"That was an incredible experience and a dream come true, especially after our last championship in Paris," Richard Vogel tells WoSJ about winning individual gold and team bronze at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championships 2025 in A Coruña, Spain, with United Touch S. Photo © Jenny A Photo for World of Showjumping.
Text © World of Showjumping
In 2025, Germany’s Richard Vogel (28) took his first championship title with the one-of-a-kind United Touch S (Untouched x Lux Z) when stepping to the top of the podium at the Longines FEI Jumping European Championship in A Coruña, Spain.
“As every year, there were a lot of ups and downs,” Vogel tells World of Showjumping as he looks back on the year that is turning towards its end. “A highlight was winning the individual gold at the European Championship, as well as taking team bronze. That was an incredible experience and a dream come true, especially after our last championship in Paris. At our first Olympics, we really didn't deliver the way we wanted, and therefore, I felt even happier that we could come back to a championship on a better note, with a much better result.”
With the German team, Vogel took bronze at the 2025 Europeans in A Coruña. Photo © Jenny A Photo for World of Showjumping.
“United was still in great shape in Geneva, where we had an unlucky one down in the Rolex Grand Prix,” Vogel continues. “The time was a real factor for us, and I took the risk and did one less into the triple combination, which maybe in hindsight wasn't even necessary. Nevertheless, United jumped all the Rolex Majors of 2025 in outstanding fashion.”
“For the rest, the new and up-and-coming horses have been developing very well,” Vogel says. “Cloudio (Casall x Cassini) has really been stepping up. I got him at the end of 2024, but this year he really grew and did some great things. Probably one of the highlights for him was the win in the CSIO5* 1.60m CANA Cup at Spruce Meadows, where he qualified us for the CPKC International Grand Prix presented by Rolex and then placed third in Geneva in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final. Gangster Montdesir (Kannan x Cornet Obolensky) also really stepped up; I only got him about ten weeks ago. He has made great progress since he's been with us, and he is an exciting horse for the future.”
With Cloudio, Vogel placed third in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final 2025 in Geneva. Photo © Jenny A Photo for World of Showjumping.
From the outside it might have looked like Vogel has gone from strength to strength this year, but there have been downs as well. “As riders, we face challenges every day,” he points out. “That's why we are as competitive as we are; we like the challenge. Sometimes it can feel too much, but that is also what's keeping us motivated, getting out of bed early every day to face the challenges – and, ideally, conquering them in a good way. In this sport, everyone loses more often than they win. Kent Farrington’s week at CHI Geneva is a great example; for him, it was a failure to place second in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final on Friday, but he used it in a positive way. On Sunday, he did more than only win the Rolex Grand Prix; he was in his own league. That just shows that every now and then, you need a setback in order to get better and to improve.”
“The highlight next year will be the World Championships in Aachen,” Vogel says as he looks towards 2026. “Everything is going to be lined up towards that week. We will try to attend the Rolex Majors as well. Those shows have perfect conditions for the horses, riders, grooms, and spectators. I think they're the pinnacle of the sport; that's where we are guaranteed to see top sport – and that's where you grow as a rider, and also as a horse. It's always important to bring your best horses to the Rolex shows, because I believe they always come back stronger and better.”
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