Handicraft is closely linked with tradition. And Richard Vogel is also on track to found something like a tradition with Phenyo van het Keysersbos, in the Prize of Handwerk. The pair secured themselves the victory in this 1.50-metre speed competition for the second time in succession today.

50 pairs competed in the Prize of Handwerk, Richard Vogel and Phenyo van het were eleventh to go. 39 rider and horse combinations subsequently tried in vain to beat the fantastic time of the 28-year-old show-jumper from Baden-Württemberg and his grey stallion (59.34). But none of them reached the finish line in under 60 seconds. The penultimate pair, Denis Lynch and the KWPN-bred stallion, King Blue, were the closest with a time of 60.99 seconds, which meant second place for the Irish rider. Pedro Veniss and CS Hortencia followed in third place (61.10). The Brazilian rider already came second in yesterday’s opening jumping competition.

Whereas other riders had to push their horses and fight hard, Richard Vogel glided through the course effortlessly. What he does differently to the others? He didn’t actually have to do much himself. Thanks to Phenyo, he said, passing the praise on to his four-legged sports partner: “He is naturally fast, has a large stride and loves going fast. I simply have to make sure I don’t disturb him.” Something Vogel obviously manages to do regularly, which is why the pair claimed more than one victory in 2024.