Text © World of Showjumping

Richard Vogel (GER) and the 13-year-old stallion United Touch S (Untouched x Lux Z) won Friday night’s CSI5* 1.55m VDL Groep Prize at The Dutch Masters in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands – the host to the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year.

Thirteen from the 41 horse-and-rider combinations at start cleared the first-round track set by Luis Konickx (NED), Quintin Maertens (NED) and Gerard Lachat (SUI). When Max Kühner (AUT) on Elektric Blue P (Eldorado vd Zeshoek x For Pleasure) and Marcus Ehning (GER) aboard Coolio 42 (Casalito x Quidam de Revel) opted not to take part in the jump-off, eleven pairs were left to battle it out for the win.

Peder Fredricson (SWE) and Catch Me Not S (Cardento 933 x Ramiro’s Son) took an early lead, setting the time to beat to 38.63 seconds. However, they had to settle for second in the end when Vogel and United Touch S crossed the finish line 0.06 seconds faster to take the win in 38.57. Another crowd-favourite, Gilles Thomas (BEL) and Ermitage Kalone (Catoki x Kannan) completed the podium in third in 38.85, while Jur Vrieling (NED) and Clear Heart (Clarimo x Heartbreaker) finished fourth in 38.87 and Kim Emmen (NED) on Imagine (Cassini Gold x Lord Z) fifth in 42.99.

“I'm very delighted with United Touch, obviously,” Vogel told World of Showjumping afterwards. “After a long break, he can sometimes be a bit tense the first day, and this morning he was quite fresh. I worked him on the flat a little longer than I usually would do and tonight he just felt awesome in the ring. He took his time in the first round, he was calm and relaxed. He was focused and I was delighted about that already after the first round. We thought we would do the jump-off without trying anything crazy, to still keep the shape for Sunday. I think the jump-off suited him in a way that there were a few turns where I could just turn a bit tighter and not go too crazy with the gallop. Luckily it worked out well.”

“Our last show was in the beginning of January in Basel," Vogel continued. "He felt good, but we still thought he did a lot last year, so we wanted to give him a bit off and decided to not take him to the States with me where I have been based in the winter. This show – like all of the Rolex Grand Slam shows which are outstanding venues – is important for us and we wanted him to be in shape here. My groom Felicia stayed at home with United, she didn't come to the sun but stayed in the cold weather with United to look after him. For the most part she rides him, so a big compliment obviously goes to her and the whole team at home for keeping him in such good form while I was away. I only got back from Wellington on Monday and rode him on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday – and now we're here.”