In dressage, the shine of medals often hides the true origin of success. It’s not all about numbers, scores, or statistics. The real driving force behind a champion partnership lies in something far more intimate and harder to define: the passion and faith in a dream.
The recent triumph of Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, winning double gold in the Grand Prix Special and the Kür at the 2025 European Championships, is not only a sporting achievement. It is proof of a truth we often forget: the greatness of a horse cannot be bought ready-made — it must be discovered, nurtured, and respected over time.
Behind every test, behind every tear of emotion on Justin’s face after finishing his rides, there are years of patience, of believing in a young horse, of seeing in him something that did not yet exist but could one day shine. Because this is the true “eye of the rider”: not just admiring what is already there, but sensing what might be.
With trust, with respect for the horse’s rhythm, with daily dedication, it is possible to bring hidden talent to light and transform it into art. And it is that silent connection, built in the quiet work of each day, that can one day step onto the international stage and captivate the world.
The triumph of Verboomen and Zonik Plus reminds us that dressage is not about shortcuts or speed. It is a path of faith, passion, and love for the horse. A path where true success is not about defeating others, but about unveiling the brilliance within your horse.
Because dressage, in its purest essence, is this: turning passion into movement, and movement into emotion.
