The rain was pouring down and so were the emotions – Isabell Werth and Emilio impressed the crowd in the Grand Prix Freestyle, the IWEST-Prize and celebrated their last joint performance together in the Deutsche Bank Stadium.

It is his last time in Aachen and one had the impression that Emilio was aware of that. As always to a potpourri of Italian opera classics, he didn’t put a hoof wrong. On the contrary, it seemed like he was having fun dancing to the music. He literally celebrated the final piaffe on the centre line. Werth took one hand from the rein, went into passage, and did the final halt (all one-handed) and then there was no stopping the crowd. The spectators had stayed till the bitter end despite the rain, waiting for this moment and Emilio didn’t disappoint his audience. A total success, the judges awarded the pair a score of 84.590 percent, a clear victory – the 55^th in the long career of the meanwhile 17-year-old gelding, that is to come to an end at the end of the year. An emotional Isabell Werth said, “I am super happy!! That Emilio has put in such a final performance here – is fantastic!! That really was super!” There is nothing to add to that. Except: “You can simply rely on him! The youngsters really should follow his example.”

During Werth’s test there was someone stood at the entrance following every movement of the pair in the arena: Nanna Skodborg Merrald. She had been in the lead with Don Olymbrio up until then with 82.855 percent. But Werth’s performance put her back into second place. But she wasn’t sad: “That was the best freestyle I have ever ridden with him. He was completely by me the whole time, managed that really well with the music and I am totally satisfied!”

Sönke Rothenberger and Matchball were delighted to come third, which is their greatest international achievement to-date. The pair have only been a team for just over six months. They demonstrated how well they have grown together with a 78.250 percent round tonight.