Dutch Masters 2026: Vogel Opens the Rolex Grand Slam with Statement Victory
The 2026 edition of The Dutch Masters delivered a powerful opening chapter to the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping season, with Richard Vogel and the remarkable stallion United Touch S producing a dominant performance in the €1,000,000 Rolex Grand Prix. Across four days in ’s-Hertogenbosch, the indoor arena once again hosted elite sport in both jumping and dressage, culminating in one of the most competitive Grand Prix fields of the winter season and a thrilling FEI Dressage World Cup freestyle.
First staged in 1967 and held annually at the Brabanthallen, The Dutch Masters has grown into one of the most respected indoor competitions in international equestrian sport. The event is unique in combining two of the sport’s most prestigious series under one roof: it hosts the opening Major of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping as well as a qualifying leg of the FEI Dressage World Cup. Over nearly six decades, many of the sport’s greatest riders and horses have passed through the arena in ’s-Hertogenbosch, making victory here both historically significant and highly coveted.
The 2026 edition continued that tradition, bringing together many of the world’s leading combinations and setting the tone for the international season ahead.
Show Jumping: Vogel and United Touch S Take the First Grand Slam Major
The Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters is the first Major in the Rolex Grand Slam series, and the 2026 edition delivered exactly the level of drama expected from one of the sport’s most prestigious classes.
Designed by Dutch course builder Louis Konickx, the Grand Prix track tested 37 world-class combinations with a technical 1.60m course. Despite the difficulty, 11 riders produced clear rounds to reach the jump-off. When the pressure shifted to speed, Germany’s Richard Vogel and United Touch S produced the decisive round of the evening. Their jump-off was bold but controlled, stopping the clock in 39.42 seconds and leaving the remaining challengers unable to match the pace.
After the victory, Vogel praised his partner, saying “He is such an amazing horse. With his stride and power, he makes many things easier for me.”
Belgium claimed the remaining podium places. Thibeau Spits and Impress van’t Kattenheye Z finished second with another clear round in 40.76 seconds, while Pieter Devos and Casual DV Z secured third place in 42.95 seconds. All three combinations remained faultless in the jump-off.
The victory places Vogel in contention for the Rolex Grand Slam bonus as the series continues later in the year. The Rolex Grand Prix at The Dutch Masters carries particular weight within the sport, not only because of its prize money and level of competition, but also because of its place within the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. As the first Major of the series each year, the class often sets the tone for the international season, drawing the world’s top-ranked riders who hope to begin a Grand Slam campaign in ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Since joining the Rolex Grand Slam alongside Aachen, Geneva, and Spruce Meadows, the Dutch Masters has further elevated its sporting profile. The indoor arena at the Brabanthallen presents a unique challenge: tight turns, electric atmosphere, and a technical course that rewards precision and careful planning as much as raw speed.
Beyond the Grand Prix itself, the CSI5* programme has developed into a showcase of elite sport across the week. Classes such as the VDL Groep Prize, the Audi Prize, and the Borek Prize consistently attract Olympic champions, world number ones, and emerging talents riding some of the sport’s most exciting horses. Combined with long-standing partnerships with sponsors including Rolex, Audi, VDL Groep, and Borek, the event has continued to grow in stature while retaining the character that has defined it for decades.
A Week Dominated by Vogel
The Grand Prix triumph capped a remarkable run of results for Vogel throughout the show. He opened the CSI5* programme with victory in Thursday’s 1.40m KNHS Prize aboard Diamant de Casall, a horse that is still relatively new in his stable. Vogel suggested the early win gave him confidence for the rest of the week.
Later in the competition, he added another top result in the 1.45m NAB Bliksembeveiliging Prize, again partnering Diamant de Casall. The stallion showed impressive speed and efficiency indoors, giving Vogel a second major class win at the event. On Sunday morning, just hours before the Rolex Grand Prix, Vogel completed a hat-trick of victories by winning the 1.50m Borek Prize aboard Phenyo van het Keysersbos. The class featured two rounds, with the top twelve returning for the decisive second phase. Vogel delivered the fastest clear in 35.02 seconds.
Afterwards, he described Phenyo as “fast, smart, and always motivated for every test,” noting that the win marked the horse’s fourth victory of the year.
Other Highlights in the CSI5* Programme
The week’s jumping programme featured several standout performances beyond the Grand Prix.
Dutch rider Willem Greve entertained the home crowd by defending his title in the Best of Champions class. The unique competition requires 4 riders to jump the same course on each other’s horses, rewarding adaptability rather than familiarity. Greve produced four faultless rounds to take the win.
Friday brought a popular home victory when Bas Moerings and the stallion Ipsthar captured the 1.55m VDL Groep Prize. Moerings described the horse as a partner he had grown with over the years, adding that the win meant a great deal after their long partnership. Earlier in the day, Brazil’s Yuri Mansur claimed the 1.45m Gemeente ’s-Hertogenbosch Prize riding Glinka de la Treille. Mansur said the mare felt “truly amazing” throughout the class, delivering a smooth and confident round.
Saturday night’s Audi Prize produced another high-level contest. Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat and Lancelotta proved the fastest of the jump-off contenders in the 1.50m class. The mare’s agility and quick turns proved decisive in a competitive second round that featured sixteen returning combinations.
Together, these performances built the momentum leading into Sunday’s Grand Prix, which ultimately belonged to Vogel.
Dressage: Verboomen and Zonik Plus Win Dramatic World Cup Freestyle
While the jumping arena delivered high-speed drama, the dressage competition at The Dutch Masters provided one of the closest contests of the FEI Dressage World Cup season.
Belgium’s Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus narrowly defeated Charlotte Fry and Glamourdale in the Freestyle to Music presented by Equestic. Riding an expressive and technically precise programme, Verboomen scored 89.205%, edging Fry’s performance on Glamourdale by just 0.120 percentage points, with the British combination finishing on 89.085%.
The result marked a major breakthrough for Verboomen, who highlighted the horse’s development in the press conference, saying “He was much calmer and softer in the connection today. When he relaxes, everything starts to run by itself.”
Charlotte Fry, who entered the class as one of the favourites with the Olympic champion Glamourdale, delivered another powerful freestyle despite a few small errors. Reflecting on the test afterwards, she said the atmosphere in the arena was extraordinary and suggested the performance still showed the partnership’s potential. The Dutch crowd also had reason to celebrate, with Marieke van der Putten finishing third on Zantana RS2 OLD with 82.175%. Van der Putten recovered from an early mistake to deliver strong canter work and expressive passage in the latter part of the programme.
The result reshaped the World Cup standings heading toward the Final, highlighting the continued depth of talent within European dressage.
The Freestyle result also added another layer to an already memorable week in ’s-Hertogenbosch, where world-class performances unfolded across both arenas. From the technical precision of the dressage tests to the speed and risk-taking required in the jumping ring, The Dutch Masters once again demonstrated why it remains one of the sport’s most respected indoor events.
As the first Rolex Grand Slam Major of the year and a key stop on the FEI Dressage World Cup circuit, the 2026 edition set an early benchmark for the season ahead—delivering standout performances, close competition, and the kind of moments that shape the narrative of the international calendar.
