Germany Sends Strong World Championship Warning with Nations Cup Victory at Hagen
Germany underlined its credentials ahead of next month’s FEI Dressage World Championships with a commanding victory on home soil in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ at Hagen a.T.W.
Competing at the inaugural Nations Cup held during the Covalliero Dressage Days, the host nation dominated proceedings, finishing more than 17 points clear of Spain after producing three of the highest individual Grand Prix scores of the competition.
Led by Chef d’Equipe Klaus Roeser, Germany’s quartet of Semmieke Rothenberger (Farrington), Raphael Netz (Great Escape Camelot), Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth OLD) and Isabell Werth (Wendy de Fontaine) secured victory on 230.834, with Spain taking second on 212.892 and the United States completing the podium on 210.957.
The result provides another confidence boost for the reigning dressage powerhouse with just weeks remaining until the FEI Dressage World Championships in Aachen.
German national coach Monica Theodorescu described the competition as an important milestone in the team’s preparations.
“The World Championships are another test, but this was an important test. This is another important step toward the Championship—and whichever Championship there is in a year, it’s the same procedure.”
Werth Leads from the Front
Nine-time world champion Isabell Werth once again demonstrated why she remains one of the sport’s most formidable competitors, producing the only score above 80 percent aboard her Paris Olympic partner Wendy de Fontaine.
Their polished test earned 80.051%, with judges awarding multiple marks of 10 during the canter work.
After her test, Werth said:
“I was really happy with Wendy. It’s always a bit more difficult when you wait the whole day and then into the evening to start, but she was really focused and concentrated.
“She was really relaxed and I think with a lot of highlights. I was really happy with the piaffe-passage. The walk tour was really relaxing, and I was happy with my pirouettes. The whole test, I could really sit and wait and enjoy it.”
Frederic Wandres added another impressive performance for Germany with 76.087% aboard Bluetooth OLD despite a minor error in the two-tempi changes.
Meanwhile, Germany’s younger riders also impressed. Raphael Netz scored 73.696%, while Semmieke Rothenberger posted 71.935%, with both finishing among the competition’s top five individual combinations.
Theodorescu praised the depth emerging within the German programme.
“I’m very proud and happy to have such a good team—a young team. We go through all of our age categories, and it proves that our system is working well in Germany.”
Championship Standings
The victory marks Germany’s second FEI Dressage Nations Cup win of the 2026 season and extends their lead in the overall standings to 44 points after four legs.
Belgium now sits second on 29 points, while Great Britain occupies third with 23 points.
The 2026 FEI Dressage Nations Cup series concludes on 11 July at CDIO5 Falsterbo* in Sweden.
