The Calm Before the Storm: Silke Rottermann at the 2023 European Para Dressage Championships

2023 European Para Dressage Championships

-- Text and Photos © Silke Rottermann for Eurodressage

A day before departing to the 2023 European Para and Dressage Championships in Riesenbeck on Sunday 3 Septeber 2023, I wrote a desperate WhatsApp to Astrid Appels. I pinched a nerve and did not know what made me more mad: The overwhelming pain it caused or the fear not making it to my first European para championships for Eurodressage.

Finally my pharmacy as well as my landlord, who is a physiotherapist, came to the rescue; the latter in particular sacrificing her Saturday afternoon to treat me instead of sitting on her horse, but with the result that I could travel the 450 kilometers Sunday early morning in a thick mist which reminded me that autumn is not far away. The motorways up north were, for once, empty and I trundled along, taking it easy after the nerve-wrecking day before.

Para horses being handwalked as familiarisation

When I arrived at Riesenbeck around noontime the sun was shining and the temperatures felt more than just over 20 degrees. The beautiful show-grounds were still a bit „sleepy“ with no spectators, and workers putting the finishing touches here and there.

I headed straight for the two arenas for para dressage which are next to each other: one is the warm-up ring, the other the competition arena.

The FEI purple medal podium was already there and while taking photos of some of the riders from the many different nations, who entered between 1 and 5 pm, I asked myself who would find him- or herself there in the next days? Soon we will know.

Follow Eurodressage in the upcoming week for complete coverage of the 2023 European Dressage and Para Dressage Championships.

Rottermann will be following the para dressage riders, while Appels is scrutinizing the tests in the dressage arena. More coverage and photos to come in the upcoming week.

-- Text and Photos © Silke Rottermann for Eurodressage - NO REPRODUCTION ALLOWED !

Related Link
Eurodressage Coverage of the 2023 European Dressage Championships

Vladimir Vinchon’s Oldenburger Pégase Mayenne (by Fidertanz) got to know the competition arena being hand-walked while his rider looked on.

Anne d’Ieteren, former international rider for Belgium and show-organizer of the renowned CPEDI Waregem

The beautiful head and interesting noseband pad of the Hanoverian gelding Bequia Simba (by Bequia-Sandro) of Austrian Grade V rider Valentina Strobl.

Newcomers to the British team, Charlotte Cundall and the leggy KWPN gelding FJ Veyron (by Vivaldi). Charlotte is a former three-day-eventer and jockey and turned to para dressage after two serious back injuries.

Sole Swiss representatives in the para classes in Riesenbeck are once again Nicole Geiger and her 17-year old Flemmingh son Amigo.

Exactly 40 years after she debuted on the Danish senior team at the European Championships 1983 in Aachen to win team silver with Baloo, Danish Rene Igelski is back on her country’s (now para) team with the gorgeous Danish mare Beyond Dreams (by Benetton Dream x Come Back II).

Two generations of Grade III riders: Barbara Minneci who is a three time Paralympian for Belgian (left) and France’s Chiara Zenati who was the youngest rider at the Tokyo Olympics two years ago.

Belgian stalwart Barbara Minecci, who competes in Grade III, and Stuart getting into the swing in the competition arena which they could use for a 20-minutes-familiarisation

German Grade V rider Regine Mispelkamp and the KWPN gelding Highlander Delight’s (by Florencio x Jazz) working focused with German national coach Silke Fütterer.

The para competition arena with the medal platform. Who is going to take place there in the upcoming days?

Federica Sileoni who starts in Grade V for Italy training her 17-year-old KWPN mare Burberry (by Lord Loxley x Kelvin).

Two of the stewards - Juliet Wathley and Rachel Brennebstuhl - who supervised the training in the two para rings.

Austrian Valentina Strobl, who competed in the able bodied international junior division before switching to para dressage, on Bequia Simba.

Kevin van Ham and his partner of many years, Eros van Ons Heem. The Belgian and the 14-year old KWPN gelding by Johnson x Ferro not only compete in Grade V, but have also shown in international Grand Prix like the CDI Mannheim.

Great Britain’s Sophie Wells on the way to the arena. This year she is debuting the just 7-year old Danish bred mare LJT Egebjerggards Samoa (by St. Schufro) at the championships.

Irish Grade I rider Michael Murphy and his trainer Elder Klatzko watching some of the late afternoon’s action going on.

Tokyo silver medalists in Grade IV, Louise Etzner Jakobsson and her 12-year-old KWPN gelding Goldstrike B.j. (by Dreamcatcher-Jazz) after their session in the competition arena.

Finnish judge Marjukka Manninen and Janne Bergh.

Belgian Manon Claes’ impressive KWPN mare Katharina Sollenburg (by Electron Sollenburg x Jazz)