2026 Dressage World Championships: Germany Crowned, France Finishes 16th

The official verdict is in at the legendary Soers. Following two days of Grand Prix competition (Lambertz-Prize), dressage's global elite delivered their final team results. Combining high-caliber podium performances with heartbreak in the race for Olympic qualification, this team test delivered full drama before handing the baton to eventing and vaulting.

German Glory on Home Soil and Olympic Verdict for LA 2028

In front of a home crowd, Germany reaffirmed its dominance over world dressage by capturing team gold with a cumulative score of 235.063%. The German squad was led by world-class tests from Isabell Werth aboard Wendy de Fontaine (79.876%) and Katharina Hemmer on Denoix PCH (79.224%).

Great Britain secured silver with 231.445%, anchored by Charlotte Fry's masterclass with her black stallion Glamourdale (80.311%). Denmark completed the podium in bronze with 229.426%, boosted by the highest individual score of the entire Grand Prix from Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle (82.376%).

• Team Podium: Germany (Gold - 235.063%), Great Britain (Silver - 231.445%), Denmark (Bronze - 229.426%).
• LA 2028 Qualified Nations: Germany, Great Britain, Denmark, Belgium (4th with 223.044%), Netherlands (5th with 221.428%), and Sweden (6th with 216.552%).
• Individual Surprise: Belgian rider Justin Verboomen delivered a breakout performance to take 2nd place individually in the Grand Prix aboard Zonik Plus (80.885%).

French Team Review: 16th Place and End of the Line in Dressage

Combining the top three scores—Pauline Basquin (68.696%), Alexandre Ayache (67.950%), and Alizée Roussel (67.407%)—Team France posted a final score of 204.053% (an average of 68.018%). This result left Les Bleus in 16th place overall out of 19 competing nations, well adrift of the top-six threshold required to secure direct qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Furthermore, the individual competition also comes to an end for the French squad: no French rider managed to reach the top 30 required to advance to Friday’s Grand Prix Special (with the final qualifying spot cut off at 70.714%).

Alexandre Ayache and Ruling Olivia: Main Arena Frustration

As the third French combination to enter the arena on Wednesday, Alexandre Ayache earned a score of 67.950% with his mare Ruling Olivia (55th place individually). Rattled by environmental distractions along the diagonal (giant screen, shadows, and loudspeakers), the pair lost momentum in their extended paces:

“That test was the worst of our season. My mare really backed off in the first extended trot facing the giant screen, shadow, and loudspeakers at the end of the diagonal. I didn't dare push more, and we didn't make the right call in the arena. I'm disappointed personally and for the team. It's in arenas like this that you realize how crucial top-level experience is. As for us, we'll simply get back to work.”
— Alexandre Ayache, in the mixed zone

Pauline Basquin and Sertorius de Rima Z*IFCE: Consistency from a Stalwart

The final French rider to start, Cadre Noir rider Pauline Basquin posted the squad's top score of 68.696% aboard her faithful 16-year-old gelding Sertorius de Rima Z*IFCE (45th place individually). Despite lower trot marks than usual and a minor miscommunication in the canter tour, she highlighted her partner's heart and willingness:

“I'm fairly pleased with him; he was right there with me. I'm a bit disappointed with the score because in the trot work we're usually closer to 74%. In the canter, he caught sight of the camera at the end of the zig-zag, which led to a slight disconnect on the pirouette. But at 16, Sertorius showed he still wants to play and is in great physical shape. Even if the results didn't meet our expectations, we're a very close-knit team and we'll take the lessons forward.”
— Pauline Basquin, in the mixed zone

Thursday, August 13 Schedule: Kick-Off for Eventing and Vaulting

Starting Thursday, August 13, eventers kick off their World Championships with the dressage test. Ahead of the action, riders completed their first course walk of the cross-country track: stunning, fast, and nicely yielding, the track promises to be selective and technical. Meanwhile, vaulters also take to the stage in Aachen.

• Eventing – Dressage Part 1 (09:30 – 17:00 | Stadium 2): First half of combinations complete their dressage test (DHL-Prize). In eventing, the percentage score is converted to penalty points ($100 - \text{percentage}$) ahead of cross-country.
• Vaulting – Compulsory Tests (08:30 – 18:10 | Stadium 3): Opening day of compulsory exercises for Female Individual (08:30 – 12:35), Male Individual (13:30 – 15:10), and Squads (15:30 – 18:10).