As the freestyle competition rounded off three days of competition, the first gold of the day went to world freestyle champion, and the new European individual champion, Rixt Van Der Horst on Uniek N.O.P.

The Dutchwoman scored an impressive 79 per cent to take her first European freestyle title ahead of defending title-holder and reigning Paralympic champion Natasha Baker of Great Britain, and Germany’s Steffen Zeibig.

"I feel fantastic," she said.

"It was a fantastic ride.

"It was freezing cold outside and I couldn’t move my legs so my horse was really doing it for me.

"I had a little more confidence and it was good and I wasn’t nervous.

"The pressure was off after yesterday and I tried to enjoy my freestyle.

"I’m very proud of my whole team and my horse and we’ve improved so much in the last year.

"Now we’re preparing for Rio."

Van Der Horst’s team-mate Frank Hosmar continued his excellent weekend by taking his first major championship freestyle gold in the Grade IV competition.

Riding Alphaville N.O.P., he scored 79.950 to take the honours, just ahead of Britain’s defending champion Sophie Wells and Germany’s Carolin Schnarre.

There was another great victory for Austria’s Pepo Puch in the Grade Ib competition, scoring 77.750 per cent on Fine Feeling S to take his second title of the championships ahead of Britain’s Lee Pearson and The Netherlands’ Nicole Den Dulk.

In the Grade III competition, Germany’s superstar rider Hannelore Brenner regained her European freestyle title after six years, riding Women of The World to score 77.950 per cent.

In doing so she beat Susanne Sunesen of Denmark into second place and The Netherlands' Lotte Krijnsen into third.

The final medal of the day went to multi-European, world and Paralympic champion Sophie Christiansen of Britain in the Grade Ia Freestyle finale.

Riding Athene Lindejberg to a score of 80.700 per cent - the highest score of the event - she saw off her closest competitor and team-mate Anne Dunham, who ended in the silver medal position, with Italy’s world freestyle champion Sara Morganti taking the bronze.

The weekend though belongs to the Dutch team who top the medal table with four gold medals, ahead of Britain’s three.

It’s the first time at a major championships that the British team has failed to top the medal table.



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