and III. Stadium 3 at Allianz Park was the setting for a day that saw the first world titles of the discipline handed out, with victories going to the Netherlands, the United States and Germany.
In Grade III, the Dutch rider Rixt van der Horst and Eisma’s Royal Fonq N.O.P. confirmed their status as favourites with a performance that saw them achieve a score of 77.5341 TP3T, a personal best for the pair. The rider, who arrived in Aachen as a three-time European champion, thus secured the sixth world gold medal of her career.
The silver medallion went to the Dane Tobias Thorning Joergensen riding Blue Hors Zackorado, who scored 75.100%, whilst the Italian Francesca Salvadé completed the podium with Escari, scoring 74.767%.
The United States claimed the Grade I world title thanks to Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H. The American rider, who was also celebrating her birthday, scored 76.7091 TP3T on her World Championship debut to clinch the gold medal outright.
Vonderheyden also starred in one of the stories of the day. The rider had previously competed in Eventing representing France, but a serious riding accident eleven years ago changed her career path. In Aachen, alongside the experienced Fan Tastico H, she has achieved the world title in her first participation.
Britain’s Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg took silver with a score of 74.542%. The bronze went to Italy’s Sara Morganti, who competed alongside the seven-year-old Bond Girl, achieving a score of 74.459%.
The battle for the medals was particularly close in Grade II. Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing managed to come out on top with Poesie after overcoming a difficult start to the test. The mare seemed startled right at the start of the course, but the rider’s experience enabled her to quickly regain her concentration and complete a performance that was awarded 75.483%.
The result gave Dresing the world gold in front of the German crowd, with barely a few tenths separating the top three qualifiers.
Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen took silver with a score of 75.310%, whilst Britain’s Jemima Green and Fantabulous completed the podium with a score of 75.241%.
With these results, Rixt van der Horst for the Netherlands, Marie Vonderheyden for the United States and Heidemarie Dresing for Germany become the first Para Dressage World Champions of Aachen 2026. The competition will continue in the coming days with further titles at stake and with qualification for the Grand Prix Freestyle also forming part of the combinations' journey at the championship.
