The field of five-year-old dressage horses was of the highest quality, and the decision was hotly contested. Hann.Pr.A. Viva Weltina by Viva Gold/Dante Weltino (breeder: Marietta Kappelhoff-Dorenkamp, Beckum) and Carola Koppelmann produced a fabulous performance that combined training, harmony and trust as if taken straight from a textbook. Their final score of 9.34 could not be surpassed, securing them the Bundeschampion title. The chestnut mare received 9.6 for her trot, which was characterised by a high degree of naturalness, and 9.3 for her relaxed, completely even canter. Her submission left nothing to be desired and earned her the day’s highest score of 9.7. This was complemented by a 9.5 for the overall impression of riding of the highest level.
Benjamin Franklin by Bon Vivaldi/Royal Blend (breeder: Wilhelm Kamps, Cuxhaven), whom Celle State Stud acquired at the 2023 Verden Stallion Sales, was named reserve Bundeschampion. His powerful trot, which came close to ideal, was awarded 9.7. His committed canter was almost equally perfect, earning the bay 9.6. Although the reigning Hanoverian champion had won the qualifying round, he was unable to reproduce his usual level of submission in the final and finished on a score of 9.28. With these outstanding results, the two Hanoverians dominated their age group. Bronze went by a wide margin to the Westphalian son of Life Time/Desperados and Justine Ludot (8.86).
