Top line-up HeadFirst Group Prize-Best of Champions

Following the great success of the first edition of the HeadFirst Group Prize–Best of Champions, this horse swap competition is once again on the programme this year. The line-up for this spectacular event guarantees excitement and top-level horsemanship: World Champion Henrik von Eckermann, European Champion Richard Vogel, World Cup winner Julien Epaillard, and Dutch Champion Willem Greve, who claimed victory at last year’s premiere. The competition attracted worldwide attention last year, and this year, you can experience it live!

Henrik von Eckermann Back in Action Once Again
The Swede Henrik von Eckermann is one of the most successful riders in the world. He is the current World Champion, a title he won in Herning, Denmark, in 2022, and he held the world number one position for a long time. He also competed last year and is looking forward to this year’s event.
“It’s a very interesting competition. I had never done it before, but I had seen it several times, for example in Aachen. It’s always interesting to ride different horses and still manage to build a connection with them in such a short time,” he explains. “It’s great to see different types of riders on different horses, especially for the audience. You could explain this format to non-horse people as if Formula 1 drivers were to switch cars between teams. That would actually be really fun to see in Formula 1,” the Swedish top rider laughs.

Julien Epaillard: “I Find It an Exciting Idea”
World Cup winner (Basel 2025) Julien Epaillard from France is also greatly looking forward to the HeadFirst Group Prize–Best of Champions. “I think it’s a very fun and exciting idea. I’ve done it once before at a national event. The most difficult part, in my opinion, is building trust in such a short amount of time. For the audience, it’s very interesting as well. They are part of the competition and can see how riders try to connect with the horse and learn from that.”
Epaillard is known as one of the fastest riders in show jumping.

Will Willem Greve Defend His Title?
The Dutch Champion of 2024 and 2025 and winner of the 2025 HeadFirst Group Prize–Best of Champions, Willem Greve, will do everything he can to defend his title.
“I’m sure that last year everyone really enjoyed the return of the rider swap. It was extremely educational for the audience, and thanks to Jeroen Dubbeldam and Harrie Smolders, who talked the audience through the entire competition, it became a fantastic evening,” Willem Greve explains. “Of course, we are used to riding many different horses, but not to immediately ride a full course on them. It’s an interesting challenge.”

Richard Vogel: “We Adapt to the Horses”
The European Champion of 2025 (A Coruña, Spain), Richard Vogel, is certainly also a contender for victory. “I hope we can show the audience real horsemanship. It’s a big challenge to build a connection with the horses in such a short time. The riders know each other, we know how we ride, and we have to adapt to the horses, not the other way around.”

Tickets Available from €25
The spectacular horse swap competition will take place on Thursday evening, 12 March. Tickets are available from just €25. Enjoy an evening of top-level horsemanship, entertainment, and thrilling sport. Let’s be honest, how often do you get the chance to see these champions competing together in the arena?

Photo: TDM/Digishots