August 26, 2023 
On Friday, nine countries took a crack at the Brussels Stephex Masters CSIO5* Nations Cup 1.60m. After the first round, however, Germany was on the same page about one thing.
“I didn’t think we’d win due to some bad luck in the first round,” said Jana Wargers.
“We were a bit down after the first round. We all did okay, but it felt like winning might be out of reach,” Daniel Deusser agreed.
“I wasn’t at my best in the first round,” confessed Christian Ahlmann.
From the jump, Team Mexico were the standout stars, finishing the galloping course on just one penalty after the first round and enjoying an early celebration in the kiss-and-cry. Conversely, not one German rider escaped unscathed. The team collected 12 faults total with Ahlmann’s uncharacteristic eight aboard 11-year-old geling Mandato Van De Neerheide serving as the team’s drop score.
As it turned out, the Germans were only getting warmed up. However gloomy their outlook appeared there was still a second round to ride, and it wasn’t a question of talent or horsepower.
Deusser was in the stirrups of his Tokyo 2020 team silver medal partner, the remarkable 13-year-old mare Killer Queen VDM. Up and coming Wargers had 14-year-old mare Dorette in good form, the mount in which she won June’s CSIO5* RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia at CHIO Aachen. Both riders were able to correct their first round errors, riding out the second round with a clean zero.
Maurice Tebbel had one of the youngest and least experienced horses in the class in 9-year-old stallion Chacco’s Light. What they lacked in 5* experience, they made up in familiarity, adding to Germany’s clear efforts.
“I’m very pleased with Chacco’s Light. We bred the horse ourselves and built him up very gradually. This is only his second 5* show, and I’m also counting on him for the Grand Prix on Sunday,” said Tebbel.
Ahlmann, too, had a better round, though still collected four faults on course. As the dropped score once again, Germany remained on their first round tally of 12 faults.
Meanwhile, Team Mexico struggled to find their earlier groove, and logged 13 faults (an overall 14), which ultimately would slate them for silver.
“I tried to do better in the second round, and even though it wasn’t a clear round, I’m pretty pleased with how I did,” said Ahlmann.
After the classic Nations Cup drama unfolded, Germany took the podium as the winners. Despite the early challenges, Ahlmann had predicted their victory, said Deusser.
“Christian told me earlier that he had a good feeling about tonight, and he was right. We did win,” smiled Deusser.
After his earlier doubts, chef d’equipe Markus Döring praised his riders ability to maintain their composure and clinch the Henders & Hazel trophy.
“After the first round, I didn’t think we’d win,” said Döring. “My riders did very well in the second round. I’m proud of them. Winning this great competition feels amazing.”
