December 11, 2024 
Sandra Sysojeva (POL) and Maxima Bella are riding a perfect record in 5* and World Cup finishes in 2024—and the mare is just 8 years of age.
Competing internationally since 2021, Sysojeva developed their partnership through the ranks of FEI from CDIY to the 5* and Paris Olympics. The pair was notably absent from international competition in 2023, but returned in 2024 in force.
The Oldenburg mare made her CDI-W debut at in May—and has won all four appearances they’ve made since. Those events include CDI-Ws at Pärnu (EST), Riga (LAT), Wierzbna Bialy Las (POL), and Taillinn (EST).
Last week at the Amadeus Horse Indoors in Salzburg, they made their 5* debut—and won that too with two new personal best scores.
The Polish rider and her “one in a million horse” earned a personal best score of 74.913% in the 5* Grand Prix. Sysojeva acknowledged she made two costly mistakes in the test; however they achieved their first perfect 10 score for the piaffe and the passage.
Two days later, the pair achieved another personal best score in the 5* Grand Prix Freestyle with a score of 83.410%. It was three points better than their previous best score.
In the Grand Prix, Daniel Bachmann-Andersen (DEN) and Marshall-Bell earned second place with a score of 74.348%. Patrik Kittel (SWE) and Touchdown took third place with a score of 73.435%. The Grand Prix Freestyle saw those roles reversed. Kittel finished second with a score of 81.625% and Bachman-Andersen, third on 81.050%.
Sysojeva is currently tied for first place in the Central European League World Cup standings.
