Germany secured gold in the showjumping World Championships team results this evening by a comfortable margin.

Daniel Deusser was the third rider in for the home side and had the opportunity to confirm their win if he went clear on Otello De Guldenboom. He duly delivered, giving Germany victory without needing anchorman Richard Vogel’s score.

Daniel said: “It’s not only tonight, this is a result of a long journey for this year, all looking forward to the World Championships here in Aachen. As Germans, it’s an unbelievable show – I can't describe it, it’s unique.”

Marcus Ehing led off for Germany with a clear on Coolio 42.

“My horse was amazing today – I didn’t stick to the numbers I want to do in the course between the jumps, but the way he’s listening is unbelievable and it’s incredible how he’s jumped the last three days,” he said.

He was followed by Sophie Hinners, who just had one time-fault on Iron Dames Singclair.

She said: “I think we enjoyed it a little bit too much in the arena. It was a little bit unnecessary to have a time-fault, but I’m incredibly proud of him.”

Sophie’s time-fault didn’t affect the team result, though it will have pushed her down the individual standings. Likewise, her compatriot Richard Vogel ended up having two time-faults on United Touch S, which will not help his bid for an individual medal. He is now in 14th place.

Scott Brash’s four-fault round secured a medal for Britain, but it was uncertain whether it would be bronze or silver until final Belgian rider, Abdel Saïd had jumped. His clear on Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z gave Belgium silver and confirmed Britain’s bronze.

Abdel was backed up today by Pieter Devos, who had four faults on home-bred Casual DV Z, and Thibeau Spits, who went clear on Impress-K Van’t Kattenheye Z.

Showjumping World Championships team results: US slide to fourth

The US were the big losers in today’s showjumping World Championship team results, starting the day in provisional silver and ending up fourth.

Their lead-off rider Laura Kraut had fence 10b down with Baloutinue – this double of triple bar to upright plank was very influential.

She was followed by Katie Dinan, who had a tricky ride through the treble at fence 5abc and then pulled Out Of The Blue SCF out of the open water at fence six and put her hand up to retire.

Lillie Keenan clattered through fence one with Fasther and then had a further four faults at the upright over a water tray at fence 13.

Lillie said: “The first fault was very uncharacteristic with my horse. The middle of the course, all the really hard parts, we did pretty well. It's hard for me to tell you exactly why I had the Liverpool – I do think my horse is so in touch with me and he probably knew that I was a little bit like deflated.

“Today was a harder day for us to be honest, because when we went in the [grass] warm-up, there’s no lights. I was trying to keep the footing the same for my horse because I think that that’s fair, but he couldn't really see. So I had a refusal the first fence I went to, which obviously doesn't feel great.

“And then because we knew our score had to count for the team, I think I was maybe riding a little bit more defensive. And to jump clear rounds and win, you have to ride on the offensive and not the defensive.”

A clear from McLain Ward and High Star Hero was not enough to revive the US fortunes and bring them back into medal contention.

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Team Ireland have booked their ticket to the Los Angeles Olympics with one horse and rider down, in a rollercoaster of an evening at the showjumping World Championships.

The team of Bertram Allen (Qonquest de Rigo), Darragh Kenny (Eddy Blue), Cian O’Connor (Chatolinue PS) and Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz) had qualified in 10th place for tonight’s (21 August) team final. Then this afternoon, it was announced that Darragh and Eddy would not compete.

“After careful assessment this afternoon, we have made the difficult decision to withdraw Eddy Blue,” Darragh said.

“Whilst he is well and happy in himself, I noticed he was not feeling 100% when I rode him this morning. Following discussion with our team vet Marcus Swail and the whole Irish team, we agreed that protecting his long-term health and soundness must always come first.

“He is a special horse, and his wellbeing has always been, and will always be, my first priority.”

Ireland a man down at showjumping World Championships

First to go for the team, Bertram Allen was under pressure as the withdrawal meant all scores had to count. He and Qonquest De Rigo were flying but the first element of the tricky double fell for a score of four. There was heartbreak for Cian as the very last fence fell; at that point Ireland was ninth, and out of the qualifying places.

But Denmark’s Caroline Rehoff Pedersen and Polonis L had a fence, then Wilma McMahon and Cicci BJN had 16 for Sweden, moving Ireland up again.

Giacamo Casadei and Marbella Du Chabli clocked up eight faults for Italy, and Ireland moved up further. Shane Sweetnam and James Kann Kruz also had the first element of the double, but Andreas Schou and Napoli vh Nederassenthof’s eight for Italy, and Julien Epaillard and Fringan De Vesquerie’s eight for France, secured Ireland seventh place.

“It was a bit of a mistake on my side for that combination; honestly, there was a clear round right there,” said Shane. “But he jumped great.

“I suppose the most important thing is, we’re qualified for the Olympics. Especially with three men today, we really had to pull it out, and everyone did. At least that’s a big bonus, and let’s see what happens on Sunday.”

Pressure on

Cian said he was delighted with Chatolinue’s performance on such a tricky course, especially under the floodlights.

“He felt fantastic,” he said. “The triple combination, he jumped it like a gymnast, and the water comes so quickly after but he felt super. I thought I was doing well after the triple bar-vertical double; that was difficult for me, and I took my time going around, squared up, and the last three jumps he jumped really well.

“When I was coming to the last, he was getting a bit strong, and I could have just held on to his front end a bit more. He had a bare rub on the front pole of the last, so a bit of an unlucky rail, but I’m very pleased how he jumped.”

Cian also cited the pressure of being a man down, adding that the main goal was a place at the Olympics.

“For a country like Ireland, so rich in riders and with so much talent, hopefully that’ll give people good motivation at home, to know team Ireland is qualified for LA,” he said.

“Fellas with a good eight- or nine-year-old can bring the horse along and aim for that. Current or new owners might get involved in the game and give back to some of these top Irish riders we have with investment to try to peak and medal at the Olympic Games with the right horsepower underneath us.”

Cian added that the Olympics are very special to him.

“They’re close to my heart personally, as the only Irish Olympic showjumping medallist,” he said. “And LA will probably be my last Games.”

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Britain has secured a fabulous team bronze at the showjumping World Championships, qualifying for the 2028 LA Olympics at the first opportunity.

Ben Maher (Point Break), Harry Charles (LT Holst Freda), Adrian Whiteway (Chacco Volo) and Scott Brash (Hello Mango) added just four faults between them tonight to take their deserved place on the podium, behind Germany – who won gold with a fence and a rider in hand – and silver medallists Belgium.

Ben and Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright’s star stallion kicked things off with a clear round Ben described as “perfect”.

“He hasn’t jumped under lights too much but I knew his quality would come through with the different lighting this evening, and it was about keeping him brave and relaxed,” he said.

“He went in and he gave me the exact plan, the exact ride I had planned and visualised. When that happens, there’s not a lot to say really. It doesn’t happen very often but he was absolute perfection for me this evening. I’m very proud of him and my team. It’s a long long road to get these horses from a young horse all the way to this level.”

Britain’s bronze at the World Championships: how it unfolded

Second to go for the team, Harry Charles showed his superb horsemanship – and Freda her class – as they jumped a crucial clear, after less than four months together.

Harry said this was a very tough course, as expected for a championship final, and the floodlights played their part in the pressure.

“The atmosphere is amazing, and I’m very happy to get a clear, finally,” he said.

“She’s not knocked a jump all week, it’s been me, so I felt a lot of relief after the finish line; the feeling was again incredible. I left her a little bit fresh this morning, not knowing quite how she’d be on a third day of jumping, and she just came out; I had double handfuls the whole way round. I just sat quiet and said whoa to her, and she just ate it. I’m very happy to give her a proper ride, and we've kept the team in with a shout.”

Harry said after yesterday’s disappointment, “I had to get over myself, to be honest”.

“It was a pretty low day,” he said. “I’ve knocked jumps down plenty of times, but yesterday really sucked.

“You never know when you’re going to get a horse that good, if ever again, so you want to come here. This might be the only time in my life the championships are here in Aachen. I hope not, but it’s such a special place, and all year, I’ve just been dreaming of this championship.

“In May, I wasn’t even planning on coming, I didn’t have a horse, then Freda kind of showed up. The old saying is ‘I think it’s hope that kills you’. Maybe I got a bit ambitious with where I was in the partnership, but I think whatever happens today, we’re going to walk away, I think, with our heads held high. And I’ve got a very special horse for the next few years, and I’m just going to take really good care of her.”

Adrian Whiteway and Deborah Cox’s Chacco Blue did not have luck with them tonight; the first Lindt oxer, which fell more than any other fence tonight, hit the turf. Adrian rode beautifully through the combination but they knocked the first element of the double, and the second fell too. Adrian held it together to finish with three time-faults but this 15 had to be the drop score.

So the pressure was all on Scott’s shoulders again – but again the Lindt fence hit the turf. Perhaps by this late stage, and after some heavy rain, the going was not what it had been. But Scott rode superbly to jump clear the rest of the way, which meant a second successive world team bronze at least for Britain.

“It’s an absolute delight to be in Aachen, there’s no place like it,” chef d’equipe Di Lampard said. “To bring this team forward and be on the podium and with Olympic qualification – we’re very pleased. Congratulations, Germany and Belgium, it’s been great sport all week, and the organisation has been fantastic. So we’re very happy.”

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News broke on the morning of the team competition (Friday 21 August) at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships in Aachen that judges had made an error two days earlier, allowing Ireland’s Clodagh Walsh and Chantal to complete their individual grade I test after the judge at C rang the bell for apparent lameness.

Clodagh correctly stopped but was then allowed to continue, following a discussion between the judges.

“Under normal circumstances, further to the judge at C ringing the bell, the athlete should have been eliminated,” an FEI statement read. “The FEI acknowledges that this decision was not in accordance with the rules.

“The FEI apologises for the understandable upset and confusion caused to Clodagh Walsh, who had acted in accordance with the rules at all times and who bears no fault for this regrettable situation; the FEI recognises the difficult circumstances in which she completed her test.”

Clodagh was not present for the grade I team test on Friday, suggesting the elimination has since been upheld – and therefore the Irish team has been reduced to three riders.

Oddly, though, her grand prix A score (61.83%) is still listed in the official results – a discrepancy that remains unexplained.

A scare for Japan’s Junichiro Okawa

The grade I team test brought further drama when Japan’s Junichiro Okawa, riding RH’s Totally Joker, fell during his test. He was attended to immediately by the emergency medical team and taken to hospital for further evaluation; his horse was unhurt and returned to the stables. Junichiro was later given the all-clear by doctors.

“I’m so sorry to have caused you all so much worry,” he said afterwards, in a statement translated by Hiroko Copley-Mackie of Team Japan Para.

“Thankfully, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the bone, and it seems I’ll be able to go home once the doctor has written up my medical certificate. I’m very relieved. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone for being so concerned and for being so kind and helpful.”

The combination was eliminated from the grand prix B test as a result. With four riders in the Japanese team, all three remaining scores will have to count.

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Mari Durward-Akhurst backed up her opening-day silver with another strong test in the grand prix B (team test) on Friday, as Britain’s para dressage team began its World Para Dressage Championships campaign in Aachen.

Riding Athene Lindebjerg, she finished runner-up in grade I on 74.58% – a fraction up on her individual score of 74.54% earlier in the week – behind only the USA’s Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H, who topped the class on 76.38%, itself a shade down on Marie’s individual test 76.71%.

Jemima Green and Fantabulous, meanwhile, fell back slightly from their individual bronze, scoring 74.03% (against 75.24%) for fourth in grade II. It leaves Britain 13th after day one, sitting soley on Mari’s score – with Jemima's presently the lower of the two and set to be discarded. However, this is set against some teams who have multiple counting scores already.

Grade II produced the standout swing of the day elsewhere in the field. Fiona Howard and Paralympic gold medallist Diamond Dunes had finished fourth in Wednesday’s individual test on 75% after an uncharacteristic error; today, they responded with 79.3% to top the grand prix B outright.

Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing (77.73%, up from her individual gold-winning 75.48%) and Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen (76.17%, up from 75.31%) completed the podium places between them – both improving on their grand prix A scores.

Grade III also went, and Rixt van der Horst on Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP shows no sign of letting up: the Dutch pair went even higher than their individual score two days ago, topping the class on 78.47% (up from 77.53%) to continue their unbeaten run at major championships. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen (77.07%, up from 75.1%) and Italy’s Francesca Salvadè (75.27%, up from 74.77%) rounded out the placings behind her – both, like Rixt, improving on their individual-test marks.

With grades IV and V still to come for most nations, the team standings remain provisional – but on what's gone in so far, the USA (155.675), Denmark (153.234) and the Netherlands (153.034) look the most convincing of Britain’s rivals for a medal, each with two strong scores already on the board.

“A score that didn’t come easy”

Mari was last to go in the grade I. The score didn’t come easily, though – she felt Athene lacked the sharpness of her individual test two days earlier, even if the judges didn’t mark her down too much for it.

“It wasn't our best test,” Mari said. “She was hard work, but I managed to keep her going and get her to do what she wanted to do – she just didn’t have as much energy as the first day. I think it’s because she’s already been in there once; she was a bit like, ‘Oh, same thing again.’”

There were compensations, though – she felt the test flowed better in places. “I felt it was a smoother test compared to the first,” she said, picking out the halts again as a highlight, along with the stretch: “I can’t let go of my reins, so I have to try and hold my hands and push one arm as forward as I can, and she stretched nicely.”

Athene dropped behind her leg early on and never quite came fully back. "It's a hard one, because she felt really good in the warm-up, but then when she went in, she just dropped me a bit, and I don't have the leg power to get her to go more forward from behind," Mari said.

“I just try and use as much seat as I’ve got, and the whip for little taps and just keep going. It’s physically quite hard work. She’s not an easy ride. She makes it look easy, but she makes you work for every little bit.”

Mari, who watched none of her rivals’ tests beforehand, said the team was buoyed by Sophie Wells’ gold the day before. “We’re all on a high,” she said. “It’s always an honour to be on the team – I dreamed of it for so long, and to have done it successively for a number of years now is amazing.”

“Oh, where are we going?”

Jemima and Fantabulous were the first to go and their test was not without incident. Despite a fantastic start Fantabulous had a spook at E, jumping away from the boards.

“It was so quick – I was a bit like, ‘Oh, where are we going?’ He pulled the rein right out of my hand, so I’d completely lost it, and I just thought, okay, whistle, which is his cue to come back to me, and then straight back to it,” Jemima said.

“It’s just one of those moments you have to take. I needed to find my line and focus back on the test.”

Jemima did well to re-gather her reins and her composure to get back on track quickly, though she admitted the moment had cost her. "I feel a bit gutted, because it was going to be a stronger score," she said. “But I’m very pleased with what we’ve got – it’s still a strong score.”

Going first in the entire team competition added its own pressure. “I felt really good when I first woke up, and then I got here, and I really felt nervous – I had the shakes; it was a bit of an emotional moment,” Jemima admitted.

“Everything almost hit me at once, which I wasn’t prepared for. But we took some deep breaths, had some chats, and watching the others warm up helped me feel calmer.”

The walk on a long rein stood out for how she rode it straight after the spook. “I thought, ‘Oh God, please don't do anything' – but I was still confident enough to let the reins go and let him stretch. He could have held the tension, but he didn’t.”

Re-approaching the spot where the eight-year-old gelding had spooked, she worked hard to keep his concentration on her. “I was just playing with keeping him in a little left bend, so he wasn't looking to the outside – just trying to keep him with me, and that seemed to do the job,” she added.

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Ireland have made it into the team final at the showjumping World Championships by finishing 10th in the standings following the speed leg and today’s round – the top 10 teams go through to tomorrow evening’s team medal decider under floodlights.

The Irish quartet started today carrying a score of 7.69 and seventh place from yesterday’s opening speed competition.

Pathfinder Darragh Kenny chose the six rather than five-stride option to the final Mercedes-Benz white upright (fence 13) and Eddy Blue knocked it down.

He was followed by Bertram Allen, who also had four faults when Qonquest De Rigo took the back rail off the Longines oxer at fence one with his hind legs.

“It’s bit of a bummer – we just had the first fence down and I’m not sure why. He jumped fantastic after that. It’s a real shame and there are a lot of clears today so that four faults is going to be expensive, unfortunately,” said Bertram, adding that Ireland was not getting any “rub of the green” at this stage, adding: “But we’ve two great guys to come.”

Cian O’Connor revived hopes of Ireland making the World Championships team final with a clear on Chatolinue PS.

“He’s a strong heart and a very good character,” said Cian. “He’s always fighting with you, he’s very brave and he knows when it’s important and the more you encourage him and motivate him, the more he tries.

“I’ve only had him actually about 10 months, so we’re still a fairly young partnership.”

As the fourth line riders took to Aachen’s huge main arena, it became clear only a clear from anchorman Shane Sweetnam could keep Ireland above the cut for tomorrow night’s final. He and James Kann Cruz duly delivered and Ireland made the qualification zone to continue in the competition.

Shane said: “Halfway through the second round, it looked like maybe we weren’t even going to get the chance [to make it to the final round, even if Shane jumped clear] and then the way the poles fell [for other teams], it got us back into the running.

“We went from seventh down to 15th and then 15th back up to the top 10. So it was exciting that we were given that chance and thankfully we were able to deliver a clear round.”

Of the 13-year-old James Kann Cruz, Shane said: “He jumped amazing. From start to finish, he felt unbelievable. I don’t think he touched anything out there.”

Ireland sit on a score of 11.69 – just over two poles cover the 10 teams who will go forward to tomorrow night’s showdown, with leaders Germany on 3.48.

As well as medals, the chief prize on offer is Olympic qualification, given to the top seven teams excluding the USA, who automatically qualify for LA2028 as host nation.

World Showjumping Championships team standings

1. Germany 3.48
2. USA 4.85
=3. Belgium 7.69
=3. Italy 7.69
5. Great Britain 8.98
6. France 8.99
7. Sweden 9.64
8. Switzerland 10.49
9. Denmark 11.57
10. Ireland 11.69

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Great Britain secured its place in the team final during the showjumping World Championships second team qualifier today – but it was a mixed bag of emotions.

There was all to play for today as teams fought for a place in Friday night’s final, to which the top 10 go through. Great Britain was in overnight fifth after the first day, but the deal was far from done.

As per yesterday’s opening speed round, Ben Maher and the brilliant stallion Point Break were pathfinders for the Brits. The experienced pair made Frank Rothenberger’s track look relatively simple, and it was fault-less round, though Ben noted it “didn’t feel quite as smooth” as yesterday and he had to push a it more.

“That can happen in certain rounds. But it felt very good,” said Ben.

“He was making a lot of stride up early on, which is a good thing with him. They played a little bit with the distances in the course today and the hills, which affects him, a smaller striding horse, a bit more. So it’s my job to make sure that I give him the good ride to create what we need at the right time, and that's why perhaps it felt a little bit stronger riding today.

“But he jumped great. I don't think he touched a jump, and he felt very, very confident and forward, which is the biggest thing with him, ready for tomorrow I hope.”

Ben explained some of his stride choices, highlighting the upright at fence 2 and planks at fence 3.

“At two to three, I don’t get held up too much on really long distances, but he got there way easier than I thought. Then the next one was longer than I thought. This is what can happen with him,” he said.

Ben shared that he opted for seven strides from the double at 5ab to the oxer at fence 6, then a forward six strides to the upright over a water tray at fence 7, through the middle of the arena.

Gong into the triple combination fence 9abc Ben said the natural stride going down the hill was nine strides.

“But I just stayed out and did 10 strides to put him on his back end, and just help the scope and the balance,” he said, adding that as some had knocked the final vertical (fence 13), he added some power to his approach to the penultimate triple bar.

“It probably looked like I was riding the triple bar a little bit like the jump off fence, but that was on purpose. It was a bit of a free jump to create the rhythm, so I could sit up and trust his front end on the last. So it was a bit up and down what route we took with the plan, to be honest. But I guess it was the right plan.”

Harry Charles shares his disappointment

Harry Charles and 12-year-old mare LT Holst Freda were next out for the Brits. It was an overall lovely round from this new partnership, but the mare got a bit quick before fence 4, an oxer with a water tray, and they had it down.

Four-faults on paper is not a bad round in any sense, but in such a close competition where a place in the team final is on the line, Harry was naturally disappointed.

“It just wasn’t nearly good enough to be honest,” said Harry, following his round.

“The horse jumped amazing, I’ve just not been on it all week, so I’m really embarrassed and disappointed.”

Harry said the mistake followed from his jump over the planks at fence 3.

“She jumped a bit left on the plank. At any other show, your mind works quick and you adapt. You would put nine in, but I somehow was so stuck on the number, I chased on the eight,” he said.

“When you land that far away from the distance, it’s never going to be there. I wish I could tell you what went through my mind, but I just don’t know.”

Four-faults for Adrian Whiteway

Championship debutant Adrian Whiteway was next for the Brits with Chacco Volo. They too succumbed to four-faults, knocking the middle vertical of the treble combination, fence 9abc.

The 13-year-old gelding looked relaxed, not fazed by the atmosphere that grew throughout the day.

Adrian was very pleased with Chacco Volo.

“It was a really unfortunate one down, but he tried his absolute heart out for me,” said Adrian after his round.

“The combination was short, I knew that, I’ve been watching 110 horses all day. I was thinking: ‘I'm really going to need him to back up’.

“I jumped in and thought I jumped in well; I said ‘Whoa’ with my voice, my body, everything, but just ran out of room a little bit and he put a toe on it.”

Adrian had nothing but praise for his horse

“I’m very happy with him and how he’s jumping,” he said.

“He’s a legend. He just goes in there and eats it up. He takes everything in his stride, and just sort of helps me a bit and holds my hand.”

Great Britain secures place in showjumping World Championships team final

In the team competition the best three scores count, and with Harry and Adrian having four-faults each, this put the pressure on Scott Brash and Hello Mango. The Scotsman had to jump clear to secure Britain’s place in the final. Scott once again delivered under pressure in brilliant style to not only secure the team spot, but put himself into provisional individual gold.

Germany retained its provisional team gold thanks to fault-less performances from all four riders, while the USA moves into silver and Belgium is now in provisional bronze.

The medal-deciding team final takes place tomorrow evening at 5.50pm UK time (6.50pm German time).

In the individual standings Ben and Point Break are in equal fifth with Belgium’s Nicola Phillippaerts and Katanga v/h Dingeshof. Harry and LT Holst Freda are in 59th and Adrian and Chacco Volo are in 77th. Scores from tomorrow’s team final continue to tally up and the top 25 will move forward to Sunday’s individual final.

World Showjumping Championships team standings

1. Germany 3.48
2. USA 4.85
=3. Belgium 7.69
=3. Italy 7.69
5. Great Britain 8.98
6. France 8.99
7. Sweden 9.64
8. Switzerland 10.49
9. Denmark 11.57
10. Ireland 11.69

World Showjumping Championships individual standings

1. Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Mango 0.80
2. Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair 0.84
=3. Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Dynamix De Belheme 0.86
=3. Daniel Duesser (GER) and Otello De Guldenboom 0.86
=5. Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break 1.01
=5. Nicola Phillippaerts (BEL) and Katanga v/h Dingeshof 1.01
7. Laura Kraut (USA) and Baloutine 1.06
8. Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) and Delta Del'isle 1.13
9. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Fasther 1.17
10. Marcus Ehning (GER) and Coolio 42 1.78

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Sophie Wells scored a personal best of 74.95% on MSJ Gold Standard to win grade V gold for Britain at the World Para Dressage Championships.

This win with “Gracie”, a 10-year-old mare owned by Emma Blundell, extends her extraordinary championship medal collection to a new horse within a year of taking on the ride, and Britain’s gold medal haul at these championships to four.

“I’m quite emotional – which is quite rare for me,” said Sophie after hearing she’d won gold, her voice cracking. “I’m over the moon. I think it's just really special – I lost my dad last year... and it's just very special. He would have been thrilled – he’d be down the pub telling everybody.”

Despite Sophie’s record medal haul over her 17-year-long decorated championship career – this was her 41st championship medal by our count – it was her first individual gold since the 2018 worlds in Tryon.

She admitted the battle back to the top has not always felt certain: “I’ve got that perfectionist personality and dressage obviously suits me for that reason,” she said.

“I love the horses, I love riding, I love training them. There’s something in me that loves competing. I didn’t know if I’d get back to the top again, to be honest – I was really dramatic about it. We’ve had a rubbish few years with horses and things happening in life. I get up every morning, and I want to be the best that I can be for my horses.”

If the occasion was massive for Sophie, Gold Standard – “cool as a cucumber” – seemed oblivious to it. Sophie laughed when asked whether the mare had exceeded expectations for a first championship.

“She’s in the stable and looks like she’s been to 20 of them,” she said. “She’s like, ‘What’s the big deal?’ I really don’t understand it, but it’s so nice to have a horse that's so accepting of a new environment.

“She’s a happy soul, which is a bonus in a place like this – it’s not exactly a quiet championship. I took her round the fountain roundabout yesterday, and there were hundreds of people taking pictures of her, and she was just like, ‘Sure, take a picture, but I’m just going to have a snack’.”

Sophie Wells on the World Championships experience

Although Gold Standard has taken her first championships in stride, Sophie admitted – despite her experience – she’s been struggling with nerves, and the waiting in particular.

"I do feel so old, with how many championships I've done, and I still got so nervous today – I was thinking ‘What the hell, it doesn’t get easier’,” she said. “I think it’s because you know what’s coming. I couldn’t go on social media last night, so I was in the gym for about three hours, just stretching and exhausting myself this morning, because I couldn’t do anything else.”

During the test, Gold Standard’s temperament proved to be exactly the asset Sophie needed. The mare was unfazed even when, just before her first medium trot, a massive cheer echoed across from Aachen’s main arena where Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair had just gone clear for Germany in the showjumping.

“I think she’d be quite happy if the cheer was for us!” Sophie said. “She’s a really nice type of horse to have. I wasn’t particularly worried about the atmosphere coming here, which is a nice change – the past couple of horses I’ve had have been a bit more on edge, a bit more tense.

“Gracie is the opposite. I have to do less schooling and keep her fresh and willing – at home she hacks and jumps and does all of that, and she’s done none of that here. I’m just trying to keep it as fun and light-hearted as possible for her.

“I've literally schooled her twice – we’ve been here since Sunday, and it’s Thursday now. I put the jumping saddle on and had a bit of a canter session around the arena familiarisation, but the less you do with her, the better. She’s probably good for about half an hour of schooling – if you drill her, she just switches off. She doesn’t need to be drilled. She finds the work easy; it’s just about keeping her happy.”

On the test itself, Sophie picked out her halt and half-passes as highlights, along with a walk-to-canter transition she felt particularly pleased with: “I felt like in my second [canter] extension I was able to go for a bit more – I didn’t want to ramp it up too much today, because you don’t know if they’re going to get a bit tight going in there, and I didn’t want tight mistakes rather than exciting ones.

“But there weren't really any mistakes at all – my simple changes could have been smoother in the downward transition, but the upward ones were good." Asked whether there was more to come from the pair, she was unequivocal: “Oh, 100% – there's loads more in there for her.”

European podium

Britney de Jong and Caramba NOP of the Netherlands took silver on 73.15%. Germany’s Regine Mispelkamp and Highlander Delight’s completed the podium in bronze on 72.97% – a margin of just 0.18 points separated silver from bronze.

Sophie’s gold completes a clean sweep of individual medals for the British team: Mari Durward-Akhurst (Athene Lindebjerg) won silver and Jemima Green (Fantabulous) and Nicola Naylor (Humberto L) took bronze in their respective grades. So all four British riders have now won individual medals at these championships.

For context, if team scoring were based on today’s individual results alone, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands would be separated by less than two points in the race for the podium behind the USA – though the actual team competition, starting tomorrow (21 August), will be decided by each grade’s dedicated grand prix B test, not today’s scores.

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Nicola Naylor scored 73.86% to win grade IV bronze for Britain at the 2026 World Para Dressage Championships – but not on the horse she was originally entered with. Her nine-year-old mare Moulin Rouge – known at home as Satine, after the character in the musical – was withdrawn in favour of her more experienced stablemate and European medallist Humberto L, who had been her direct reserve.

It was a late swap, and the original selection of Moulin Rouge over Humberto had been unexpected given Humberto’s higher average scores. Moulin Rouge appears to be the mare Nicola and the selectors have in mind for the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics, and the plan had been to give her championship experience here – but it was decided Aachen came too soon, and the decision was made to opt for experience instead.

“It’s just not her moment,” said Nicola, who was competing at her first World Championships. “She is absolutely extraordinary – a horse that will be on fire, and the campaign for LA will start with her as soon as we get home. Humberto and Satine have been neck and neck all year, and he was my direct reserve, so we had another horse who could step in.”

She stressed that the decision was about protecting the mare’s development, not doubting her: “There are some strength issues we’re working on. I don’t like to push them when they’re not ready,” she said. “They need to be at their best health, their best strength, to come and do something like this. She had amazing scores all year, but I was careful at her last international at Hartpury – I didn’t push her there. I just thought she needs to get stronger and healthier in herself, and then she can take on something like this.”

Nicola Naylor on her World Championships test

Humberto competed in this same arena in April, so it wasn’t new to him, and it showed. He and Nicola produced a flowing round, the medium canter a highlight, averaging an eight from the panel.

“He loves that bit,” Nicola said. “You can feel he’s quite excited – he just goes, and he covers the ground. He’s got such a big, bouncy canter, and you can feel he’s really happy when he’s cantering. He’s like, ‘Come on, we’re doing the thing I like now.’”

It’s remarkable to see a visually impaired rider trust her horse enough to ride that forward, with as much impulsion as Nicola had in the canter. Their one blemish came at M – where the horses enter Aachen's stadium three – when Humberto spooked. "I felt like there was a real partnership there, and he really trusted me," Nicola said. "There was one moment where he was a little unsure, but other than that, he was superb."

Nicola is blind – in 2025 she became the first blind rider to compete in an able-bodied grand prix – and relies on her groom, Julie Riches, who calls out the arena letters as Nicola approaches them so she can orientate herself. It’s a reminder of how much of a team effort para sport is, in particular.

“Julie has taken on the role of calling the letters – and it’s another partnership,” explained Nicola, who trains with Sarah Millis. “Whenever we go to international competitions, she has a great relationship with Humberto because she’s with him almost 24/7 at the stables.”

On what the day meant for her partnership with Humberto: “I’m beyond proud, particularly with Humberto – he’s been my horse for six years, and it’s been a real relationship of love and work. To get him to come here and trust me enough to go into that arena... that is not the horse I had six years ago. He could not have done that six years ago. I didn't know what to expect today, but he held it together, and I am really proud of him.”

US golden run continues

Kate Shoemaker won gold with a new world record of 78.89%, riding perhaps the outstanding para dressage horse of the moment, the 10-year-old mare Vianne – her fifth world record across two grades, but not, as Kate was keen to stress, a gold medallist before today.

“Coming into [the Paris Paralympics], we were still really trying to figure each other out – she was eight, still trying to figure herself out, and one day one aid would do one thing, and the next day something else,” Kate said. “This year we really came into our own as a partnership. It just feels so easy – I can go in there, think about it, and the ride’s going to happen. That’s what it felt like today – she was completely one with me. By the time I’d finished trotting, I was already smiling. I was crying before the final halt. I was just so filled with joy.

“I wasn’t thinking about points or scores or medals – I was just thinking, how can I show this very special horse to the best of our ability today,” Kate added.

“She earned a world record in this arena in April, so we got to come in thinking, this is our arena – let’s go show them our absolute best.”

It’s the US team’s second individual para gold at the championships; Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H took grade I gold on the first day of competition (19 August) with 76.71%

Germany’s Anna-Lena Niehues won silver on Vive l’Amour, scoring 74.64%.

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Germany retain the lead at the top of the showjumping World Championships team results after the action today (Thursday, 20 August).

Frank Rothenberger’s course for today’s first “Nations Cup” round proved relatively easy and there were 49 clear rounds inside the time. This meant those who did have a rail down were quite harshly punished in terms of slips down the leaderboard.

But there were no concerns for the German team, who secured their top spot with a rider to spare. Marcus Ehning led with a clear on Coolio 42, Sophie Hinners followed and was also fault-free on Iron Dames Singclair and Daniel Deusser confirmed the German lead position when he punched in a third clear on Otello De Guldenboom.

“I didn’t want to keep all the pressure for Richie [Vogel], so I thought it would be nice if I could jump a clear round. The teams are very close together, so it was important that we go into the last round as a leading team tomorrow,” said Daniel, who shares fourth in the individual standings with Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat on his Paris 2024 individual silver medallist Dynamix De Belheme.

Talking about the stride patterns around the course, Daniel added: "I changed my decisions approximately 25 times today. I walked the course at 7.50am and to be honest, that time I walked it exactly like I rode it now.

“In between, I saw a lot of people do six after the green double [fence 5ab]. I thought the six looked easy, I could do the six as well. Then just before I got on the horse, I saw a couple go in seven. I said ‘Actually, I’d better ride it like I walked this morning, don’t be influenced by anyone else’, and luckily it worked out like that.”

Sophie Hinners holds second individually on Iron Dames Singclair, behind Britain’s Scott Brash and Hello Mango.

“Iron Dames Singclair is very special to me. I got him when he was at the end of his eight-year-old year. He’s 11 now and we stepped up together to this level,” said Sophie.

“When we got him, we did not really expect that he would be such a dream horse, that he could jump such big classes. When you see him, he’s quite small and then he just goes in and jumps a track like this.

“He always wants to do his best, and he is always fighting for me.”

Germany’s fourth combination, European champions Richard Vogel and United Touch S, also jumped clear so the squad looks in great shape ahead of tomorrow’s team final. Richard started the event as the favourite and now sits 23rd. He is less than a fence behind British leader Scott Brash but there are a lot of combinations between him and gold position.

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor said today the format for championships might need re-examining.

He said: “There was no point in going for a slow clear yesterday and we’d probably prefer a little bit more meat on the bone with these courses, a bit more of a scope test because you have some really good professionals just being unlucky and nicking a rail, and then you have a lot weaker pairs jumping the clear. We have to cater for everybody. But I think that probably needs looking at for future championships.”

USA and Belgium swap spots

The USA moved up from third after the speed leg to second following today’s class.

Again, they secured their spot before anchor rider McLain Ward had entered the arena, as Laura Kraut (Baloutinue), Katie Dinan (Out Of The Blue SCF) and Lillie Keenan (Fasther) all jumped clear.

Katie Dinan spoke about how she put a disappointing round yesterday behind her and came back with a clear.

Katie said: “Yesterday I knew what my mistake was and I really tried just to focus on today being a new day – my horse is in form, so I didn’t have to worry about that –and just making a plan when I walked the course and riding her like I know how, riding her the way that got us selected for the team. I was disappointed yesterday because that wasn’t the performance we had.

“But luckily, my three teammates were very good yesterday so I could come back today. My horse was so phenomenal and I knew after we jumped the first two jumps she was right there with me. I just needed to give her the guidance she deserves and I felt like we were both fighting for the clear round.”

Lillie said: “Jumping a speed round with Fasther, especially in the beginning of the week like yesterday, can be a little bit challenging because he likes to take over, and it’s not just Fasther’s belief that he knows a lot better than I do – he is absolutely firm in knowing that. So I have to be a bit creative and trust our partnership and trust him.

“Today he really reminded me how incredibly special he is in every single way – his personality, but also his ability. He does things that the laws of physics would say are impossible and I'm just really, really lucky to have him as my partner.”

Nicola Phillippaerts punched in a pathfinder clear for Belgium with Katanga Van Het Dingeshof, but Pieter Devos (Casual DV Z) had eight faults, then Thibeau Spits knocked the last with Impress-K Van’t Kattenheye Z. It came down to Abdel Saïd, competing in his first World Championships for Belgium after two representing Egypt, to keep his team in a podium spot.

“It’s hard with all this pressure and I was thinking ‘Okay, it has to stop with me, the pressure, not go on my horse.’ But I just felt him go one, two, three and then he just relaxed, and it was like okay, we’re going to bring it home,” said Abdel after his round with Wathnan Quaker Brimbelles Z.

Belgium now share third with Italy, who made a leap today from eighth after yesterday’s speed leg.

Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Delta Del’Isle, Emanuele Camilli with Chacareno PS and Piergiogio Bucco on Hantano all jumped fault-free rounds today to move Italy up the ranks.

World Championships team results on Thursday: qualifiers for Friday’s final

1. Germany (Marcus Ehning, Sophie Hinners, Daniel Deusser) 3.48
2. USA (Laura Kraut, Katie Dinan, Lillie Keenan, McLain Ward) 4.85
3eq. Belgium (Nicola Phillippaerts, Pieter Devos, Thibeau Spits, Abdel Saïd)
3eq. Italy (Giulia Martinengo Marquet, Emanuele Camilli, Giacomo Casadel, Piergiogio Bucco) 7.69
5. Great Britain (Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Adrian Whiteway, Scott Brash) 8.98
6. France (Nina Mallevaey, Olivier Perreau, Antoine Ermann, Julien Epaillard) 8.99
7. Sweden (Petronella Andresson, Henrik von Eckermann, Wilma McMahon, Peder Fredricson) 9.64
8. Switzerland (Steve Guerdat, Martin Fuchs, Gaëtan Joliat, Jason Smith) 10.49
9. Denmark (Zascha Nygaard, Laura Baaring Kjaergaard, Caroline Rehoff Pedersen, Andreas Schou) 11.57
10. Ireland (Darragh Kenny, Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam) 11.69

Full results

World Championships team results on Thursday: individual standings

1. Scott Brash (GBR) on Hello Mango 0.8
2. Sophie Hinners (GER) on Iron Dames Singclair 0.84
3eq. Steve Guerdat (SUI) on Dynamix De Belheme 0.86
3eq. Daniel Deusser (GER) on Otello De Guldenboom 0.86
5. Ben Maher (GBR) on Point Break 1.01
6. Nicola Phillippaerts (BEL) on Katanga Van Het Dingeshof
7. Laura Kraut (USA) on Baloutinue 1.06
8. Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) on Delta Del’Isle 1.13
9. Lillie Keenan (USA) on Fasther 1.17
10. Marcus Ehning (GER) on Coolio 42 1.78

Full results

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Ice cool Scott Brash delivered another epic clear for Great Britain in the showjumping World Championships second team and individual qualifier today – and the Scotsman now lies in provisional individual gold.

The second day of competition at the Aachen World Championships provided more highs and lows, as teams battled for a spot in the medal-deciding final tomorrow (Friday, 21 August). Only the top 10 countries return and places were far from secure for many.

Ben Maher and Point Break were once again British pathfinders and put the first clear on the board for their country. Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda were next, followed by Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo, both having four-faults apiece.

To secure a place in the team final anchor Scott and championship debutant Hello Mango needed to jump clear. The pair showed no sign of pressure as they navigated Frank Rothenberger’s track, and they came home with the goods.

“I’m just delighted with Mango, I thought she jumped incredible,” said Scott.

“In the warm-up she felt a little bit more tense today. There's just a bit more atmosphere going on, and she went quick yesterday, so maybe that's why. But when she went in the ring, she was absolutely fantastic.”

After yesterday’s opening round Scott was lying in provisional bronze, behind Harrie Smolders (NED) in silver and Frenchman Julien Epaillard in gold. However both riders had poles, paving the way for Scott. He now lies in provisional individual gold. Tomorrow’s final team round will count towards the individual final on Sunday.

“It’s amazing, but I’m under no illusions, there’s a long way to go,” said Scott.

“There’s a lot of jumping to go and big tests to come, so we’ll take each day as it comes. But I’m sure happy with Mango and looking forward to the rest of the week.”

Frank Rothenberger’s track today featured 1.65m verticals, a one-stride double (five 5ab), treble combination (fence 9abc), and a triple bar (fence 12). There were 49 clears inside the time from 135 starters.

Scott Brash on the showjumping World Championships second team qualifier course

“The course rode quite good, that’s why there were so many clears,” said Scott.

“But it was big, the verticals were at the top of the wings, there’s no holes left. The horses jump very good in this ring and I think it shows what standard we’ve got here.”

Scott might have shown no signs of pressure, but he acknowledges it was there.

“It’s always hard when there’s been quite a few clears. One mistake and you can be out, so the pressure comes on,” he said.

“You know what you’re in there to do; you’re in there to do your job and jump a clear round and thankfully we’ve done that.”

As one of the final riders to jump today, Scott had a long wait.

“I didn’t rush around too much this morning. I got Mango out earlier and stretched her legs. She’s been great,” he said.

“I watched some, went away and had some lunch and chilled out, then got geared up for this afternoon.”

Great Britain is in overnight fifth. The medal-deciding team final takes place tomorrow evening at 5.50pm UK time (6.50pm UK time). The top 60 individual riders will also jump, ahead of Sunday’s individual final.

World Showjumping Championships team standings

1. Germany 3.48
2. USA 4.85
=3. Belgium 7.69
=3. Italy 7.69
5. Great Britain 8.98
6. France 8.99
7. Sweden 9.64
8. Switzerland 10.49
9. Denmark 11.57
10. Ireland 11.69

World Showjumping Championships individual standings

1. Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Mango 0.80
2. Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair 0.84
=3. Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Dynamix De Belheme 0.86
=3. Daniel Duesser (GER) and Otello De Guldenboom 0.86
=5. Ben Maher (GBR) and Point Break 1.01
=5. Nicola Phillippaerts (BEL) and Katanga v/h Dingeshof 1.01
7. Laura Kraut (USA) and Baloutine 1.06
8. Giulia Martinengo Marquet (ITA) and Delta Del'isle 1.13
9. Lillie Keenan (USA) and Fasther 1.17
10. Marcus Ehning (GER) and Coolio 42 1.78

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Writing this after the final medal ceremony at the dressage World Championships, I’m having a “did I just dream that?” moment. From the British point of view, could Aachen have gone any better? Well, yes – I suppose we could’ve won team gold, but all credit to the Germans, and the standard of the sport made the colour of the medal less significant.

Plus, we’ve secured Olympic qualification at the earliest opportunity, which means we can use next year’s Europeans to develop rising combinations. Talking of which, a shout-out to Fiona Bigwood for holding her nerve and riding Donna Bella sympathetically, even under the pressure of being on a championship team.

I had two roles in Aachen: part of the broadcast team for FEI TV and assisting Carl Hester with his warm-up. While the former requires neutrality and might appear to contrast with the latter in practice, it’s not an issue.

Having ridden in my fair share of championships, I couldn’t help but be lured-into the view from the saddle of every combination regardless of which nation they represented.

Across the three medal tests, there were highs, lows and unpredictability.

In the team test, it was Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle who delivered the standout harmonious performance. Sadly for Cathrine, that didn’t bring her an individual title – despite 11 individual medals, gold still eludes her.

A lack of immobility in Becky Moody and Jagerbomb’s first halt, followed by a break in the first extension, made for a difficult start. But Becky gave us all a lesson in damage limitation, clawing the scores back.

Despite outstanding movements elsewhere, Glamourdale’s first piaffe impacted his team score.

Carl used a shortened warm-up routine for Fame to take into account the impact of travel and heat. He rode a blinder and pulled off a great score. But all told, Germany beat us fair and square.

A canter that secures gold medals

For the special, Carl made use of the shade provided by the indoor school – roof only, so the breeze still got through. He removed Fame’s fly hood for extra coolness, with the breeze keeping the flies at bay.

The gold medal effectively came down to the canter tour and was, essentially, a flying-changes competition. Going into that phase of the test, the leading contenders were level-pegging. That suited Glamourdale: if he stayed error-free, the quality of his natural canter would be enough to counter any of his competitors’ gains over his piaffe achilles heel. And that’s how it played out.

Cathrine’s mistakes left her feeling she’d lost gold.

But as the kür would go on to show, even a fault-free canter tour from anyone else on the circuit can’t match Glamourdale’s extraordinary biomechanics in this gait.

The 40,000 spectators were invested – an “ooh” or a ripple of applause for every outstanding movement, and a whistle or two when they felt the judges had scored too low.

Becky and Cathrine both made difficult programmes look easy. Justin Verboomen had Zonik Plus close to last year’s form, though the contact issues are still a work in progress. Glamourdale was astonishing and on the final centre line, showed us that he can deliver a classical piaffe. The top five or six were all medal contenders.

Podium moments for owners and grooms

One new initiative from these championships must stay: bringing owners and grooms onto the podium and into the spotlight. Overdue and I fully support it. No medal is won without them.

As to the 91 starters in the team test, has dressage reached a point where the minimum eligibility requirement needs to be increased? In the interests of the judges and a consistent, level playing field, starter numbers need to be limited to what science tells us about cognition and concentration.

However, I was impressed with the stewarding, the veterinary supervision and the provisions for the heat.

I sat down with FEI vet director Dr Göran Åkerström to talk through the measures in place, including thermal cameras used to monitor horses during the warm-up. It’s a world away from where this all started – I was part of the first trial of heat-mitigation protocols in Atlanta in 1996 – 30 years on, it’s good to see the sport still taking it seriously.

● Where should be drawn on championship starter numbers? Let us know your thoughts at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your thoughts published in a future issue of Horse & Hound magazine

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Jemima Green and Fantabulous produced a career-best round to take individual bronze in the grade II grand prix A individual test at the World Para Dressage Championships, scoring 75.24% – narrowly eclipsing the pair’s previous best of 75.23%, set at Aachen in April.

The result also came with a notable spread across the judging panel: E, C and M placed her in the low-to-mid 70s but the judge at B – Anne Prain (FRA) – marked her considerably higher at 80.35%, the top score of any competitor from that box.

“It wasn’t the easiest to ride – he almost felt too relaxed in there, which I wasn’t prepared for,” Jemima said. She was referring to their one real mistake – a walk-to-trot transition in which the eight-year-old gelding was slow to react.

“There was a slight moment of miscommunication – I think he just kind of was in his own little world, which we call ‘Fantaland’.

“After that, he was ‘Oh, I’m back with you, Mum’. It is a big place – he’s found the atmosphere over the last few days quite a lot, and he’s been sleeping quite a lot – but he’s still so young.”

On her reaction when the scores were read out, Jemima added: “I was very shocked, because I was actually walking up going, ‘Oh no, that was a disaster’. And then the [judge at B]’s mark came at the end, and I just couldn't hold in the shock. They said it was a personal best – that’s just incredible to get for our first worlds test.”

Jemima Green’s World Championships bronze edges out others

Jemima’s bronze came at the expense of one of the grade’s reliable performers. Fiona Howard and Diamond Dunes – a triple Paralympic gold medallist, and so often faultless in this class – were left to rue an error in the very same corner that had briefly caught out Fantabulous. The pair finished fourth on 75%, just 0.241 points shy of the podium.

“This has been a really hard 18 months for me and my health, and I’m just so proud of that horse because he has risen to everything I’ve thrown at him,” Fiona said. “We didn’t have our best ride out there today, but I really couldn’t fault this horse – he put his heart out there today. And I’m so proud of him because it has not been an easy 18 months for either of us.”

Gold went the way of Germany’s Heidemarie Dresing and Poesie 143, though not without alarm. A tractor sparked into life just outside the arena as the pair walked down the centre line, sending the 11-year-old mare reversing at speed – a heart-in-mouth moment for her support crew watching.

“I thought it was the end,” Heidemarie, 71, laughed afterwards. “But then I think I had better make the test, ride forward, and show people what my horse is able to do.”

That she did, keeping her composure and steering Poesie back to the task, and although they picked up an average of 1.8 from the judges for their entrance, the pair recovered well enough to top the board on 75.48%, with a nervous wait for the scores to follow.

Denmark’s Katrine Kristensen and Goerklintgaards Quater were next in and took silver on 75.31% with a less expressive but accurate test. Heidemarie’s scores took a while to come through, so it wasn't until both riders had finished that the picture became clear – hers read out first, then Katrine’s, confirming the Dane a fraction behind. In the end, barely half a point separated gold from fourth.

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Mari Durward-Akhurst and Athene Lindebjerg kicked off Britain’s World Para Dressage Championships, winning a silver medal in the grade I grand prix A individual test, scoring 74.54%.

Gold went to the USA’s Marie Vonderheyden and Fan Tastico H on 76.71% – a clear 2.167 points clear of the field – and Italy’s Sara Morganti and Bond Girl 18 took bronze on 74.46%, 0.08 points behind Mari.

Athene came into the arena with great purpose and kept her impulsion throughout the test, as distant roars from Aachen’s main arena – where the showjumping was under way – punctuated the air. It was only accuracy on the tighter movements, like the voltes, that prevented an even bigger mark.

“Everything we worked really hard on came off in the test, so I’m delighted,” Mari said. “Just at the right time, everything came together. She was hot out there. But when she saw the big screen [in a corner of the arena], she kept a lid on it and was really up for it.”

Athene Lindebjerg’s decorated career stretches back over a decade – Paralympic team gold with Sophie Christiansen at Rio 2016, three golds with Julie Payne at the 2017 Europeans and Paralympic and European bronzes with Mari. But despite the 19-year-old mare’s medal-laden history, this is her first World Championships appearance.

“I am emotional now,” Mari said. “She’s obviously 19 now, so we’re not sure what the future holds, and I’ve had so much pressure everywhere we’ve gone – we’ve had to deliver because somebody else already has, but this is our story, so this just makes it unique. I’m so pleased she’s now a World Championship horse as well.”

With the team test still to come, Mari was clear she had no intention of holding anything back today. “I definitely didn’t play safe – I went bold,” she said. “I worked really hard with the psychologist on going in and owning test A, because I find it harder than test B. The circles are much tighter; she’s one big-moving horse, and they’re hard to get around – whereas B’s got bigger 10-metre circles and they’re just a bit easier, it flows a bit better. We definitely went for it and hopefully in the team test (grand prix B), we’ll have a bit more to give.”

Mari’s silver took Britain’s 2026 World Championships medal tally to three gold, three silver and one bronze – seven medals in total – holding second place in the overall standings behind hosts Germany (12).

Golden birthday

For gold medallist, championship debutante Marie Vonderheyden, the win had extra significance – 19 August is her birthday, and she turned 36 the day she won her first World Championship title.

“It was very good – it’s my first medal,” she said, still visibly processing the result. “It’s kind of hard to find all the words I want to say, but [Fan Tastico H is] the champion.”

Marie took over the ride on Fan Tastico H – teammate Roxanne Trunnell’s Paris 2024 grade I silver-medal horse – in early 2025, so this is a partnership of around 18 months.

It marks a remarkable turnaround for the French-born American, who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in 2015 after a horse she was riding spooked. She was in a coma for two months and had to relearn how to walk and speak.

“I used to compete before and when I had my accident... I need to do it again and again and again,” she said. “I don’t know how I can tell you, but it doesn’t make me nervous, and I hope it will stay like this.”

This is predicted to be the first of a spate of medals for the US para dressage team – the dominant force in the sport at the moment.

Double European champion Rixt van der Horst (NED) took grade III gold in the individual test earlier in the day, riding Eisma’s Royal Fonq NOP to 77.53%
– comfortably clear of the field by 2.434 points. Denmark’s Tobias Thorning Joergensen took silver with Blue Hors Zackorado on 75.1% and Italy’s Francesca Salvadè completed the podium with Escari, 0.333 points further back on 74.77%.

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Ben Maher got Britain off to a solid start in the team and individual qualifier on the first day of the showjumping World Championships.

Ben and Point Break were first up for the team and the fifth of 145 starters to contest course-designer Frank Rothenberger’s tricky track.

Ben and the 12-year-old stallion started as they meant to go on, with a strong angle to the first fence, a big vertical. They got a little close to the first double, fence 3ab, and took a bold tight turn to the wavy planks at fence 4, but this paid off when they stopped the clock almost two seconds quicker than Germany’s Marcus Ehning and Coolio 42. Marcus had the unenviable task of being drawn first of the day.

Ben was thrilled with Point Break.

“For him that was a 10 out of 10. I don’t say that very often,” said Ben.

“We can always do things better, but it was very important for me this week to get a rolling start with him to put us in a good start for the team today, but also so he’s really confident for when the jumps get bigger and wider later on in the week.

“A key factor with him is that he’s relaxed, very still with his head and taking a great stride. That happened today, allowing me to put him exactly where I wanted to be.”

Ben is used to going out first on team occasions and delivering under pressure.

“I do always go out first for the team. I switched for Hickstead, just given it was a different team and I had more experience that time,” he explained.

“Sometimes at the championships we switch around a bit the first day, but Point Break is a bit of a unique horse in that I can only do what I can do. If I sit here watching 40 or 100 horses go, I start trying to do something I can’t to get ahead. He needs the slightly firmer ground, and my plan didn’t change.”

Ben likened Point Break’s athleticism to “a rubber ball”.

“That gives good and bad points to his jump; sometimes he can throw a very elastic jump and land further or shorter away and I still don't always know exactly where we end up,” said Ben.

“Today I was planning 10 strides to the wall (fence 7), and he was travelling so relaxed that I managed to do one less and take nine. That’s all Scott (Brash) kept telling me before we went in, have a plan, but have a plan B or C. Fortunately everything went to plan A.”

Ben said it was a nice first course for the horses.

“It’s difficult for course builders here with this many horses,” he said. “It’s very fair, not too big, but I’m sure it will get progressively difficult as the week goes on.”

Harry Charles: “Freda was amazing”

Harry Charles was next out for the Brits with the relatively new ride, LT Holst Freda. A clear looked to be on the horizon but a risk to the blue oxer at 12a where they turned a little tight, didn’t pay off and the poles fell. In this speed competition, knocked poles add four seconds to the clock, so they finished on a total of 75.83sec.

“I’m very happy, Freda was amazing,” said Harry, who has only been riding the mare for a few months.

“It’s a big atmosphere to step into, our partnership is not super experienced together, but she’s plenty experienced and I have a little bit too. It’s great to get that one out the way.”

Harry said the pole down was “completely my own fault”, having changed his plan before fence 11 that resulted in him taking a stride less as he travelled round to the oxer at 12a.

“I would have loved to be clear, so I'm a little bit disappointed in myself, but on the whole, I’m very happy,” he said.

“Everything was just coming so nice, and I decided my plan was to go six down that second-to-last line. But just before take off on the oxer (fence 11), I thought I'll do five, and she got the five easy. Then I just probably turned in a stride less than I should have.

“She just has so much scope. On a normal horse, you come around to that oxer (fence 12a) and your natural instinct is to put a bit of leg on, and I did, and just maybe rode her through the front rail a bit. She nicked it behind. I should have just sat quiet and let her do the work.”

Harry has had to get to know Freda quickly during their short time together.

“I've never had a horse get to know me, or me get to know one so well, so quickly, and have straight out of the box success. It’s a pretty new feeling,” said Harry.

“The aim was always to come here with Los Angeles qualification in mind, so just to be part of the team really was the main focus. Then I started to get to know how special she is, maybe we could do more than just qualify. We have three great riders also on the team here so expectations are high. She’s good enough, and so I have just got to keep going and jump a couple of clears now.”

Adrian Whiteway’s championships debut

Scott Brash was next for the Brits and shot into the lead with Hello Mango during the third session.

Then it was down to anchor combination Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo. The pair, making their championships debut, had a rather steady round, a time of 79.51sec. They had a pole down at fence 9a – the first part of the double over a water tray – to finish on 83.51sec.

Adrian said he was “very happy” with the 13-year-old Chacco Blue stallion.

“I was in a very fortunate position that the guys in front of me have all done amazing, so it took the pressure off me,” he said.

“He's not a fast horse, and we know that. He's more important for tomorrow (Thursday 20 August) and Friday. Today was just about putting in a good performance, showing him the ring, and keeping him happy, ready to go tomorrow.”

Adrian was another to blame his blip on himself.

“He has jumped lots of doubles of waters, but it looked pretty spooky to me. I thought ‘Oh’, and maybe I just put a little bit too much leg on and he just touched the front rail,” explained Adrian.

“It’s really unlucky, but hopefully it’ll set me up in good stead for tomorrow.”

Adrian is making championship debut here in Aachen, having been a key part of recent Nations Cup teams.

“There was a little mutter last year after competing here at the Nations Cup that if everything went well it could happen,” he said.

“It still felt a long way away, but he’s been consistent all year from double clear to double clear. It was a dream come true to get the call up.”

Adrian has had the ride on Chacco Volo since a four-year-old.

“We’ve done everything together, so that makes it a little bit more special. I know him inside out,” he said.

“He always tries for me. Touch wood, if I ride him well, he goes well – so the pressure is always on me, not him really. I don’t want to let him down.”

Each rider’s score from today is converted via a coefficient into points. Two rounds of team jumping then follow, with the top 10 teams from Thursday’s (19 August) competition progressing to Friday’s (21 August) medal-deciding final. The top 60 individual riders also compete.

At the end of the opening day, Great Britain is in fourth with a score of 4.98.

World Showjumping Championships: day one results

Top five team standings:

1. Germany 3.48
2. Belgium 3.69
3. USA 4.85
4. Great Britain 4.98
5. France 4.99

The top five individual standings:

1. Julien Epaillard (FRA) and Fringan De Vesquerie 0
2. Harrie Smolders (NED) and Mr Tac 0.68
3. Scott Brash (GBR) and Hello Mango 0.80
4. Sophie Hinners (GER) and Iron Dames Singclair 0.84
5. Steve Guerdat (SUI) and Dynamix De Belheme 0.86

Ben Maher and Point Break are currently eighth on 1.01. Harry Charles and LT Holst Freda are 44th on 3.17 and Adrian Whiteway and Chacco Volo are lying 87th on 6.46.

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Fast Frenchman Julien Epaillard leads the showjumping World Championships results after the speed leg in Aachen today.

Riding the 11-year-old chestnut Fringan De Vesquerie, Julien whisked round the course more than a second quicker than the next clear round to take the early advantage.

“I’m getting slower every day and younger riders are getting faster!” said the 49-year-old, who put his speed down to working on communication with his horses so they respond to his body movements.

Julien said this horse is relatively inexperienced and he is focusing very much on the team result first, with France sitting fifth at this stage.

“My horse has a lot of blood. He’s very focused on the surroundings, so it’s not always easy to have him focus on the fences and to use his energy with me,” he said.

“He has a lot of personality, but it’s why he’s a super horse – because he is very curious, looking for everything, and it’s really nice to work him every day. Every day is different.”

Julien said although his round was smooth, the stride patterns didn’t quite work out as he expected over Frank Rothenberger’s track.

He explained: “I planned to do nine to the wall at fence seven and eight after to the oxer, but the five strides to the oxer before the wall were very long. I had to put on a lot of pressure, so I felt my horse really open up. So after that I decided to change my plan and collect a little bit for the wall and for the oxer before the double of verticals.”

Today’s track was the easiest we can expect to see this week on the jumping side and there were more than 50 clear rounds from a whopping start list of 145. Jumping penalties were converted to seconds to give the results.

As the leader, Julien now sits on zero, with the difference between his time and that of each rider behind him halved to give each rider a score to carry forward into tomorrow’s competition.

Harrie Smolders holds second, on Mr. Tac, and is best-placed of the Dutch team in sixth.

“Mr. Tac did exactly what we were thinking according to the plan – we had three solid rounds for the team by the time I went in, so I could take a bit more risk,” he said.

“Mr Tac was also here in May, to practise, but now he was more confident in the ring. He stayed more on the track and had a very solid, smooth round.”

Harrie added that the Dutch are in a rebuilding phase and have struggled with horsepower this year. Their first aim is to qualify for Friday night’s team final, by being in the top 10 teams, and their second to gain an Olympic ticket, on offer to the top seven teams here excluding the USA, who qualify automatically as hosts.

Britain’s Scott Brash sits third individually and leads the British team to the fourth position at this early stage.

World Championships speed leg results: Germany lead

Germany lead the team standings, with Sophie Hinners fourth individually on Iron Dames Singclair.

“We know that his stride is not the biggest, so we really used our route and turns to do the right thing without over rushing him,” said Sophie.

“He was also so focused. I know sometimes the left turns can be a little bit more difficult and the last line went to the left away from the in gate. I saw some horses slipping there already and he stayed so calm and focused – I was so happy how he did that today. So I was really proud of him.”

Belgium hold second, led by Nicola Philippaerts in eighth on Katanga Van Het Dingeshof.

The USA currently sit in bronze position as a team, their effort spearheaded by pathfinder Laura Kraut on Paris 2024 team silver medallist Baloutinue in 11th.

“I’m just thrilled. I think it was hard to go sixth – I’d wanted to go early, but not that early,” she said. ”My horse was just brilliant. He just answered every question perfectly. He knew why he was in there.

“I couldn't have asked more of him and I’m really excited that I get to enjoy the rest of the day now,” added Laura, who swapped in her Olympic medallist when intended ride Bisquetta suffered a “tiny injury”.

“She’s 12 years old and has a lot of front of her. This is going to be a difficult week and I thought I’m better to conserve and take care of her 100%. I’m one of the luckiest people in the world because I don’t think many people have a back-up that’s as strong as Baloutinue. So it was an easy decision to look after her and bring him in.”

Faults for big names

A number of big names had fences down today, putting them on the back foot as they move forward through this championship.

Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam sits 26th on James Kann Cruz, who had down the oxer into the blue double at fence 12. His time would have put him in second without the rolled pole. Shane had to contend with riding at the end of the day when it was raining heavily.

“Conditions obviously were a little bit harder, but I was in around the time I wanted to be. It was just a cheap rail coming home cost us a little bit, but he jumped really well,” he said.

“I tried to stay tight in the turn back to that double, so maybe he didn’t get a good view. But that’s the thing with speed classes and it was a very slight touch – but touched the wrong way.”

The Irish team share seventh with Italy, counting scores from Bertram Allen (18th on Qonquest De Rigo), Shane (26th) and Darragh Kenny (50th on Eddy Blue).

Germany’s European champion and title favourite Richard Vogel had the upright at fence 11 down with United Touch S.

He explained: “I am quite disappointed with myself. I should have done five strides from that oxer to the vertical and I added up on six. I was just way too deep on that vertical and I gave my horse no chance to clear it. So it was quite disappointing from my side, but nevertheless, he jumped incredibly.”

While Steve Guerdat sits fifth for Switzerland on Dynamix De Belheme, his compatriot Martin Fuchs and Conner Jei took the back rail off the oxer into the white, green and red double at fence 3a.

“I probably went a little bit too much out and gave him too much space there [so he was too far from the fence], and he didn't really understand what I was asking from him,” said Martin.

“After that, I had to ride quite forward and then he was fantastic in the second half of the course – really in front of me, really pulling and going and playing with me.

“It’s always difficult the first day. So my tactic was to to have a nice, fluent, quick round, which obviously I changed after the big mistake I had at 3a. Then I just tried to play it more safe and didn’t leave out strides.

“Obviously, I would have wished for a better start, but there are many days to come and it’s not a catastrophic result.”

Switzerland hold 13th at this stage.

All teams and individuals jump again tomorrow (Thursday), with the top 10 teams and the top 60 individuals progressing to Friday’s team final.

World Championships speed leg results

Individual

1. Julien Epaillard (FRA) on Fringan De Vesquerie 0
2. Harrie Smolders (NED) on Mr. Tac 0.68
3. Scott Brash (GBR) on Hello Mango 0.8
4. Sophie Hinners (GER) on Iron Dames Singclair 0.84
5=. Steve Guerdat (SUI) on Dynamix De Belheme 0.86
5=. Daniel Deusser (GER) on Otello De Guldenboom 0.86
7. Mark Bluman (ISR) on Landon De Nyze 0.95
8. Ben Maher (GBR) on Point Break 1.01

Full results

Team

1. Germany (Marcus Ehning, Sophie Hinners, Daniel Deusser, Richard Vogel) 3.48
2. Belgium (Abdel Saïd, Pieter Devos, Nicola Phillippaerts, Thibeau Spits) 3.69
3. USA (Laura Kraut, McLain Ward, Lillie Keenan, Katie Dinan) 4.85
4. Great Britain (Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Scott Brash, Adrian Whiteway) 4.98
5. France (Nina Mallevaey, Olivier Perreau, Antoine Ermann, Julien Epaillard) 4.99
6. Netherlands (Michael Greeve, Bas Moerings, Willem Greve, Harrie Smolders) 5.08
7=. Italy (Emanuele Camilli, Giacomo Casadei, Giulia Martinengo Marquet, Piergiorgio Bucci) 7.69
7=. Ireland (Darragh Kenny, Bertram Allen, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam) 7.69

Full results

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Scott Brash got his showjumping World Championships campaign off to an incredible start in the team and individual qualifier, finishing third on the opening day.

The first competition is a speed round; knocked poles add four seconds to the clock. Faults are not given for refusals, but time mounts up as combinations re-present after a stop.

Scott was the third Brit to tackle Frank Rothenberger’s 13-fence track and he soared straight to the top of the leaderboard with Hello Mango during the third session of the day.

The Scotsman’s clear round looked effortless with the talented 11-year-old grey mare, who is making her championship debut at the Aachen World Championships. Mango was looking for the fences the whole way round and they stopped the clock on 72.19sec, nine hundredths of a second faster than Germany’s Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair, who had taken an early lead.

Scott said he was “delighted” following his round.

“Mango’s been fantastic, she jumped phenomenal and answered every question. I’m super happy to get a round under our belt,” he said.

It’s a tricky balance of getting a quick round on the first day, but not taking too much risk – a task Scott nailed perfectly.

“You’ve still got to ride the plan that you think is suitable for your horse. You can’t do something that your horse is not capable of, you’ve got to just stay focused on that round, not get too caught up in what everyone else is doing,” he said.

“But we've been working Mango towards this championship for a long time, and I’ve always thought she’s a championship horse, so it was always going to be trying to put in a quick round on day one. It’s nice to get it done and be up amongst the leaders.”

Scott has rated Mango since he started riding her four years ago.

“When I sat on her as a seven-year-old I thought she had the ingredients to be a championship horse. We’ve taken our time and produced her slowly,” he said.

“I think she has all the attributes to win anything. Maybe a year or two ago she wouldn’t have been able to do this quick round and still stay calm, she's a sharp mare, but now she has the experience.

“She’s just developed into a really cool horse. I can go quick and stay in control and do what I need to do to give her the best possible chance of jumping clear. So that’s a great feeling. She’s super smart; she has everything that I think you need to win a championship.”

Scott is under no illusion that there is still plenty to do over the week.

“Obviously it’s just good to get day one done and feel that she’s in great shape and jumping well. There’s a lot of jumping to go,” he said.

“There’ll be a lot of difficult questions to be answered along the week, but it’s nice to be up amongst the first few, and we’ve got a chance after day one. That’s all you can ask for. I’ll just keep trying to make the right plan for her, and I’m sure she’ll keep jumping at her best.”

As the fourth final session concluded this afternoon Scott and Mango finished the day in third place. Harrie Smolders and Mr Tac sat second on 71.96sec, and the flying Frenchman Julien Epaillard and Fringan De Vesquerie led on 70.60sec.

Each rider’s score from today is converted via a coefficient into points. Two rounds of team jumping then follow, with the top 10 teams from Thursday’s (19 August) competition progressing to Friday’s (21 August) medal-deciding final. The top 60 individual riders also compete.

Sunday’s (23 August) individual final consists of two rounds, the first for the 25 best placed horses and riders after the first three legs of competition, with the top 12 then qualifying for the medal-deciding round two.

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Brazilian showjumper Yuri Mansur has withdrawn from this week’s World Showjumping Championships in Aachen after a dispute with the management team which, he said, “crossed every line regarding ethics, respect, and sportsmanship”.

The 47-year-old Netherlands-based rider and his 19-year-old gelding QH Alfons Santo Antonio were due to travel to the championships as part of Brazil’s five-man squad for the championships, which started today (19 August).

But on Sunday (16 August) the double Olympian discovered that he had been replaced as one of the four riders selected to compete.

“With the right conversation, the right explanation, I would not have liked that decision, but I would accept it,” Yuri told H&H. “The problem was that nobody told me.”

Yuri claims that on Saturday, he was told, unofficially, he had been selected as one of the four team riders set to jump in Aachen. But, in a meeting that night, the management team brought in a new combination that wasn’t included in the nation’s list of definite entries submitted on 27 July.

“In that moment, they broke the rules that they had created for everybody and changed something that had already been decided,” said Yuri, who says that he only found out by chance after “calling the trainer about something else”. “For me, that was the most disrespectful act someone did in all my career.”

According to Yuri, this incident was the culmination of a series of ongoing problems with the Brazilian management team, leading him to make the “difficult” decision to withdraw from the showjumping World Championships and no longer be available to represent Brazil in Nations Cup competitions.

“That was the last step in a process that has been really hard for me over the past 10 years - what happened on Sunday crossed all those limits,” Yuri told H&H. “I fought to do what I love and to represent my country because if there’s something that really honours me, it is to be Brazilian and to represent my country. But when, every time, you have to go against the things you believe in, the things you value, and see so many things that could - and should - be better, it is not easy.”

Yuri Mansur’s World Championships statement

In Yuri’s full statement posted on social media on 16 August, he claimed he has had “deplorable treatment” from the Brazilian management team, including being “blackmailed and mistreated”.

The statement reads: “After more than a decade since arriving in Europe and after a long period of my life dedicated to personal growth and to honoring and representing my country I faced the worst episode of this journey today. Not that these years have been easy, far from it. I’ve had to contend with so much incompetence, a lack of capable leadership, power struggles among the athletes themselves, a total lack of commitment to what truly matters, and an absence of unity or a winning mentality. Every year, the process and the result are the same: fighting, insults, deliberate lack of communication, a lack of honest rules and procedures, favoritism, and no results…”

The statement continues: “Of course, some of us have achieved remarkable and incredible results over the years, but as a team... it’s always the same story: “almost there”.

“I received the most deplorable treatment from this management team, the worst I have ever witnessed. I was blackmailed and mistreated. Yet, I pressed on and gave my all for this country.

“But the events of this Sunday, August 16, 2026, crossed every line regarding ethics, respect, and sportsmanship. That is why, with great sadness, I am announcing a difficult decision. As of today, I will no longer represent Brazil in championships or Nations Cups.

To all the athletes heading to the World Championship to represent Brazil, I sincerely wish you the best of luck. I’ll be rooting for you!

“As for this management team, I feel nothing but pity.”

Brazilian federation responds

In a statement aimed at “clarifying the circumstances surrounding the final team selection”, the Brazilian federation (CBH) said the final decision was made after the training camp and assessment of the combinations.

The statement said seven riders were initially named from whom the five-man Aachen squad would be named, in the standard practice the federation said was known to all parties from the start.

“The final team composition remained subject to the outcome of the training camp in Aachen from 11 to 16 August 2026, during which the rider-and-horse combinations were monitored and assessed by the technical staff,” the statement said.

“Until the final decision was made, any of the five combinations participating in the training camp could have been nominated to compete. Accordingly, no rider had been guaranteed a place on the competing team, nor had the reserve position been determined in advance.”

The statement said the final decision was made by international coach Franke Sloothaak and his team, “based exclusively on technical criteria and with the objective of identifying the team they considered best suited to represent Brazil at the World Championships”.

“The decision was particularly difficult given the high and closely matched technical standard of the riders involved,” it added.

“Following the communication of the proposed team composition, Yuri Mansur decided to leave the training centre. The CBH respects the athlete’s decision. As a result of his departure, it became necessary to call upon one of the riders previously identified as an alternate, and Pedro Muylaert was subsequently included in the Brazilian squad.

“The CBH emphasises that the athlete communicated his decision before the definitive nomination of the riders, a process formalised only after the official training session and team familiarisation in Aachen. Had Yuri Mansur chosen to remain, he would have continued as a member of the Brazilian delegation.

“Technical decisions are an inherent part of every sporting season, just as an athlete’s decision to pursue a different path is entirely legitimate. The CBH regrets the outcome, thanks Yuri Mansur for his successful career and contributions to the Brazilian team, and wishes him every success in this new stage of his career.

”The CBH, its technical staff and the entire delegation are now fully focused on Aachen and on the work currently under way. With confident athletes, a committed team and the strong support of Brazilian fans, the delegation looks forward to achieving excellent results for Brazil in the coming days of competition.”

The five combinations in Aachen representing Brazil are Stephan De Freitas Barcha (Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio), Luciana Diniz (Vertigo Du Desert), Pedro Junqueira Muylaert (Gemme Villers), Marlon Modolo Zanotelli (Dorette OLD) and Rodrigo Pessoa (Major Tom).

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Watch the para dressage World Championships live from Aachen this week and join thousands of others to appreciate this sport at the highest level.

There are five days of competition across the five grades in the World Para Dressage Championships and there will be medals on offer every day. H&H dressage editor Oscar Williams has set out his predictions for the medals.

You can find more information about how to follow other sports at the 2026 FEI World Championships on our how to watch the FEI World Championships hub.

How to watch the para dressage World Championships on TV

There is no complete terrestrial TV coverage of the para dressage World Championships in the UK or US. ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand. ClipMyHorse.TV is showing every session across all sports during the fortnight of competition in Aachen.

This will be complete World Championships live coverage, including all disciplines, with additional editorial content for a complete viewing experience.

Find the broadcast schedule for para dressage below.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

ClipMyHorse.TV discount code

You can save 26% on a ClipMyHorse.TV subscription until 23 August 2026 with code AACHEN26. This discount is for new and returning customers without an active membership – this brings the cost to around £154 for your first year’s subscription.

Visit tv.fei.org to claim your discount.

Watch para dressage World Championships for free

ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV is available to viewers across the world but some countries are also hosting free streams, including Canada, Denmark and Germany.

These streams are usually geo-blocked, but if you’re worried about accessing your usual free stream while you’re away, you can use a VPN.

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Fans viewing from Canada can watch live on CBC as well as highlights on Rural TV.

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇩🇰

Viewers in Denmark can watch via DRTV for free.

🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪

Viewers in Germany can stream for free on ARD.

How to watch the para dressage World Championships from anywhere

If you’re away from home and your normal coverage is geo-blocked, a VPN will get you your usual coverage from anywhere in the world.

There are many VPN providers out there, with some more reliable and safe than others. We’d suggest using a paid-for service such as NordVPN, where you can get an exclusive 75% off, which offers a 100% risk-free money back guarantee. If you’re not happy with the service any time within the first 30-days, then you can cancel with no penalties at all.

Para dressage World Championships broadcast times

Local time is CEST.

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Watch the showjumping World Championships live from Aachen this week and witness some of the most impressive sport at the highest level.

The showjumping World Championships will run over four days. Over the week, we’re expecting more than 170 starters from 30 nations – check out the showjumping World Championships form guide to find out who your favourite horses and riders are up against.

You can find more information about how to follow other sports at the 2026 FEI World Championships on our how to watch the FEI World Championships hub. And if you decide not to watch on TV, you can follow our showjumping World Championships live reports for exclusive updates.

How to watch the showjumping World Championships on TV

There is no complete terrestrial TV coverage of the showjumping World Championships in the UK or US. ClipMyHorse.TV and FEI.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand. ClipMyHorse.TV is showing every session across all sports during the fortnight of competition in Aachen.

This will be complete live coverage of the World Championships, including all disciplines, with additional editorial content and multiple commentary options for a complete viewing experience.

Find the broadcast schedule for showjumping below.

If you’re away from home, you can use NordVPN to secure your stream of the action from anywhere in the world.

ClipMyHorse.TV discount code

You can save 26% on a ClipMyHorse.TV subscription until 23 August 2026 with code AACHEN26.

This discount is for new and returning customers without an active membership – this brings the cost to around £154 for your first year’s subscription.

Visit tv.fei.org to claim your discount.

ClipMyHorse.TV commentary options

ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV is available to viewers across the world with the following commentary options for the showjumping:

• English
• German
• Dutch
• Spanish
• Norwegian
• Swedish
• French
• Czech
• no commentary

Watch showjumping World Championships for free

ClipMyHorse.TV/FEI.TV is available to viewers across the world but some countries are also hosting free streams, including Canada, Germany, Belgium and Sweden.

These streams are usually geo-blocked, but if you’re worried about accessing your usual free stream while you’re away, you can use a VPN.

🇨🇦 Canada 🇨🇦

Fans viewing from Canada can watch live on CBC as well as highlights on Rural TV.

🇩🇪 Germany 🇩🇪

Viewers in Germany can stream for free on ZDF and ARD.

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇧🇪

RTBF will show the showjumping live (you’ll need to create a free account), while HippoTV will broadcast highlights.

🇸🇪 Sweden 🇸🇪

Viewers in Sweden can watch via SVT Play for free.

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Showjumping World Championships broadcast times

Local time is CEST.

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Robin Godel has retired his great campaigner Grandeur De Lully CH from eventing, following his top-25 finish for the Swiss team at the eventing World Championships in Aachen last week.

The 18-year-old has been an incredible stalwart of top-level sport, contesting seven senior championships since 2018 – the 2024 Olympics, the 2018, 2022 and 2026 World Championships and the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Europeans.

“I’m so lucky to have had him in my career and the same for the Swiss team,” said Robin. “I don’t think I will have another horse like that. He’s been so constant, he was never injured and anything, and was always clear on the cross-country.”

Robin rode Grandeur De Lully CH at the 2017 young rider Europeans, then he was his first senior championship horse.

“Without him, I wouldn’t be here today,” said Robin on Sunday (16 August), meaning that Grandeur De Lully has been responsible for so much of his career as well as the fact he was riding him at the World Championships.

Grandeur De Lully CH retired after superb career

The son of Greco De Lully CH has jumped clear across country at every one of his championships.

He had a few errors early in his partnership with Robin, but then became an incredibly consistent performer – he only had one refusal across country at international fixtures after 2017. He has only once failed to complete an international event, when Robin had a fall from him in a CIC2* (now CCI3*-S) in 2017.

Grandeur De Lully CH has won four times at four-star and his best individual championship placings are 15th at the 2021 Europeans and 2022 World Championships.

He has been a huge part of the Swiss team‘s rise in recent years. Switzerland now regularly finish in the top five in the team standings at major eventing championships and have been battling for bronze at the three most recent.

Grandeur De Lully CH first joined Robin as a tricky six-year-old.

“He’s a bit special and he was not working for other riders, so he came to me. It was not so easy because he’s very spooky and I fell off a lot at the beginning. But after we found each other and we had some more confidence together, then it came good,” he said.

Grandeur De Lully CH will have a holiday now after his Aachen effort – he finished 23rd and helped the Swiss team to fifth and Olympic qualification. Robin said Grandeur De Lully CH may be officially retired in a ceremony at the international show at Geneva (9-13 December), where he may also compete in the indoor cross-country.

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Excitement levels are soaring as a pantheon of equine and human greats gather at the equestrian Mecca of Aachen for the World Showjumping Championships.

Can Great Britain – so successful at the past four Olympics – brush aside a near-50-year wait for a World Showjumping Championships gold? Will the epic showdown between equine behemoths United Touch S and Point Break materialise?

A vast, truly global field of 30 nations will be lining up for team honours this
year (view the full showjumping World Championship form guide) and European countries continue to prove a dominant force in these championships. However, we’ve had a raft of big-name withdrawals from some key nations in the run-up to Aachen, so the team medal decider might be less
clear-cut than we thought.

The Swedes arrive as defending world champions, but they aren’t quite the invincible force of recent years when they reigned concurrently as world, Olympic and European champions.

Reigning European champions Belgium were hit hard by the withdrawal of Gilles Thomas and top stallion Ermitage Kalone but still field a stellar cast, while Paris 2024 Olympic gold medallists Great Britain arrive as one of the favourites fielding the same three riders, although all the British horses are championship first-timers.

The Netherlands, France, Switzerland, Germany and red-hot Ireland, under new chef d’equipe Jessica Kurten, look to be the other key nations in medal contention, with the latter’s riders enjoying a rich vein of form.

Key opposition from outside Europe will likely come from the USA, which fields an enviable mix of experience and exceptionally talented youth. The UAE are proving rising stars on the international stage under William Funnell’s tutelage, while Saudi Arabia and Japan could perform well.

Who will top the individual World Showjumping Championships podium?

We’re most looking forward to the tussle for individual honours.

US rider Kent Farrington’s decision to skip these championships put a slight downer on the anticipated showdown between the world’s best, but Aachen could be a career-defining moment for world number two Richard Vogel with his mighty stallion United Touch S. Previous Aachen form will be a key asset in this unique venue and United Touch’s grand prix victory there in May pinpoints the European champions as favourites for gold.

Ben Maher’s Point Break has long been touted as one of the best in the world
and the time has come to prove just how good he is.

Of course, these championships are far from a two-horse race.

Strong opposition could come from USA’s Laura Kraut, who is surely due an individual medal, but has had to perform an 11th-hour swap from her intended horse Bisquetta to the more-experienced 16-year-old Baloutinue. The multi-medal-winning Swiss duo Martin Fuchs (Conner Jei) and Steve Guerdat (Dynamix De Belheme) are two of the greatest championship riders of all time.

But the shrewd money may be on Ireland’s Shane Sweetnam and the hugely-popular James Kann Cruz, who arrive in cracking form.

So the stage is set for one of the greatest battles in equestrian history.

Bring it on!

Find out more about the rest of the field with from our complete showjumping world championships form guide.

Horse & Hound’s individual medal favourites

Richard Vogel (GER)

The reigning European champions and Aachen grand prix winners, Richard and United Touch S, look to add world gold to their collection, and improve on the European team bronze. The pair are live contenders for the Rolex Grand Slam, having also won the Dutch Masters in March – and the major question has to be can anyone stop them?

Ben Maher (GBR)

Multiple medal-winning rider Ben brings star stallion Point Break, with whom he also jumped double clear to help win the Rotterdam LLN. This will be a championship debut for “Bodhi”, whom Ben has been riding since he was six and with whom he came second in last year’s World Cup Final. He ranks as one of the best horses in the world. Home fans will remember their second place in the Windsor Rolex grand prix. This will be Ben’s second World Championships; he was on the team that won bronze in 2022 and finished fourth individually with Faltic HB.

Steve Guerdat (SUI)

The 2023 European champions and reigning Olympic silver medallists, Steve and Dynamix De Belheme, are on top form, jumping double clear to secure Swiss victory in the Falsterbo Nations Cup. Steve has been blessed by so many fabulous horses, but cites this mare as one of the best.

Laura Kraut (USA)

An individual medal remains one of the few accolades missing from the 60-year-old’s glittering CV. This was due to be a first championship for original partner, Bisquetta, who she had been competing since 2021. However, in the week before Aachen, it was announced that she would be riding the far more experienced 16-year-old Baloutinue, with whom she competed at the Paris 2024 Olympics and last week helped USA win the Aga Khan Trophy at Dublin Horse Show.

Martin Fuchs (SUI)

The 34-year-old and the tricky but talented Conner Jei were not on their usual top form at last year’s Europeans, finishing 55th individually, but have since found their feet, winning a CSI5* grand prix and finishing second in three more. Martin is known for his speed, he’s one to watch from the start.

Shane Sweetnam (IRL)

Shane won his first five-star grand prix in July with James Kann Cruz; they’d already helped Ireland to team European silver, in 2023, and represented their country at the Paris Olympics. Their 2026 form had indicated such a win was coming, as they’d jumped double clear in the LLN, with second and third at CSI5* level and seventh in the Aachen grand prix. James Kann Cruz and Shane now have a great partnership; the big-strider covers the ground but pulls off the tightest turns and leaves the fences up.

Sophie Hinners (GER)

This is a second championship for Sophie, 28, a huge talent who won European team bronze last year and finished sixth individually. She and Iron Dames Singclair, formerly with Peder Fredricson, helped Germany to a string of Nations Cup placings and jumped triple clear for third in June’s Aachen grand prix.

José Maria Larocca (ARG)

Argentina last won a medal at these championships in 1960 but a potential dark horse could be this 57-year-old rider and his Pan-Am medal-winning 16-year-old Finn Lente. Their triple clear and runner-up finish in this year’s Aachen grand prix topped an exceptional run of form and they could spring a surprise.

Nina Mallevaey (FRA)

Another rising star who has earned her place on the team alongside legendary French riders and could be bidding for a medal at her second senior championship. She and Dynastie De Beaufour were fifth in the Aachen grand prix last year, helped France win the recent La Baule Nations Cup and have gained invaluable experience competing in the USA.

Max Kühner (AUT)

Max has formed the backbone of the Austrian team at six Europeans, the 2024 Olympics and two world, earning top-10 individual placings at four. His versatile EIC Cooley Jump The Q has won five-star grands prix and been placed in six-bars and puissance classes.

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Welcome to Horse & Hound’s expert form guide, which is exclusively available for H&H subscribers. We have analysed the recent performances of some of the horses and riders entered for Aachen to give you the full picture ahead of the competition. There were 179 showjumping entries, so we have narrowed it down to the teams and individuals who are most likely to fight for the medals.

We will be running H&H’s exclusive live reports service throughout the showjumping World Championships, starting with the speed leg on Wednesday 19 August, including analysis of the action and interviews with the riders moments after their tests, so make sure you join us to keep abreast of the latest news as it happens.

In the meantime, check out the full showjumping World Championships form guide below, and keep it on hand when you’re watching the showjumping or following our live reports service this week.

Countries are listed in order of their sporting country code.

Key to horse colour and gender

b = bay, db = dark bay, br = brown, bl = black, ch = chestnut, gr = grey

mare = m, gelding = g, stallion = st

Withdrawals and substitutions

This form guide was finalised on 10 August – as a result, there may be some differences between this guide and the final confirmed start lists. We have, however, marked up some late replacements.

Showjumping World Championships form guide

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Cyprus

Egypt

Spain

France

Great Britain

Germany

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Monaco

The Netherlands

Norway

Switzerland