On the first day of the European Dressage Championship, the German team did not have the enthusiasm that was hoped for.

The dressage riders started the home game in Hagen near Osnabrück with moderate results and after two out of four pairs are only second behind Great Britain and just ahead of Denmark.

There were "small mistakes", "said national coach Monica Theodorescu, they were" expensive ".

Just two days after the end of the European Show Jumping Championships with the individual gold for André Thieme, the medal hunt of the German equestrians only 35 kilometers away from Riesenbeck continued with an unexpected damper. "I would have preferred it without mistakes," said the national coach. Helen Langehanenberg from Billerbeck with Annabelle and Dorothee Schneider from Framersheim with Faustus made too many mistakes on Tuesday. Now the team is in an unfamiliar place and has to start a race to catch up on Wednesday.

The first starter was a tailor. The 52-year-old rode Faustus because her top horse Showtime is not fit and was “on the whole” satisfied with the Grand Prix. "It is a special feeling to ride a championship with this horse for the first time," said Schneider, who, like Isabell Werth, was part of the winning European Championship team in Gothenburg and Rotterdam. "He has to gain even more security in the arena," said the rider. There were “two or three moments of uncertainty” with Faustus.

As the second rider of the home team, Helen Langehanenberg rode with Annabelle.

The 39-year-old rider from Billerbeck was a substitute rider at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and was now able to present a fresh horse at the European Championships.

“I really wanted to,” said Langehanenberg.

However, she made two clear mistakes, so that her conclusion was mixed: “I'm not dissatisfied, but I'm not satisfied either.” There was “still room for improvement”.

On Wednesday the best couples will not only ride with the host team.

For Germany, the star begins on the second day of the European Championship in Isabell Werth.

The most successful rider in the world saddles Weihegold.

The conclusion for the German team is made by Jessica von Bredow-Werndl from Tuntenhausen and Dalera, who won double gold at the Olympic Games in Tokyo.