Latest from Horse & Hound in Aachen

Childhood dream realised as European champions progress in Grand Slam – and pocket €500,000

Jennifer Donald — Tue, 26 May 2026 12:00:29 +0000

European champions Richard Vogel and United Touch S have further cemented their place in showjumping history by winning a second successive leg in the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

Three riders progressed to the third round of Aachen’s Rolex grand prix, and as the live Grand Slam contender, having won in Geneva in December, the stakes were high for Germany’s Richard Vogel and the 14-year-old Untouched stallion.

But, after watching his partner Sophie Hinners (Iron Dames Singclair) post a triple clear in 51.62sec, and brushing off the pressure as “a privilege”, he and United Touch opened up with breathtaking ease in the vast arena.

This mesmeric duo were significantly up on the clock by the third fence and could afford the luxury of a steadying approach to the final Rolex vertical on Frank Rothenberger’s demanding course, yet still stopped the timer more than six seconds faster.

The 57-year-old Argentine contender José María Larocca gave his all from last draw riding 16-year-old Finn Lente but could never match his German rival’s pace, coming home clear in 47.36sec.

“A childhood dream”

So the staggering €450,000 (£390,000) top prize, plus the €500,000 bonus for winning two successive legs of the Rolex Grand Slam, belonged to one of the sport’s greatest ever partnerships. Not only did Richard and United Touch S join Aachen’s pantheon of greats, they extended their outstanding record of having won every five-star jump-off they’ve jumped clear in.

“Winning Aachen is a childhood dream, but to do so with such a special horse, and to have his owner and breeder Julius-Peter Sinnack and my whole team here… I’m thrilled,” said Richard, who has contested three five-star shows this year with United Touch S and won a grand prix at each – the Basel World Cup, leg one of the Grand Slam at the Dutch Masters and now Aachen.

The world number three ranked rider revealed a moment of confusion before setting off on his jump-off round, unsure whether a Rolex oxer still standing from a previous round was actually part of the jump-off course and had to ask an official for clarification.

“After that, I got in the zone and tried to lay down a good jump-off round,” he said. “I knew I had to put everything on the line.”

Great Britain’s Ben Maher soared up the leaderboard from 16th after round one to finish fourth with Enjeu Du Grisien.

Sadly the much-anticipated jump-off showdown between United Touch S and Kent Farrington’s star mare Greya failed to materialise after the latter picked up four faults in round two.

Richard Vogel – Grand Slam quest continues

Richard’s quest to emulate Scott Brash and win the Grand Slam continues at Spruce Meadows in September, but there’s the small matter of the World Championships here in Aachen to target first.

As German riders filled three of the top six placings in Sunday’s grand prix, you’d put good money on the home side landing a medal in August.

Daniel Coyle, 18th in Sunday’s grand prix with Gisborne VDL, won Friday’s grand prix qualifier with 16-year-old Farrel.

“The best riders in the world are here and I was fortunate to come out on top,” said Daniel. “Farrel is like a best friend. When I need help, he is always there.”

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How to watch CHIO Aachen live from anywhere in the world

georgia.guerin@futurenet.com (Georgia Guerin) — Thu, 21 May 2026 14:53:18 +0000

Watch CHIO Aachen on TV this week and enjoy a feast for all equestrian enthusiasts. Due to Aachen hosting the FEI World Championships later this summer, this year’s CHIO Aachen, affectionately known as TSCHIO, is running earlier in the calendar.

The 2026 event will also only feature showjumping, whereas it would usually host showjumping, eventing, dressage, driving and vaulting. There is one combined showjumping and driving class on Saturday 23 May, however.

At a glance

CHIO Aachen date: 22–24 May 2026
Watch CHIO Aachen on TV: ClipMyHorse.TV
Watch CHIO Aachen from anywhere: Use this NordVPN deal – 75% Off

How to watch CHIO Aachen on TV

There is no terrestrial TV coverage of CHIO Aachen in the UK, and ClipMyHorse.TV will be the only place you can follow all the action live or on demand.

A free livestream is available for classes that are not being shown on German terrestrial TV. German residents will be able to watch some of the showjumping action, plus the Horse & Symphony concert, on WDR and ARD. For more information, visit chioaachen.de/en

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

What time is the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen?

The Rolex Grand Prix starts at 12.40pm CEST (11.40am BST) with the first round. The second round will begin at approximately 2.45pm CEST (1.45pm BST).

How to watch CHIO Aachen 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.

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Outcry over World Championships promo video: ‘big dreams deserve better than AI’

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 15 May 2026 15:22:11 +0000

Concerns for the industry if artificial intelligence (AI) is used to promote it have been raised in response to promotion for the 2026 World Championships.

Aachen shared the AI-generated video 100 days before the event (11–23 August).

It was captioned “Big dreams deserve a big stage”, and showed a horse supposedly dreaming of performing at the German showground. As well as jumping, pulling a carriage and in a dressage arena, without a rider or driver, the horse was shown doing a backflip and being ridden by a Shetland-type pony.

Of 200+ comments on the Aachen Instagram post, almost all were negative. More than one person wrote: “Big dreams deserve better than AI.”

Equestrian journalist and photographer Tilly Berendt told H&H she had multiple concerns about the Aachen AI video.

“I find this repellent from many angles, and dangerous,” she said. “I think AI will dismantle us as an industry and this is a dangerous precedent.”

Ms Berendt said a major concern is for the environment. There is growing research showing that the proliferating number of data centres needed for AI have a detrimental effect.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

The centres produce electronic waste, use large amounts of water and electricity, rely on minerals and rare elements, often mined unsustainably, and are among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gas emissions.

“It does broadly contribute to climate change,” Ms Berendt said. “But there’s the direct effect on degradation of land as well. Both are unbelievably damaging for our sport.

“For eventing, and the land we need simply to run competitions, if we start to damage that land in this snowballing way AI is doing, we will lose those spaces.

“We’ll see land sold to data centres. They’re colossal, and the money these companies have to buy land – we will lose green spaces in that way, and those that become unusable because the climate has changed.

“Climate change has already contributed to hay prices pushing people out of business this year. So contributing to that, from a competitive point of view or simply being able to keep and enjoy horses, and keep horses accessible to people who aren’t ultra-wealthy, this is going to have a huge, irreversible impact.”

Understanding the sport

Ms Berendt said another concern is public acceptance of horse sport; not only as horses “who look lame and stressed, even though they’re AI” do not paint a good picture, but owing to the effect if AI pushes out experienced journalists who understand the sport and public perception of it.

“Photographers and videographers will be priced out; a hard drive has gone from £100 to £400, as supply and demand of RAM [computer memory] has gone haywire because it’s used by data centres,” she said. “Already, people responsible for putting out good images of the sport can’t afford to do the job.

“I’m seeing more AI writing about our sport, which is so dangerous as inaccuracies go out. The more the nuanced, experienced journalists who write sensibly about our sport and help enact change get pushed out of work, the quicker our sport gets to the final day.”

Another concern is trust and transparency, which has often been cited as a key to public acceptance; Ms Berendt feels the equestrian industry is often behind public sentiment, which has shifted against AI.

“The horse world might be a bit slow to say, ‘We don’t trust this,’ but the public isn’t,” she said. “It makes us look untrustworthy, sloppy and incredibly amateur.

“It’s heartening how many people spoke against it; that catches up a bit with the mainstream. We should be demanding better, for the sake of the industry, the planet and the horses.”

EquiConsulting founder Sarah Skillin told H&H she is a fan of AI in many equestrian contexts, such as monitoring horses’ health and helping prevent issues, but not this one. She shared the environmental concerns, adding: “Is this really how we want the world to see the sport; artificial and lacking intelligence?”

She pointed out, as did Ms Berendt, that Aachen has a wealth of footage and imagery that could have been used.

“I saw a post explaining their thinking, about digitising and showing a different audience a different view and I’m on board as we have to widen our market and understanding,” she said. “But it was the execution; as if someone had put into ChatGPT: ‘Show me a video of a horse dreaming of going to Aachen and living its best life.’

“The horse’s legs didn’t move in the right way, the way it jumped wasn’t right. You had the Shetland dancing on its back, a horse doing a somersault; they’ve missed out the connection between horse and rider, which is huge. It was so poorly done. I feel bad for the creative team because the vision was good, the execution let it down.”

Ms Skillin said the campaign could have worked and fulfilled its brief by using real creators’ work.

“That’s why there’s such public outcry,” she said. “We’ve got incredible content creators, creating really good artistry to present the sport, and it’s been superseded by a really bad AI impression of it. We don’t need to live in a 100% AI world.”

The Aachen AI video creation

An Aachen spokesperson told H&H the Aachen AI video was created with a specialist agency.

“It is deliberately conceived as a creative vision – showing how AI, used as a tool, can open up new perspectives in storytelling for our sport without replacing real athletes, horses or the unique horse-human bond at the heart of Aachen,” he said.

“We are convinced that engaging proactively and transparently with modern technologies such as AI – for example to enhance fan engagement – is essential for keeping equestrian sport attractive, accessible and competitive in a rapidly changing media landscape.

“At the same time, we remain firmly committed to a responsible use of AI and to supporting human creatives – above all the many outstanding photographers and videographers whose work captures the great moments of our sport for eternity and without whom there can be no authentic image of Aachen, now or in future.”

An FEI spokesperson said the FEI engaged with the Aachen post “in the context of supporting the promotion of the event”.

“We are aware of the feedback it has generated,” she told H&H. “We are in close contact with the organising committee in Aachen to reflect on this feedback and to ensure that, in the lead-up to the World Championships, future content continues to represent the values of the sport.”

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‘Hurry up if you want to be part of it’: some sessions sold out, a year before spectacular Aachen World Championships

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‘Hurry up if you want to be part of it’: some sessions sold out, a year before spectacular Aachen World Championships

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 17 Aug 2025 15:12:00 +0000

Tickets have already sold out for some sessions at the 2026 World Championships in Aachen, as organisers prepare for the biggest equestrian event since 2018.

The Aachen team revealed some details of the 13-day programme in an event to mark a year until the action kicks off, on 11 August. The venue hosted the World Equestrian Games in 2006, and the organisers said: “It’s time to say ‘Welcome home’.”

“We are very excited, and it’s a great honour for us to host the World Championships,” said Aachen president Stefanie Peters. “It’s 20 years after WEG; I think everybody’s still looking back and raving about that fantastic event. In 2026 we would again like to provide equestrian sport with the best possible stage such a great and global event deserves. Looking back to 100 years’ experience in hosting such events, I think this experience can really support us in having a successful FEI World Championships.

“This is what we’re working for. And of course, we would like also to give the experience to visitors, everybody who’s part of the championship, so they really go back home with an unforgettable moment.”

H&H reported after the last WEG, in 2018, that it might be the last joint World Championships for all FEI disciplines as there had been “no realistic bids”, so the FEI invited bids for individual disciplines. In 2022, the dressage, para dressage, jumping and vaulting were hosted by Herning, Denmark, and the eventing and driving by Pratoni Del Vivaro, Italy. Monpazier in France hosted the endurance event in 2024.

Two weeks of sport

Aachen will stage the dressage, eventing and vaulting in the first week, and the jumping, four-in-hand driving and para dressage in the second.

“We’re thrilled to be back with dressage in the main stadium,” said Aachen board member Birgit Rosenberg. “Everybody who remembers 2006 has the picture in mind of the floodlit night freestyle, it was very special, with a packed main arena; an atmosphere and number of spectators that’s quite unusual for dressage. And this will again be something we very much look forward to; freestyle night on Saturday, after a thrilling cross-country day.”

The vaulting will run in the dressage arena, with a temporary roof and capacity for 6,500 spectators, where the para dressage will run the following week. The jumping will be in the main arena, the team final also under floodlights on the Friday, and the driving on the cross-country course.

The organisers said they are delighted to host the para dressage; there will be a test event for this next spring, and the discipline will be part of CHIO Aachen in future. Investment in the venue includes the extended cross-country course, used at last month’s CHIO.

Dennis Peiler of the German equestrian federation said the event is a major opportunity to promote equestrianism in the country.

“The connection between these championships and the theme of learning to ride, and so riding school horses, is of particular importance to us with a 100+ school horses initiative, the German federation and Aachen 2026 are committing to the future of riding schools in Germany,” he said. “The initiative offers perhaps the opportunity to receive funding. We want to create a spirit of optimism around the topic of horses, and to show that properly practised equestrian sport is fully aligned with horse welfare.”

There will be a major opening ceremony, involving “many horses, artists and performers”, and a quadrille of 64 stallions.

“Everybody who knows Aachen knows it stands also for fascinating shows and entertainment and it’s also a social event,” Ms Rosenberg said, adding that the team is committed to preparation, and ensuring horse welfare is at the forefront of all aspects of the event.

Aachen general manager Michael Mronz added that tickets have been sold to more than 40 countries – and the freestyle and the team and individual jumping finals have sold out.

“The good news is that exactly one year till the start, there are some tickets available,” he said. “But hurry up, if you want to join Aachen 2026.”

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Anna Ross: ‘Aachen CHIO is the pinnacle for strivers, riders and welfare watchers’

Anna Ross — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:32:39 +0000

Anna Ross has her say on the importance of dressage basics, FEI tack rules and why education is key for improved public perception

Following a break after further surgery to my hand, I’ve been riding our up-and-coming stable talents. It’s made me realise that the basics are everything.

Part of coaching is keeping your clients, especially those bringing horses on to a high level for the first time, invested in the boring bits: corners, transitions, straightness. Once they’ve ridden at the level, the fuss about basics starts to make sense and the riders become as obsessed with these details as the rest of us. But first, they have to seem relevant.

For example, I’d say 99.9% of flying changes go wrong because the horse isn’t truly straight. Or if we let the horse die into a downward transition at lower levels, we’ll only have to go back and fix it later.

I’m convinced that putting the right basics into your horse saves wear and tear on him later, too. Too many repetitive movements are bad for horses’ limbs and brains.

One of the most important lessons to teach is that collection doesn’t mean slowing down. It’s like moving slower but with the legs working faster. More revs, more energy – not less. If you try to collect simply by slowing down, you’re just putting on the handbrake.

The opposite is true for extension: it feels like you’re going faster, but the legs are going slower, taking longer steps.

It’s the same with downward transitions. It’s important the horse stays in front of the leg, but you’ll find out if they really are as you slow down. Anyone can ride flat out, but it’s only when you can slow the speed while still keeping the energy that you achieve collection and the horse can start to sit.

Tack talk turmoil

Many thought the FEI’s recent statement on streamlining its rules meant the same tack rules would need to be used across disciplines, to present a more transparent image of the sport to the public and maintain its social licence.

Among much chuckling and speculation about who was going to tell the showjumpers, the FEI hastily clarified: “Nowhere does the report say that the tack and equipment requirements will cease to be discipline-specific and this is not what the FEI’s intention is.”

Their statement continued: “Although the FEI strives towards harmonisation of tack and equipment across FEI disciplines, differences and deviations on account of the disciplines’ technical specificities may be necessary and justifiable.”

A fine example of the inequality between disciplines was on display at the wonderful CHIO Aachen. It’s the pinnacle for strivers, riders and welfare watchers.

The warm-up area is public, and boy, has everyone got an opinion. There are stewards there dedicated to answering welfare questions from the public, who measure everything by the millimetre: nose in front or behind the vertical, ear positioning, tail swish.

Some riders tiptoe around the warm-up, half riding their horse, half managing the crowd’s interpretation of their performance.

Are stewards assigned to answering the public’s questions part of the solution to improving perception of the sport? (Image credit: CHIO Aachen)

I’ve competed at Aachen several times, and the irony has always struck me that if those eagle-eyed enthusiasts turned around and moved just 200 metres away to watch the showjumping warm-up… It seems anything goes – bits that need their own postcode, multiple martingales, draw reins, double nosebands – and very few questions asked.

Maybe we’ll all be riding our dressage horses in martingales next, to achieve that steady head carriage the public wants to see!

Education is the answer to improved public perception. I spoke to Richard White and Kyra Kyrklund at Wellington CDI about the public interpretation of our sport. They told me a story about a non-horsey friend who observed how much the horse must be enjoying the dressage test because he was “wagging” (swishing) his tail in time to the music.

A super summer of sport

As I write, brilliant news is coming in that our under-25 team have won a bronze medal at the European Championships. The young riders were just a whisker out of medal contention with solid performances. Now we have the juniors, children and senior teams to cheer for in a great summer of sport.

● Do you think tack rules should be the same across all disciplines? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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Andrew Nicholson: ‘Aachen’s cross-country was a clever taste of next year’s worlds’

Andrew Nicholson — Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:27:57 +0000

Andrew Nicholson shares his thoughts on Germany’s mega show at CHIO Aachen and Luhmühlen's five-star

The great German show CHIO Aachen is always top-class. This was Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s first year there as course-designer, having taken over from Rüdiger Schwarz, and I thought he did a very good job. He definitely gave it his own imprint, while respecting Rüdiger’s many years in the role and the feel he gave the track.

Giuseppe was quite clever; he gave us an idea of what to expect at next year’s FEI World Championships without mapping it out too clearly.

No one made the time, and on first walking the course it was clear that they wouldn’t. I don’t think Giuseppe made the time difficult by making it so twisty that riders were struggling to turn the corners – it was just very cleverly done.

There were six jumping efforts in the last 30 seconds or so once riders came into the main arena, including the water, so they had to be up on the clock by the time they entered the ring. One of those obstacles was a gate into water, which raised a few eyebrows but jumped well.

It was exciting, compelling sport to watch, and the right horse – Tim Price’s Vitali – won. To be able to go anywhere near the time, you needed a seasoned horse well used to galloping and to the big atmosphere of Aachen.

When you see the quality of the field there, you realise how seriously countries – and riders – take Aachen; the team competition as well as the individual placings. It was important for the New Zealand squad to have a good result at that level, and they selected hardened five-star horses to help ensure that.

It was significant that the US sent their top combinations, flying four horses and rides over from the States, and they finished second. The Brits, third, were also on very good, highly experienced horses.

I was there in my role as Swiss cross-country coach. Our team were fifth, which was a good result in A-list company, and if one of our riders hadn’t had a late run-out, that would have been third place.

Upgrading at Luhmühlen

I was at Longines Luhmühlen a few weeks ago with the Swiss, and I thought course-designer Mike Etherington-Smith had done well to upgrade the CCI5*. It was quite a bit tougher than in the past few years. I liked the new Irish bank, which rode well but got the riders thinking – the majority of them wouldn’t have jumped one before.

The second half of the track was quite intense, which is what was needed – proper jumping and turning lines. It was difficult for riders suddenly to storm home in the last two minutes – they had to be on it all the way and to ride in a good, even tempo, rather than jog around then pick up the pace and go flat out to the finish.

I know why Mike puts fences in the main arena for both the CCI4*-S and the CCI5* in the way he does – it’s entertaining for spectators. But I thought this year they were a little too gimmicky in their placings; big, angled jumps tucked into the corner next to all the tradestands and the crowds.

It was a shame that Laura Collett and London 52 had a showjump down and didn’t win the CCI5* for the second time. Neither Laura nor the horse did anything wrong – that’s just life. Ros Canter looked very good on her winner, Izilot DHI, and he didn’t seem as spooky as he can sometimes be.

Some younger riders looked good. Australia’s Isabel English rode very maturely, and while the US’s Cosby Green was a bit harum-scarum on her first horse, she was much better on her second, and you can’t get better without doing the mileage.

New Zealand’s Samanatha Lissington, the runner-up, is on a hot streak – she obviously took stock after her Badminton retirement and has been in the front line since.

● Have you been to Aachen or are you considering going for next year’s World Championships? What makes it special? Write to us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

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‘I’m the poster girl for don’t ever give up’: Becky Moody and Jagerbomb’s personal best in Aachen

Oscar Williams — Wed, 09 Jul 2025 14:37:14 +0000

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb delivered Britain’s standout performance at the 2025 CHIO Aachen, posting a personal best of 78.4% in the MEGGLE-Prize grand prix special.

The pair came third behind Belgium’s breakout stars Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus (80.75%) and Germany’s Isabell Werth and Wendy De Fontaine (80.11%). All three riders achieved personal bests.

The British pair opened their Aachen campaign in the CDI5* Prize of Family Tesch grand prix, scoring 75.72% for fourth place and helping the British team – Andrew Gould (Indigro), Lewis Robertson-Carrier (Diego V), and Susan Pape (Harmony’s V-Plus) – to fourth overall in the Lambertz Nations’ Cup.

Some tension resurfaced during the freestyle, in which Becky and Jagerbomb scored 83.38% to finish fourth, narrowly behind Germany’s Fredric Wandres and Bluetooth.

“It’s been an amazing experience,” Becky said. “The crowd here is incredible – so enthusiastic and knowledgeable. It’s quite funny because you can really hear them react.

“When I did the grand prix and my first halt, which didn’t really halt… I could literally hear everyone go ‘Ooooh’ all around the stadium. That adds even more tension. It’s a crazy show – on another level.”

Becky added that the special also got off to a shaky start. “I think we were on something like 43% after the first movement,” she said. “We couldn’t really halt again because he was a bit hot, but after that he settled and was super cool and with me the whole way.

“In the freestyle, we just had a bit too much tension. The good bits were amazing because there was more expression, but he was too tense in too much of it.

“I’m still pleased to finish fourth, but I know it can be better. It’s all about finding that balance between energy and relaxation – that’s what we’re all striving for.”

She also admitted that deciding not to ride Jagerbomb on the morning of the freestyle might have backfired. “He was so good in the special, I thought he’d be a bit tired, so I didn’t ride him. But I probably should have done that. You live and learn.”

After the special, Becky reflected on how far she and Jagerbomb have come over the past two years.

“I had pretty much accepted I wasn’t going to ride at the Olympics. Toward the end of the 2023 season, though, I realised how good a horse Jagerbomb is,” she said. “I’ve become the poster girl for ‘don’t ever give up.’ Keep on learning, and sometimes dreams do come true.”

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‘The most beautiful tribute’: rider’s love and tears as he wins at Aachen after loss of top horse

Eleanor Jones — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 16:25:18 +0000

The heartbroken rider of a top horse who died as a result of a bout of colic said her stablemate’s Aachen win was “the most beautiful tribute we can imagine”.

Yuri Mansur’s Paris Olympic ride Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm died aged 12 in June. The Brazilian combination had won at top level across the world, including the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe at CHIO Aachen in 2023.

On Sunday (6 July), Yuri won the Mystic Rose Prize at Aachen 2025 with 10-year-old mare Clariquada T. The speed class was sponsored by Mystic Rose Horses, Miss Blue’s breeders.

“Even in our hardest moments, we must keep moving forward,” Yuri said. “This week, we said goodbye to our Queen Miss Blue – a loss that shook our entire team. But today, Clariquada T reminded us why we keep going.

“She gave her all in the Mystic Rose Prize at Aachen and took the win – an unforgettable class, and the most beautiful tribute we could imagine for Miss Blue and to our Yellow team.

“We carry this moment in our hearts for ever.”

Yuri thanked his team and connections for their “constant love and support”.

“And to every single person who sent a message – we felt your love,” he said. “This victory was for Miss Blue. For ever in our hearts.”

A speechless Yuri was in tears during the prizegiving on Sunday. “A victory in honour of a special horse,” an Aachen spokesperson said.

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Two Brits on podium in Aachen eventing – but run-outs for other big names drop Britain down team order

Emily Bevan — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 14:08:51 +0000

Two British riders, Tom McEwen and Gemma Stevens, celebrated podium positions in the CHIO Aachen eventing results at the conclusion of competition on Saturday (5 July).

But the British squad suffered mixed fortunes; run-outs across country for the other team members dropped Britain down the leaderboard to third, opening the door for New Zealand to claim team and individual victory in the UBS Cup.

New Zealand’s effort was spearheaded by Tim Price and Vitali, who led individually from start to finish to clinch victory – their first at this event.

Tim and Vitali, a 15-year-old Holstein gelding, finished over three penalties clear of Tom McEwen and Brookfield Quality, who climbed from fifth after dressage in the Aachen eventing results, thanks to two clear jumping rounds and just 3.6 cross-country time-faults.

“He’s an older horse and can be spooky, so I wasn’t sure how he would react in the atmosphere but he grew and he loved it,” said Tom. “He did one of his best tests and then produced two great jumping performances, so I couldn’t have asked for any more. He’s really consistent and I’m so pleased with him.”

Gemma Stevens and the 13-year-old grey Irish Sport Horse Flash Cooley took third after a quick cross-country round moved them 10 places up the leaderboard.

“I’m absolutely thrilled, Aachen is such an iconic event and it’s an honour to be there and represent Great Britain. I’ve always wanted to do well there, but in the past I haven’t quite had the results I wanted so I’m really pleased to put that aside and get a good result,” said Gemma.

“Flash Cooley tried his hardest in all three phases and gave me the most fantastic cross-country ride. He was unbelievably straight and on his game and I’m so proud of him.

“I thought the new cross-country course-designer had done a fantastic job. The distances were excellent and the first five fences were very flowing which allowed you to get into a rhythm before you were hit with questions in the middle of the course.”

Tim Price and Vitali win the individual title and lead New Zealand to team victory at Aachen 2025. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Having shared the dressage lead, Tim and Vitali secured a clear round in the showjumping – a phase that has often been their downfall – then made light work of Giuseppe Della Chiesa’s cross-country track, adding just 3.2 time-penalties to their dressage mark of 27.3, which earned them a shared first place after the initial test.

“Vitali came in feeling very fit and well and did a pretty nice test,” said Tim. “Showjumping has been our Achilles heel so I was nervous ahead of our round.

“I had help in the warm-up from Shane Breen, who instilled a lot of confidence in me and told me just to give him a chance. He’s usually better when he showjumps before cross-country and he jumped really well, so I was chuffed as well as relieved.

“He’s a very good cross-country horse. As the other competitors near me in the standings were going at the same time, I couldn’t do anything other than ride according to my horse, so I went for a safe but fast round. When we crossed the line, the crowd were clapping, but I didn’t know if we’d won or not so had to check the scoreboard.

“It was pretty cool to see we’d won and was so exciting when I found out we’d won the team event, too. We needed it as we’ve had several nearly moments with the team recently, so it’s nice to get across the line on this one.”

Caroline Harris pilots D Day to seventh at Aachen 2025. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

British individuals Caroline Harris and D Day, last year’s Pau Horse Trials CCI5* winners, also put in a strong performance on their Aachen debut. The pair added just 4.8 cross-country time-penalties to their first phase mark to finish seventh.

Leaderboard shuffles in Aachen eventing results

Although Tim and Vitali stood firm at the top of the standings throughout the two-day competition, there was much movement below them as the placings shuffled after each phase.

There were 20 jumping penalties across country for both Bubby Upton and Laura Collett, second and fifth respectively after the showjumping, leaving them in 32nd and 35th position and ending Britain’s hopes of retaining their team title, which had been alive when they held first place going into the cross-country. Bubby and Cannavaro had a run-out at the skinny following the ditch, and Laura and Dacapo fell foul of the corner in the first water.

Germany’s Jérôme Robiné and his Badminton Horse Trials ride Black Ice, who were joint leaders after the first phase, ended up in eighth after rolling a showjumping pole and collecting eight cross-country time-penalties.

Third after dressage, New Zealand team members Monica Spencer and Artist knocked two showjumps to drop to 19th but then produced the fastest cross-country round of the day – stopping the clock just one second over the optimum time – to return to the top 10. The pair, who had travelled from their base in the USA for the competition, finished sixth, three places ahead of compatriots Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man.

Also in the New Zealand team, which triumphed on a score of 108.5 almost 10 penalties clear of the USA, were Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig, who dislodged a frangible pin in the final water on the cross-country. New Zealand boasted four combinations in the top 10 as individual rider Jonelle Price and Hiarado came 10th.

Chef d’equipe Jock Paget said: “Aachen is a hard place to do well. There was a huge amount of pressure with a very tough cross-country course and the time wasn’t achievable today, but they all went out there and rode really competitively. They took a lot of risks, rode skilfully and got the job done. To have four New Zealanders in the top 10 at Aachen is amazing and to win double gold, too.

“Aachen to us is like our European Championships – we don’t have one but we treat it like that. It was the biggest target for us this year.”

Off The Record leads US effort

Will Coleman led the American charge with the 16-year-old Irish Sport Horse Off The Record, the 2021 winner here. They were 24th after dressage but a clear in the showjumping and one of the quickest cross-country rounds of the day for just 0.8 time-penalties let them climb to fourth in the Aachen eventing results, just ahead of team-mates Boyd Martin and Commando 3.

Will said: “Overall I’m thrilled with the weekend and how my horse performed for me. He’s an older boy but still loves the game and rises to the occasion at these special events. I think he still has a lot left in him and we are still learning how to help him produce his best work at major competitions.

“I’m excited about this result for the team – there are certainly some things we can do better, but it represents something we can build on as we look forward to next year.”

Phillip Dutton had two in the top 15 of the final Aachen eventing results. His team ride Possante occupied 11th while his individual mount, Denim, was 14th. Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake were also part of the USA team.

It was a disappointing day for the hosts as only Jérôme and Black Ice finished in the top 16. Libussa Lübbeke with Caramia 34 dropped from sixth to 36th following a refusal at the skinny at fence seven, and 16 cross-country time-faults for Calvin Böckmann aboard Altair De La Cense, 23rd, and 9.6 for Anna Siemer on FRH Butt’s Avondale, 17th, meant Germany dropped out of contention in the team competition and finished fourth.

Switzerland were fifth, Australia sixth and France seventh just ahead of Ireland. Irish team members Padraig McCarthy and last year’s Blenheim Horse Trials young horse class winner MGH Zabaione were another casualty of the cross-country, dropping from eighth to 39th after amassing 40 jumping and 28 time-penalties.

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‘I want to give people goosebumps’: new superstar’s electrifying performances stunned the dressage world at Aachen

Oscar Williams — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:20:24 +0000

Dressage has a new name lighting up the international stage: Justin Verboomen.

The 37-year-old Belgian rider and his own electrifying nine-year-old stallion Zonik Plus delivered a breakout performance at the 2025 CHIO Aachen, announcing themselves as serious contenders for individual championship honours – and as Belgium’s first true dressage superstars.

Justin and Zonik Plus captured the spotlight by winning the MEGGLE-Prize grand prix special with 80.75%.

They edged out Olympic team gold medallists Isabell Werth and Wendy, who scored 80.11%, and Britain’s Becky Moody and Jagerbomb in third on 78.4% – all personal bests for the riders.

“What a horse, I’m so happy to have him in my life,” said Justin, who looked almost embarrassed by the attention at the press conference. “It wasn’t an easy ride. Some parts he supported me, some parts I supported him.”

Even more remarkable is how new this partnership is to the world stage. Zonik Plus was discovered by Justin as a two-year-old and developed quietly through the levels.

Until late last year, they were barely on the radar. That changed dramatically when they exploded on to the scene at Kronenberg CDI3* in November, delivering a grand prix debut that set social media buzzing. Aachen, however, took things to an entirely new level.

The barefoot Zonik Plus looked every inch a natural performer – unflappable, with an elegant outline, and all the qualities of a modern dressage star.

Justin appeared calm and focused as he guided the stallion with subtle aids and a loose rein. It was a performance that left you wondering: where has Belgium been hiding this guy?

Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus: “He can be so much more”

Justin believes Zonik Plus still has much more to give – a warning to his rivals. “He can be so much more relaxed and smooth,” he said.

And he’s right: there were glimpses of tension in the one-time changes and pirouettes, and the horse’s walk tour hints at becoming one of the best in the sport.

After his grand prix special triumph, Justin and Zonik Plus returned to win the prestigious Lindt-Prize freestyle with another personal best – this time a huge 89.4%. Justin is the first Belgian rider ever to claim the title.

The pair entered the arena into a cauldron of German noise, following Isabell, who had scored 88.44% and left to a standing ovation, punching the air in triumph.

The atmosphere crackled with echoes of Totilas’ legendary Windsor freestyle in 2009, as the Belgian duo performed to an evocative, dramatic soundtrack. They earned three 10s for their opening halt and received high marks for harmony between horse and rider.

“I had a super connection with him, and that is the most important thing for me,” Justin said. “I wanted to make it smooth and harmonious so people could feel the emotions. I want them to get goosebumps.”

Asked if she was disappointed to finish second, Isabell said:

“No! As I said, I love to have competition. We all do. Sometimes you have a percentage more, sometimes a percentage less. This is the challenge.”

She added with a rueful laugh: “I saw Justin in Lier and knew he wouldn’t try to be a gentleman!”

Becky, who finished fourth in the freestyle on 83.38%, was also full of praise.

“They were amazing,” she said. “The horse is only nine, and the special was just the second either of them had ever done, so to score over 80% is truly something else. And to beat Isabell on home territory twice in a row – it’s a brave man who does that!”

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Dream win – and an ‘exquisite dinner’ – for top rider in Aachen grand prix

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 10:14:34 +0000

Martin Fuchs had a feeling on Sunday that it might be his day – and it was, in spades, as he and Leone Jei won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen after an epic 11-way jump-off.

The Swiss rider and Adolfo Juri’s star 13-year-old finished two seconds ahead of Laura Kraut and Baloutinue, with Steve Guerdat and Dynamix De Belheme half a second behind in third.

This was a fifth major title for Martin but a first Aachen grand prix, 21 years after his uncle Markus did the same.

“A great day; a lot of emotions,” he said. “Winning in Aachen has been something I’ve tried to do many times, and I’ve been close. Today, when Leone Jei jumped so incredible, I was very focused for the jump-off, and I thought today could be the day. I didn’t want to let him down again; last year I made a rider’s mistake in the jump-off so today I thought ‘Let’s try to improve’.

“It’a special day for the whole family and team. Leone Jei is such an incredible horse; in all the majors, he’s always there, and when I do a good job, usually he leaves the poles up. In a ring like this, he has a huge stride, which allows me to leave out strides, go full risk and still usually jump clear. To be riding a horse like this – I’m very lucky.”

Of 40 starters, only 14 had jumped clear to make it to the second round, in which they were joined by two with time-faults and two on four. Of those 14, only three did not repeat the feat, leaving a huge and stellar jump-off line-up.

The European champions Steve and Dynamix had jumped a fabulous clear on 52.59sec but left the door ajar. Martin took advantage of Leone Jei’s ground-covering ability and left strides out on the crucial lines; forward and accurate and focused, they got the perfect shot to the gold double that caught many others out, and rode a beautiful line to the last vertical.

Last in, Laura and St Bride’s Farm’s 15-year-old put in more strides but were faster in places, and had their noses in front at one point, but Laura took just a check to the double and went slightly wider.

Very happy with second

“I’m very happy with second,” Laura said. “When there were 11 in the jump-off, with a lot of the fastest riders in the world, I thought ‘This could end not so well’. I knew the golden double was the thing to jump; it was very difficult, and many people were quick until that. I wasn’t sure I was up on Martin, because I know how fast he is. So when I jumped the wall, instead of taking all the risks like he did, I chickened out and thought ‘I’m going to play it safe and not have it down’, which is where he went well into the lead – and the way you went to the last fence, no chance! So in the end, I’m very happy.”

Steve said he had “many reasons to be happy”; he was delighted with how Dynamix went, and he knew the win would take a horse with a bigger stride than her.

Asked what he thought Leone Jei would say to him at that point if he could, Martin said: “Let’s go again!” And when asked how he would spend his prize money, he said that most of it would go to his owners and parents, so “I’m not going to see much of it”.

“My parents are very generous with me, so I’m sure my mum will make an exquisite dinner tomorrow for us,” he said.

Credit has to go to Nina Mallevaey of France and Dynastie de Beaufour, who finished in 50.01sec, but clipped the gold double, to finish fifth.

Best of the Brits was Ben Maher with his European Championships ride Point Break in 13th; the pair were unlucky to tip the first element of the Rolex triple in the first round but Ben then put his foot down, securing a place in round two as one of the fastest four-faulters. They came back to jump a polished and speedy clear but the penalties carried over.

The result also helped Ben to win the leading rider title of the show, and his Paris Olympic team gold medal winner Dallas Vegas Batilly was leading horse.

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How to watch CHIO Aachen from anywhere in the world

Gemma Redrup — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 05:30:18 +0000

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CHIO Aachen is a feast for all equestrian enthusiasts to enjoy. The event, which runs between 27 June and 6 July, hosts world class competition in showjumping, eventing, dressage, driving and vaulting, and if you can’t attend in person, here’s how to watch CHIO Aachen on TV.

The ClipMyHorse.TV streaming service will be showing all of the action from all classes at CHIO Aachen for a fee, but there is also a free livestream for certain aspects of the competition too.

If you’re abroad, and trying to watch ClipMyHorse.TV like you normally would back in the UK, then you can use a VPN. Check out NordVPN, where you can get 76% off, four extra months free (which does not appear until you go to the check out) plus a £50 Amazon gift card and a 30-day money back guarantee, and follow the instructions below.

How to watch CHIO Aachen on TV

There will be no terrestrial TV coverage available from this year’s CHIO Aachen in the UK.

A free livestream for showjumping, eventing, dressage and vaulting is available to watch while the classes that are not being shown on German terrestrial TV are running.

You can follow all the live action from the all classes on ClipMyHorse.TV. Subscriptions to this livestream start from £17.33 per month.

Classes will be available to view on demand at ClipMyHorse.TV soon after the completion of the competition, where rider clips will be available to purchase.

German residents will be able to watch the action on terrestrial TV during a variety of times during the week across three channels; WDR, ARF and ZDF. Find out more here.

How to watch CHIO Aachen from anywhere

Not in the UK right now? You don’t have to miss out on any of the action from CHIO Aachen.

A Virtual Private Network (VPN) will alter your device’s IP address to make it appear to be in a different country, allowing you to access your usual streaming services from anywhere in the world. It’s great for watching horse sport on the move, and it’s also handy even if you’re watching at home. VPNs are designed with internet security in mind, creating encrypted connections that keep your data safe from third parties and improve streaming speeds by preventing bandwidth ‘throttling’ from your internet service provider.

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, which is the best VPN in the world according to our colleagues at TechRadar.

How to use a VPN

Using a VPN is incredibly simple.

1. Install the VPN of your choice. NordVPN is the one we recommend.

2. Open up the VPN app and choose the location of the service you wish to access.

3. Then head over to ClipMyHorse on your browser or device and enjoy the livestream.

Get 76% off, four extra months free and a £50 Amazon gift card with NordVPN
Use this secure VPN to access the CHIO Aachen live stream from anywhere in the world. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.View Deal

We recommend VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:

Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service)
Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad

We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

The Aachen stadium. (Image credit: Corbis via Getty Images)

Aachen CHIO — an insider’s guide to this equestrian bonanza that should be on everyone’s bucket list

Credit: Future

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‘An incredible honour’: Dalera takes her place on ‘walk of fame’ at iconic equestrian venue

Lucy Elder — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 16:08:25 +0000

Double Olympic champion TSF Dalera BB was a guest of honour to see one of her shoes placed in Aachen’s “walk of fame”.

The 16-year-old mare retired from competition after winning her second individual Olympic gold medal and helping Germany to back-to-back team titles at Paris 2024. She was joined in Aachen on Sunday (22 September) by her rider, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, Jessica’s brother Benjamin Werndl and the horse’s owner Beatrice Bürchler-Keller.

Aachen’s walk of fame is reserved exclusively for horses and holds shoes of other superstars including Big Star, Hale Bob OLD, Hans Günter Winkler’s Halla, Totilas and more.

One of the conditions for securing a place is victory in showjumping’s Rolex Grand Prix, or the eventing SAP Cup, or the dressage freestyle Lindt-Prize – which Dalera won in 2023.

“That really is an incredible honour,” said Jessica. “Knowing that Dalera is eternalised here in Aachen for ever is simply fantastic and makes me very proud.”

She added that she is “grateful to share this special moment” with Beatrice and Benjamin.

Dalera also delighted crowds at Aachen’s Deutsche Bank Stadium at the weekend, receiving a standing ovation following a masterclass by the siblings, in which she was ridden by Jessica.

Dalera is featured in this week’s print edition of Horse & Hound (on sale Thursday, 26 September), where H&H’s Martha Terry spoke to Jessica, groom Franzi Leonhart and judge Isobel Wessels about the star mare.

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The best pre-Olympic preparation: double win for British world champions

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:51:05 +0000

Lottie Fry and Glamourdale secured the best possible boost to their own and Britain’s Olympic hopes as they won the Aachen CDI4* grand prix and grand prix special, both on over 80%.

The double world champions had only competed once since they won team gold and individual silver at last September’s Europeans – in Aachen in May, when they won the three-star grand prix and special. They returned on top form, scoring 80.98% in the grand prix and 80.1% in the special, with Isabell Werth on DSP Quantaz in second on 75.54, and 75%.

All the judges in the grand prix placed the world champions first, and four gave them a nine for overall impression – but a delighted Lottie said there could be more to come.

“We wanted to see where we stand,” she said. “There is still room for improvement, but we are on the right track with regards to Paris and now we know where we can fine-tune a few aspects.”

In the special, Lottie and the 13-year-old son of Lord Leatherdale gave a jaw-dropping performance, achieving their score despite a slight loss of balance in the right canter pirouette that resulted in a 6.3 score; their first 10 came for the half-pass to their right, followed by their famous and fabulous extended canter, which earned them four 10s and a nine.

“To be honest, that was one of the best feelings that he has ever given me in a test,” said Lottie. “I was so pleased with my pirouette to the left that I somehow forgot to ride the rest of the centre line. So it was my own fault. But in the rest of the test he was so focused on me, had so much go, and we had so much fun in there. That was the best feeling I could have wished for before Paris.”

You might also be interested in:

(Image credit: CHIO Aachen/Arnd Bronkhorst)

British Olympic dressage team for Paris 2024 revealed: who’s made the cut?

(Image credit: CHIO Aachen/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Anna Ross: ‘Let’s get behind our British Olympic teams’

(Image credit: CHIO Aachen/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Lottie Fry scores yet another personal best in thrilling European Dressage Championships freestyle finale

(Image credit: CHIO Aachen/Arnd Bronkhorst)

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Subscribe today and enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus unlimited website access and digital versions of the magazine dating back to September 2012.

‘He’s a full dressage horse!’ Ben Maher takes ‘fantastic’ Aachen win

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 18:51:49 +0000

Ben Maher took the prestigious Alianz Prize competition in Aachen this weekend (6 July) with a 15-year-old who is a “full dressage horse”.

Ben and Exit Remo, whom he owns with Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, triumphed by half a second over Germany’s Richard Vogel (Cydello), in a masterclass of controlled speed.

Ben also won the opening round of the Sparkassen Youngsters Cup, and was just pipped by Richard on Levi Noesar in the final, on seven-year-old Corlander, who at seven has already come second in a 1.50m national grand prix in the US.

“My horses have been on good form this week,” said Ben. “Everybody is jumping well; I’ve got my owners and my family here and have been trying to do my best to get a win on the board but every class is difficult to win here.”

Ben was especially pleased to land a win with Exit Remo. whom he has been riding since September 2022.

“He’s sometimes a bit in the shadow of my other horses, but this is a big win for him,” he said. “I’m very happy for him; he’s an amazing horse and it’s nice for him to get some limelight.”

Exit Remo boats breeding more commonly seen within the white boards; he is by the dressage stallion San Remo and out of a mare by Ferro, the grandsire of Valegro and Uthopia.

“He’s a full dressage horse, or so I’ve been told!” said Ben. “I’m not sure of his original history, whether he was, and switched to jumping, but he’s a good mover. I’m not sure if we went to the other side of the street, we’d be winning but it makes him a bit more of a character; he’s got high head carriage and you can see similarities.”

“Every time you ride into the ring in Aachen for a class like this, it just as important as riding into a grand prix anywhere else,” he added. “For me, my owners, my family, so it was fantastic.”

Ben is also very positive about the future of Corlander, owned by Charlotte Rossetter and Pamela Wright, whom has been riding since November.

“He is a very talented, balanced horse; he doesn’t have to jump too much,” he said. “He has a huge range with his scope and stride. Hopefully, we have found the next star. I hope we can live up to that.”

‘I never thought I’d have a chance’: emotional win in Aachen grand prix

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 17:22:37 +0000

It was an emotional win in the Rolex grand prix of Aachen for home rider Andre Thieme and his superstar DSP Chakaria, who took a title he “never, ever thought I’d have a chance in”.

The 2021 European champions were third of four to go in the third and final round, beating McLain Ward and Ilex into second place by a quarter of a second, with Richard Vogel and United Touch S third. Britain’s Ben Maher was fifth with Dallas Vegas Batilly, one unlucky rail in the first round keeping them out of the jump-off.

First to go, McLain took advantage of the long stride of the 11-year-old gelding with whom he has been selected for the Olympics, with some beautiful balanced turns to finish clear and in a time that was beatable, to put the pressure on the others.

Martin Fuchs and Leone Jei were faster, but a tighter turn to the Mercedes oxer meant they had it down. Andre Thieme’s 14-year-old mare, owned by Pferdemanagement & Marketing GmbH, does not have a huge stride; the combination put in one extra on the first two lines, and were down on the clock. But thanks to the agile mare’s speed on her turns and through the air, and a mighty effort from both to the last, they were in front. Richard and his Olympic partner were faster and clear – until the last fence. Knowing his time was good, a second ahead of Andre’s, his arm was almost in the air, but the pole was falling behind them.

“I’ve had some emotional moments with that mare; she’s given me so many,” Andre said. “But it’s different here in Aachen. Two years ago, I was on the team that won the Nations Cup, last to go and knew I had to be clear. I was clear, and that was something I’ll never forget. But the grand prix of Aachen is every rider’s lifetime dream.

“Most riders never even get close to it so that makes it extra special. This is really a dream, and if I was two years older, I’d probably say ‘I’m done now’.”

Andre said he knew his extra strides had slowed him down compared to McLain and Ilex.

“I came into the combination and knew I had two left and had to go for it or stay behind McLain,” he said. “I turned really short and it worked out perfectly. The whole time to the last I was thinking ‘I’m not going to get there’ but somehow I got there and she cleared it.”

Andre has said many times that he loves his mare as much as he does his wife.

“She totally understands, and she likes her too,” he said, adding: “Especially when I come home with this prize cheque!

“She’s made so many things happen in our lives, we’ve had unbelievable moments, all over the world. She’s given me championship medals but this, the grand prix of Aachen; I thought I’d never have a chance.”

McLain has only been riding his own and Bonne Chance Farm’s 11-year-old since early this year, and this was only the second jump-off for them as a combination.

“He did everything exactly as I planned,” he said. “In hindsight, I could have gone on eight strides to the last but Andre took a risk and it paid off. And that’s great sport.”

Richard thanked his team for a week in which he had notched up four wins and six other podium finishes.

“My horse jumped three amazing rounds today,” he said. “I had a plan for the jump-off and everything worked out well enough so I thought I could have a breath before the last. I was sure the time was good enough and he was over the fence in front but not behind. But I’m more than happy, with how my horse jumped and the success the rest of the week. Andre won it and he deserved it, and I’m happy to be third.”

British eventers triumph for second year in a row at prestigious CHIO Aachen as course juggles leaderboard

Gemma Redrup — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 19:06:39 +0000

The British team led from start to finish to take top honours in the prestigious SAP-Cup at CHIO Aachen.

The squad, made up of Kirsty Chabert (Classic VI), Izzy Taylor (SBH Big Wall), Laura Collett (Dacapo) and Emily King (Valmy Biats), proved unassailable, finishing on 112.8, ahead of the USA in second on 123.7 and Ireland in third on 138. The German team were fourth on 147.5.

Laura, who finished best of the Brits in third individually aboard Dacapo, a 15-year-old owned by Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams and Michael Smedley, said: “Everything here is so special – the atmosphere, the crowds. We don’t get to jump in a stadium like this anywhere else in the world.”

There had been musings among competitors that the cross-country track, designed by Rüdiger Schwarz for the final time after many years holding the role here, was softer than in previous seasons. However, from 44 cross-country starters, 28 jumped clear, with two making the optimum time of 6min50sec.

British chef d’equipe Philip Surl commented of the CHIO Aachen result: “It was a great result and an interesting competition in the end looking at the statistics after the cross-country – it was maybe not what everyone thought it would be after walking it earlier in the week.”

Laura said of the track: “It was a go-cart course, one obstacle followed the next – it’s always demanding here but Dacapo loves the crowds – he switches off around long, galloping tracks, so he loves Aachen.”

This is the fourth time since 2011 that the British team have won here – previously in 2011, 2021 and 2022 – proving their strength in depth in terms of the riders the nation has in their arsenal.

The USA team, consisting of James Alliston and Karma, whose speedy cross-country round meant they finished ninth individually, having been 33rd after the dressage, plus Alyssa Phillips and Oskar, Hallie Coon and Cute Girl and Liz Halliday with Shanroe Cooley, proved they have firepower for the future, both in equine and human form, given that the former three combinations were making their first visits to Aachen.

“For three of our team never to have competed here before and to step up and jump four clear rounds in the showjumping was incredible,” said Liz. “Plus a lot of great cross-country rounds from us today is very exciting, especially as some of us are on younger horses. It was great that we could fight until the end.”

Bar Joseph Murphy’s Calmaro, the Irish team were also fielding a team of less experienced horses in the shape of Millridge Atlantis (Ian Cassells), Ballyneety Rocketman (Sam Watson) and Isazsa (Austin O’Connor).

“To finish third against two big nations with big budgets is very pleasing – sometimes we have to go to the charity shop, but we’re coming for you,” joked Sam Watson.

“Our owners that support us and our personal sponsors make a big difference, but for me, it’s my team mates and Dag Albert, who is our eventing team manager, and the attitude of the likes of Lucy Latta, who was second at Badminton this year, Austin, who won the five-star at Maryland in 2023, and the team winning the Nations Cup at Millstreet earlier this year; Ireland keeps chipping away and when we can get the support to be as professional and have a system around us – we couldn’t afford to have our team coaches here – we have the attitude and we’ll always be here.”

There was a shake up in the individual competition when two-phase leader Michael Jung withdrew FischerChipmunk FRH before cross-country.

“It was always the plan not to run him across country,” said Michael of the 16-year-old, owned by the German Olympic committee for equestrian sport, Michael’s father Joachim and Klaus and Sabine Fischer, who is named on the German team for the looming Paris Olympics. “FischerChipmunk is in such great shape at the moment and better than ever, but we need two or three more gallops before Paris.”

CHIO Aachen: individual shake-up

Julia Krajewski riding Nickel 21 at Aachen in 2024. (Image credit: creditUnknown)

Germany’s Paris-bound combinations of Chistoph Wahler and Carjatan S, who were third after two phases, and Sandra Auffarth and Viamant Du Matz, who were seventh before the cross-country, both retired two-thirds of the way round the cross-country – as was always the plan.

Christoph and Carjatan S made what they jumped look incredibly easy, however Viamant Du Matz flew past a narrow triple brush at fence 10ab.

“I think I got my line wrong and wasn’t totally focused so my horse was never totally focused on the fence,” said Sandra.

Their compatriot Julia Krajewski ultimately took individual honours with an incredibly consistent Nickel 21, who is still only a 10-year-old. She added 6.4 cross-country time-faults to her 23.9 dressage.

“Winning in Aachen is, of course, always very, very special,” said Julia, who last won here on Chipmunk FRH in 2018, before he was sold to Michael Jung to ride. “It is almost like a championships. But there is so much between hoping to win and actually winning. I wasn’t predicted to win, which makes it all the better when it is a surprise. I still can’t really believe that it actually happened.”

Germany’s Calvin Böckmann, who is 23 years old, was second with The Phantom Of The Opera. Calvin becomes the youngest rider to finish on his dressage score in this class at CHIO Aachen, and was one of the two to finish inside the optimum time across country – the other being Australia’s Chris Burton, who was fourth with Clever Louis.

“I think my horse and I have grown together incredibly over the last two-and-a-half-years,” explained Calvin, who took on this 13-year-old, who he co-owns with Jason, Liam, Roger and Simone Böckmann, from Sandra Auffarth. “We were at the five-star in Kentucky at the beginning of this year and I think that has bonded us even closer together – I trust him totally and he trusts me, which makes it possible to take the first distance and cut turns.”

Emily King and the consistent Valmy Biats had the win at their mercy when setting off on course, with a buffer of 2.3 penalties to finish ahead of Julia. However the 15-year-old gelding finished 12 seconds over the optimum time to complete on 32.8 in fifth, 2.5 penalties adrift of Julia.

“With the intensity of the course, he definitely felt different, which he never had before – we were up on our minutes at the beginning but he went a bit foggy in his brain, but he was still amazing and is such a big, bold, strong horse, so it took a bit more time for me to set him up,” explained Emily of her first-time Aachen performance with this gelding, who is owned by her father David King, his breeder Philippe Brivois and the Valmy Biats Syndicate.

Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier, who is fresh from her five-star victory at Luhmühlen, once again impressed, finishing sixth and seventh aboard Ducati D’Arville and Hermione D’Arville respectively at CHIO Aachen.

‘They weren’t so bad!’ Ireland takes Aachen Nations Cup – with Britain on the podium

Eleanor Jones — Thu, 04 Jul 2024 21:48:18 +0000

Ireland threw down the gauntlet in the Mercedes-Benz Aachen Nations Cup, securing the win with three riders gone – and two combinations who will be travelling to Paris for the Olympics jumping double clear – with Mexico and Britain finishing a fence behind in second and third place respectively.

Denis Lynch (Vistogrand), Bertram Allen (Pacino Amiro), Shane Sweetnam (James Kann Cruz, pictured) and Cian O’Connor (Fancy De Kergane) were one of five teams who took a clean sheet to the second round, with just the first fence down from Denis and his European silver medal-winning ride as the discard score. Shane and James Kann Cruz are on the Irish Olympic team and Bertram and Pacino Amiro are the alternate combination.

They were level-pegging with Sweden, Mexico, Britain and the Netherlands, but then jumped three clears in succession in round two, so Cian and the nine-year-old stallion did not have to jump.

“I thought they weren’t so bad!” said Irish chef d’equipe Michael Blake of his team. “When Denis had that first fence that he didn’t want, it looked like a long way home, but that was the first and last fence we had all night.

“We’re so delighted to be here; it’s been a long time since we won here but it was the plan all year to bring the best team here, and thankfully things went our way tonight. Thank you to Mexico and Great Britain for pushing us all the way to the line, and the crowd was unbelievable. This show is phenomenal.”

Britain were in fine form, with only one unlucky rail for Harry Charles and Casquo Blue as the discard score in round one and Ben Maher (Dallas Vegas Batilly), Scott Brash and his Paris Olympics ride Hello Jefferson and Robert Whitaker and Vermento jumping clear.

Ben and Scott repeated their foot-perfect performances in the second round but the luck was not with Harry, who hit the first part of the double, the US planks and the German oxer for 12 faults. Robert and the Blatchfords’ 11-year-old stallion jumped a super round just clipping the same fence in the double, putting Britain on a total of four.

This was the same finishing score as Mexico: Nicolas Pizzaro (Pia Contra), Andres Azcarraga (Contendros 2), Federico Fernandez (Romeo) and Eugenio Garza Perez (Contago), who edged ahead thanks to a two-second time advantage.

British showjumping performance manager Di Lampard said she was delighted with the result, and the way the partnerships performed.

“They’re really coming into form at the right time,” she said. “The team as a whole are really coming together; third place in Rotterdam last week was exciting, then in top competition here. The last three years we’ve been on the podium here.”

Di cited the quality of the field, as shown by the number of clear rounds, and the fact the British team was more than up for the challenge.

“We’ve had a steady start to the year, but every four years, our goal is the Olympic Games and I feel the riders and horses – each partnership has had its individual plan – are going towards the Games, and hopefully we’re going to peak in August.”

The last team outing before Paris will be the British Nations Cup at the Royal International Horse Show.

“We’ll be there; and we want to retain our trophy.’ Di said.

(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Aachen CHIO — an insider’s guide to this equestrian bonanza that should be on everyone’s bucket list

Sarah Jenkins — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 12:00:56 +0000

Find out why Aachen CHIO is deemed the greatest horse show on earth and how to get the most out of a visit ahead of the event, which kicks off tomorrow (28 June — 7 July)

Aachen CHIO is nirvana for horse lovers — the ultimate international horse show besides an Olympics and World Games. Some argue it is on a par with European championships — Aachen CHIO is that well attended, well organised, and well loved by the equestrian cognoscenti. Even the opening ceremony attracts up to 40,000 visitors – a total of 350,000 spectators are expected at the 2024 event, which runs between 28 June and 7 July, and hosts showjumping, eventing, dressage, vaulting and driving competitions.

Why? As photographer Jon Stroud puts it: “Nothing can prepare you for the sheer enormity of the main stadium. For excitement, nothing in the equestrian world compares to the atmosphere for Thursday night’s Nations Cup showjumping.”

Even though it invariably rains, 65,000 to 68,000 spectators turn up to watch.

At any other show, the dressage arena would be deemed top rate, but its over-achieving sibling, the jumping stadium, over shadows it.

The atmosphere compensates – you will not find a more passionate or knowledgeable dressage audience. I learned more about dressage from the “boo’s” and “aah’s” at Aachen than by writing for dressage judges on many Sunday afternoons.

Horse & Hound correspondent Kate Green adds: “To win at Aachen is really quite an emotional, stirring thing. And with many nations choosing to field their crack teams, the show provides a good indicator for that year’s Olympics, Worlds or Europeans.”

In addition, one of the most moving parts of the show is the parade on the last evening called the “Farewell to Nations”. The Aachen website explains this parade as “a tradition since 1953: the emotional closing ceremony of the CHIO Aachen. Accompanied by the sounds of the German folk song ‘Muss I Denn’ and waving with white handkerchiefs, participants and spectators say goodbye to each other.”

“It really is something – everyone in the stands waving white handkerchiefs and the riders too! I think all the riders are invited to take part, although they are usually given safer horses to ride than their own!” says H&H’s former dressage editor Polly Bryan.

Eventing at Aachen

Dressage and jumping have inhabited Aachen for decades, but eventing was only introduced for the 2006 World Equestrian Games and has stuck around. People doubted you could create a four-star event on such a small plot, but as Horse & Hound’ seventing editor Pippa Roome points out, the fences’ proximity to each other is what makes for such an amazing spectator sport.

Kate Green adds: “It has an urgency akin to the Hickstead eventing grand prix. The fact they finish in the main arena is great fun.”

On Saturday’s cross-country day, it’s worth walking over to see the driving marathon. Driving is taken very seriously in Germany, and watching these strapping horses charge past you in fours is pretty overwhelming.

And then there’s the shopping…

The Aachen Haribo stands are infamous, not least because the gummy bears are much larger than the ones you get in the UK.

For a fast food fix, Jon Stroud suggests a sliced krakauer sausage served with fresh crispy pommes — that’s chips, not Brits.

“The crepes sold by the dressage arena are also particularly good,” he enthuses.

I put on a good 6lb in waffles last time I was there, too…

Also make sure you don’t miss the great coffee:

“The main dressage arena is home to, arguably, the best coffee to be found on the show ground, a small truck tucked away behind the C end of the arena. If it’s hot, an iced latte from here is an absolute must!” says Polly.

If you thought The London International Horse Show was good for horsey shopping, wait till you get to Aachen.

There will be 200 exhibitors in 2024.

Rub shoulders with the stars

You can watch the warm-up at Aachen, which, as Kate Green says, is pretty cool given that some of the top dressage riders are deemed as royalty. They never complain about one hundred clicking camera shutters, either.

For autograph hunting, hang around outside the media centre after the prize giving, as riders will head out of here following the press conference.

Jon Stroud suggests lingering at the bottom of the riders’ grandstand for the same reason, adding: “All the riders can be found having a beer or glass of wine at the Bunte-Bar at some point during the day.”

Where to stay for Aachen CHIO

I’ve benefited from my disorganisation before and booked an economical last-minute room in one of the hotels used by riders — the Mercure. I can only assume teams reserve more rooms than they end up using and some become available again. But I wouldn’t bank on this strategy.

Jon Stroud suggests: “Accommodation can be cripplingly expensive in Aachen during the CHIO. A better, cheaper option would be to book into a hotel in the Netherlands — the border is about 10km away.”

H&H’S Gemma Redrup, who will be attending the show on a “busman’s holiday” recommends booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

“I booked in December 2023 and am staying in the Netherlands in a hotel that is about 20 minutes away from the CHIO,” she explains. “Do not leave it too late to book accommodation – you either won’t find anywhere available, or rooms still up for grabs will be eye-wateringly expensive.”

How to get there

“Take the Eurostar to Brussels and change for Aachen — the second train journey is lovely and you really don’t need a car in Aachen,” says Kate Green — this is because shuttle buses run so regularly and reliably from town to the show.

Jon Stroud argues: “The best way to get to Aachen is to drive — how else are you going to get all your shopping back home? It’s only three hours from Dunkirk or Calais when travelling through Belgium via Brussels and Liege.”

Düsseldorf is the most convenient airport for UK visitors. Pippa Roome’s top tip — born of bitter experience and an expensive taxi ride — is: “Be aware that Düsseldorf has two airports — go for Düsseldorf international airport as the Düsseldorf Weeze airport is further out with very little access to public transport.”

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AACHEN, GERMANY - JULY 19: panoramic view of the Aachen CHIO main stadium during the evening race Mercedes-Benz Nations' Cup, Team jumping competition with two (identical) rounds under floodlight on July 19, 2018 in Aachen, Germany. (Photo by Davide Mombelli - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images) (Image credit: Corbis via Getty Images)

World Championship venues confirmed – and Britain loses out

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Major pre-Olympic fixture pulls plug on FEI’s Nations Cup after rule change

Lucy Elder — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:45:45 +0000

Aachen has parted ways with the FEI Dressage Nations Cup series after a decade – and will instead host its own elite team dressage competition at the 2024 World Equestrian Festival (28 June to 7 July).

The show takes place less than a month before the Olympics, when the build-up to Paris 2024 will be at its peak, and concludes the day ahead of the final entry deadline for this summer’s Games (8 July).

The news, first reported by Eurodressage, comes amid changes to the FEI Nations Cup rules for 2024. This year, organisers of competitions in the FEI Nations Cup series must invite all national federations, which has brought about the split.

“We have withdrawn from the FEI Nations Cup Series 2024 due to the changed invitation mode,” an Aachen spokesman told H&H. “Aachen organisers will confirm invitations as soon as possible, which is contrary to the FEI Dressage Nations Cup Rules 2024.”

Aachen’s schedule shows it will be inviting the seven top-placed teams from the 2023 European Championships, plus the best non-European team from the 2022 World Dressage Championships.

This means that Britain, Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the USA, Austria, Denmark, France and Sweden are expected to be on the list of invitations for Aachen’s own inter-nation team dressage competition.

Aachen’s team showjumping and eventing competitions are already run on the show’s own terms and are known as Nations Cups, but without the FEI prefix as they have not been part of the FEI-owned series for some time.

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‘Lost for words’: 15-year-old Brit triumphs at Aachen

Oscar Williams — Thu, 07 Dec 2023 18:53:32 +0000

Junior European team bronze medallist Isla Sully rounded off her breakthrough year by winning the Aachen Youngstars Junior Champion title.

It was 15-year-old Isla’s first time at Aachen and with the Lusitano gelding Vagabond de Massa she rose from 10th place in the team test with 68.88%, to top the leaderboard in the individual test with 71.22% and the freestyle with 74.79%.

Travelling to Aachen was a last-minute decision for the combination, who were on the British junior team that won bronze this summer, but had not been planning to go to the event the week before.

“I had thought we’d bring Vagabond’s season to an end because they’d both been so busy and had already done so well,” said Isla’s mum Cassandra.

“Then at four o’clock on Monday, we had a change of heart, so I phoned Sharon Weir [British Dressage’s under-21 international officer] to see if we could still go, and she said ‘You’ve got one hour to decide if you want to go or not before the entries close.’

“So we thought ‘Let’s do it’, because how often do you get the opportunity to ride at Aachen? Let’s just go there and enjoy it. We quickly phoned her trainer, Alex Harrison, to see if he could come and from there it just sort of fell together.”

Cassandra said they went with no expectation of winning but hoping for a top-10 finish.

“As a mum, I never care what results come in, I just want her to enjoy it, go to bed on time and stay hydrated,” she said. “But to watch her win in Aachen, I was lost for words.”

Isla Sully has been training with Alex at Collective Equestrian for almost two years. As well as teaching, Alex rides to a high level and is the UK’s youngest list one judge, which Cassandra believes has contributed to Isla’s success.

“Alex is a legend, to have a judge who also rides as your trainer gives you a different perspective, and helps solve problems in a way that creates results in the ring,” she said.

“Isla and him just gel. She used to call his sessions drilling sessions because he’s super competitive, and she loves that.

“They know each other so well now that there’s never any misunderstanding, she trusts him completely. He helps her with goal-setting and planning her season, which Isla takes great comfort in.”

With success here and success at the Junior European Championships, the future looks bright for Isla Sully, but with GCSEs around the corner, she and Vagabond are taking every day as it comes for now.

“Isla is extremely dedicated and conscientious, and she’d love to go into horses but she’s also started thinking about where she wants to go to university, and I think it’s sensible to have that balance,” Cassandra said.

“The pressure that these young riders take on is incredible, so to watch them keep going out there again and again and performing is amazing.”

World Championship venues confirmed – and Britain loses out

Becky Murray — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 18:08:09 +0000

Aachen has been named as the main 2026 equestrian World Championships venue – as Burghley loses its bid to host the eventing.

It was confirmed during an FEI board meeting, at the FEI General Assembly on 18 November, that the showjumping, dressage, para dressage, eventing, driving and vaulting World Championships will be held in Aachen, Germany, from 10–23 August 2026. Al Ula in Saudi Arabia will host the endurance on 17 October 2026.

In August, the FEI revealed the five shortlisted bidders across the disciplines: Aachen, which applied to host six disciplines; Burghley and the Netherlands’ Boekelo, which both applied to host the eventing; and Samorin, Slovakia and Al Ula, which both applied to host the endurance. Burghley had held the World Championships twice before, in 1966 and 1974. Aachen is known for its summer CHIO, and the venue held the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

FEI president Ingmar de Vos said the allocation is a “significant decision for the future of equestrian sport”.

“We examined every aspect of the bids we received and especially the sporting infrastructures, the conditions for the horses, accessibility and sustainability. The FEI is delighted to have secured such outstanding hosts for our most prestigious championships three years in advance, which allows plenty of time for preparation and planning,” he said.

“I would like to congratulate the winners, who submitted outstanding bids. We are all well aware of Aachen’s unique track record of organising extremely successful large-scale events. We were impressed with Al Ula’s proposal, which not only contains all the components of a successful event, but seeks to showcase the heritage and potential of an entire region.”

Mr de Vos thanked all organisers who took part in the process, for their “strong bids and commitment to the sport”.

“It was not easy to choose between such strong bids. We hope that those who didn’t get it this time will consider bidding for future events,” he said.

CHIO Aachen general manager Michael Mronz thanked the FEI for its “trust”, and said the venue “feels honoured” to host the championships with the German equestrian federation.

“We would like to invite the world of equestrian sport to Aachen so that we can celebrate an unforgettable event together in 2026,” he said.

Former Burghley course-designer Captain Mark Phillips told H&H: “I think it’s sad that in 2022 the FEI went down a devolved route with different disciplines being at different venues, which worked really well for television audiences, because it meant it wasn’t an overdose of equestrian television over a short period of time. After one World Games the FEI has gone back to allocating it all to one venue.”

Al Ula named as 2026 equestrian World Championships venue for endurance

An FEI spokesman said Al Ula is undergoing “spectacular development as a nature, cultural, education and sporting centre”, and the venue is home to the annual Fursan Endurance Cup.

“The Saudi Arabian Equestrian Federation (SAEF) and the Royal Commission for Al Ula have collaborated to secure this honourable hosting opportunity,” said SAEF president HH Prince Abdullah Bin Fahad Al Saud.

“This responsibility weighs greatly upon us, and we are confident that Al Ula will deliver an authentic and unprecedented sporting experience within a unique and fascinating context.”

It was also decided at the board meeting that Samorin will host the 2025 European Dressage Championships, from 28–31 August. The endurance Euros will run at Castiglione del Lago, Italy on 6 September 2025, and the vaulting at Stadl Paura, Austria, from 30 July– 3 August 2025. The driving will take place in Lähden, Germany – around the end of August/beginning of September, with the date to be confirmed.

British venue makes the shortlist to host 2026 World Championships

Becky Murray — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 16:24:05 +0000

Hopes that the 2026 World Eventing Championships could come to Britain are alive as Burghley is on the shortlist of host contenders.

It was announced in February that Burghley planned to bid to host the championships in 2026, and today (24 August) the FEI revealed the shortlisted bidders across the disciplines, with five organising committees in the running.

Aachen, Germany, has applied to host the showjumping, dressage and para dressage, eventing, driving four-in-hand and vaulting. Boekelo, the Netherlands, and Burghley have applied to host the eventing, and Al Ula, Saudi Arabia, and Samorin, Slovakia, have bid for the endurance.

The FEI board will allocate the World Championships at its board meeting on 18 November in Mexico, following a “thorough review by the FEI evaluation commission and taking into account recommendations by the technical committees”.

Burghley has held the World Championships twice before, in 1966 and 1974. It has also hosted six European Championships (1962, 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989 and 1997) and one young rider European Championship (1978). The 2026 World Championships are the first opportunity for countries to qualify for the showjumping, dressage, para dressage, and eventing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics.

A spokesman for Burghley said the bid has the full support of British Equestrian, British Eventing, and UK Sport.

“With our long association with championships, unbeatable parkland setting, huge loyal following and world-class course we know we can run a brilliant World Championship here, and very much look forward to making our final bid presentation to the FEI board in Lausanne next month,” said Burghley event director Martyn Johnson.

FEI president Ingmar De Vos said the FEI is “very pleased with the variety” of bids it has received.

“Following the outstanding FEI World Championships 2022 organised in Denmark, Italy and the UAE, we are confident this flexible approach with single and multiple bids serves not only the sport, but also the fans and the development of equestrian around the world, allowing different nations and venues to bid to host a major FEI event,” he said.

Andrew Nicholson: ‘Why Aachen is the place to advertise eventing to a wider audience’

Andrew Nicholson — Thu, 13 Jul 2023 09:32:10 +0000

Multiple five-star winner and Olympic medallist Andrew Nicholson, who is cross-country coach to the Swiss eventing team, is more impressed by Aachen now he’s not riding there

My recent trip to the great German horse show, Aachen, was the first time I have been there without riding at it. I thought it was even more impressive than ever – I’d never realised that the tradestands were packed with people at the same time as all the seats in the stadium were full, which is quite a feat.

It’s the place to advertise eventing – an invitation-only, limited field of the best riders, mixing with the top showjumpers and dressage riders. It’s quite something to wander around and look at the big rolls of honour for each discipline; seeing Nereo’s name on there from our win in 2010 made me very proud.

You need to see it to appreciate just how difficult the showjumping phase at Aachen is for event riders and horses. It’s in the vast main arena, with a 1.50m track set up as well as the evening course – which looks very small in comparison – and there’s the ornamental lake, the open water jumps and so on to catch a horse’s eye. The size of the arena means riders have to go at a faster tempo than feels comfortable straightaway, and it’s a serious test.

Why time is such a test

Rüdiger Schwarz, who designs Aachen’s cross-country course, did a great job. It highlights the fact that you can create a course, which seems reasonably straightforward on walking it, very influential by making the time hard to achieve. Once speed is added, you only need to look at the results sheet to see what happens.

He put the first water at around the two-minute mark and, after jumping in, competitors had to spend a long time in there with probably 100 metres of galloping in the water and four fences, with the driving obstacles to negotiate round as well – that’s a lot to slow you down and you’re immediately behind time.

Rüdiger gave them galloping stretches interspersed with clumps of difficult jumping lines, often sited near the driving obstacles that took the horses’ eyes off what they were supposed to be doing.

Once they got to the end of the course in the main stadium, there were more fences to slow competitors down – placed in a smooth route, not twisty, but making sure they had to chase the clock. And while there were plenty of spectators in the stands watching the finish of the eventing class, more were filing in to take their seats for the big jumping class that followed, adding more distractions.

It’s a very exciting class to watch and to take part in, and Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir looked like the world champions they are when winning it – the first Brits ever to have done so. Yasmin did a smart dressage test, a beautiful showjumping round and then blitzed round the cross-country, not playing safe and getting the job done very well.

It made me appreciate even more how good Nereo had been – he used to go round the cross-country in Aachen inside the time as if it was normal for him. I get the feeling he might have been the only one to do so the year we won, as I definitely didn’t lead after the dressage!

I was there this time in my role as cross-country coach to the Swiss – it was the first time their team has been invited to Aachen. They finished second-last,

but the Australians were behind us and it was a fantastic prep for other big events for our riders.

It is the only place that can really add to their experience in a major way, and they enjoyed it and learnt a lot. And I thoroughly enjoyed wearing my red Swiss team outfit when the showjumpers won the Nations Cup on the Thursday evening!

● What’s the best horse show that you have ever visited? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and county, for the chance to have your views published in a future edition of Horse & Hound magazine

This exclusive column will also be available to read in Horse & Hound magazine, on sale Thursday 13 July, 2023

Groom David Honnet shares his travelling tips and reveals Scott Brash’s next superstar

Jennifer Donald — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 17:32:31 +0000

Showjumping super groom David Honnet, 35, has been working for British Olympic showjumper Scott Brash for seven years. He joined the Scotsman from Irish showjumper Cameron Hanley. Scott Brash’s groom, David, travels all over the world looking after Scott’s horses and most recently was at CHIO Aachen, Germany, where Scott and Hello Jefferson helped Great Britain to a second-place finish in the Nations Cup.

Speaking from Aachen, David explained the journey involved with three horses from Scott’s yard in Sussex.

“I travelled with the horses on Sunday morning, we left the yard and took the ferry – in total it was a 10-hour trip,” says David. “The trip went well, but since Brexit, everything takes a bit longer with the paperwork and checks. I got here to Aachen pretty late, and the show vets were really helpful.

“All the horses travelled well, they are all really used to it. Hello Jefferson has been everywhere in the world, so it was no problem for him. Hello Mango is also a very good traveller; she was in Spain for the beginning of the year, so she has done a few long trips. Hello Valentino is also a very good traveller.”

David’s advice if you find yourself with a horse who doesn’t travel well, is to “break it down, don’t do long days”.

“Only do small journeys, never more than 600 kilometres at a time if the horse is bad at travelling,” he explains. “If possible, I would travel through the night – it is always quicker and smoother. You usually do not experience as much traffic or get stuck on the roads, so if it suits your plan and the person driving is able to drive through the night, I would definitely recommend that.”

Scott’s top horse Hello Jefferson is in “really good shape” according to David, while nine-year-old Hello Valentino is still gaining experience and baby of the pack, eight-year-old Hello Mango, is “going to be a superstar for sure!”

“She had a very good beginning to the year in Spain, then we gave her a bit of a break to try to get an embryo from her, but it didn’t work, so she is back and feeling fresh and jumping well,” says David. “At only eight-years-old, she’s one for the future.”

Scott Brash’s groom David Honnet: “Safety first is key”

Facilities for grooms are improving all the time and Aachen, says David, is one of the best.

“My main concern when I get to shows is always safety first, and here everything is very safe and comfortable for the horses,” he says. “I have been to Aachen a number of times and there are always little improvements and the attention to detail for the horses is incredible. This morning I noticed a new wash bay and it’s things like this that make the show great.

“I have to say it’s the Sunday afternoon in Calgary and Aachen that have the most amazing feeling,” he says of some of the best shows in the world. “Then when you go clear, it is incredible – it is only an afternoon, but it feels like a week, there is so much emotion. It is really very special! Both Spruce Meadows and Aachen have two rounds and a jump-off, so those two grands prix feel really unique, there is so much emotion.

“Geneva and ‘s-Hertogenbosch are also incredible grands prix. CHI Geneva is the last big event of the year, so you want to finish on a high. The Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final adds to the prestige of the show.

“The grooms are a small and close community. Obviously, you cannot like everyone, and you need a strong character to do this job as there are a lot of big characters, but once you’ve got your friends, everybody helps each other. Once you find people you trust, you can ask them if you are struggling or if you need advice, like ‘how should I do that’ or, ‘what should I do if I have this problem’. I have been doing this job for years, but I remember at the beginning of the year I went to ask for advice from another groom because I had a difficult horse I needed help with, and that is what is so great about this community.”

David on being Scott’s groom: “We are both calm people”

Scott is well known for being the only rider to have won the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping and, although David wasn’t working for Scott at that time, he was watching on the sofa “hoping for him to win it”.

“At the time I had no idea I was going to work for him one day,” says David. “In 2016, when he once again won the CP International, presented by Rolex, in Calgary, we were watching at home with his mother and we went crazy when he won. Scott and I are both calm people and there is rarely any tension. We have some very sharp horses, and so the cooler you stay the better it is for the horses, they don’t need you to put any stress on them.”

Of the team behind Scott’s success, David says they all trust each other and that’s what makes them so strong.

“Within the team, you need so much quality and skill – I have some, Scott has some, and then the people at home do as well,” he reveals. “Our team trusts each other and this probably is what makes the difference.”

Another secret to their success? Treats!

“It’s something that is common to all the groom and horses – we all give them treats when they come out of the ring, so that is something that I always have in the bag,” he says. “There is no lucky charm, they just need a treat when they come out.”

With thanks to Rolex.

Top rider causes a stir by wearing earpiece during CHIO Aachen grand prix special

Polly Bryan — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 10:30:59 +0000

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl was at the centre of some controversy when she narrowly beat Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin in the CDIO5* grand prix special at CHIO Aachen, while riding with what appeared to be an earpiece in.

Reigning Olympic champion Jessica and the 16-year-old mare TSF Dalera BB scored 81.02% in the special to finish just 0.23% ahead of Charlotte and Imhotep, but it was spotted that she was wearing part of an earpiece in her right ear during her test.

The FEI dressage rules state that “Any outside help by voice, signs, etc (earphone and/or electronic communication devices included) is considered as illegal or unauthorised assistance. Illegal or unauthorised assistance will result in elimination of that combination”.

The earpiece was discovered by stewards at Jessica’s post-test check, but they were satisfied that it was not able to transmit and so the pair were not eliminated under the outside assistance rules.

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl later explained that when removing the training earpiece before her Aachen test, the cover element had come off and become stuck in her ear.

“I didn’t realise it had got stuck, I didn’t realise it was still in my ear,” she said. “The stewards found it when I came back and that was the point I realised it too.

“I was connected to the sky,” she joked.

2RA6BAH Aachen, Germany. 01st July, 2023. Equestrian sport, dressage: CHIO, Grand Prix Special (2nd classification Nations' Cup). Jessica von Bredow-Werndl from Germany on the horse Dalera rides in the course. Credit: Uwe Anspach/dpa/Alamy Live News (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Despite having finished at the top of the leaderboard, Jessica was left ruing technical mistakes in the grand prix special, losing marks for the first halt and final set of changes. The German duo were back on their usual flawless form by the final day’s grand prix freestyle however, where they scored over 90%.

With a clean sweep of wins, Jessica not only led the German team to Nation Cup victory, ahead of Denmark in second and Britain in third, but was also crowned the Aachen grand champion. The accolade is awarded to the best performing combination across the five-star classes.

“She leaves her heart in there for me,” said a very emotional Jessica of Dalera after her freestyle.

“Yesterday I had big mistakes because I made the wrong decisions, today I didn’t take any wrong decisions so we had no mistakes, because she just listens to me. It has always been my childhood dream to be on the winners’ board.”

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‘The biggest mover I’ve ever sat on’: massive personal bests for Brits in Aachen bodes well for European Championships

Polly Bryan — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 07:20:51 +0000

It was a super week for British riders in the CHIO Aachen dressage, with Charlotte Dujardin, Lottie Fry and Annabella Pidgley all picking up wins or personal bests, and with Laura Tomlinson also helping the British team finish on the podium in the Nations Cup.

While Germany claimed the team victory on home soil, Britain and Denmark tussled for second spot. In the end, Denmark finished a smidgeon ahead, leaving Britain in third but with high hopes for team medal chances at the European Dressage Championships, to be held at Riesenbeck, Germany, in September.

Reigning Olympic and European champions Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB triumphed in every test, leaving viewers in no doubt about their form as the Europeans draw closer, nor their place on the German team, for which Aachen is a mandatory selection trial. The Germans were generally dominant, particularly in the special, in which none of the home side finished outside the top 10.

But team gold on home soil come September is far from guaranteed as the Danish and British quartets proved this week. Excitingly for Britain, while Denmark fielded four of its top five combinations in Aachen – with Nanna Merrald Skodberg and Blue Hors Zeptor showing real medal potential – the British team included just one horse-and-rider combination who would be considered a shoe-in for Riesenbeck.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep at CHIO Aachen 2023 (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

And that pair, Charlotte Dujardin and Carl Hester and Coral Ingham’s 10-year-old Imhotep, were the best-performing British combination across the five-star Aachen dressage competitions. The chestnut gelding, known as Pete, is getting better and better with every outing in 2023, and he scooped the runners-up spot in both the grand prix and special behind Jessica von Bredow-Werndl.

Charlotte and Pete then produced a massive personal best score – the highest of Pete’s career – in the grand prix freestyle, with 88.41% riding to Valegro’s old How to train your dragon music.

“Pete is a ball of energy,” said Charlotte, who also confirmed that Pete will have his own music in time for the European Championships.

“His piaffe is one of the best and he’s the biggest mover I’ve ever sat on. He wants to do everything so much bigger than he’s ready to do. So I’m trying to make it smaller, but one day when I can let him do what he really wants to, he’s going to be really exciting.”

With Pete’s top scores now just fractionally behind the best achieved by Charlotte’s most recent individual medallists, Mount St John Freestyle and Gio, this young gelding is truly stepping into medal-winning territory himself. Watch out Riesenbeck.

Imhotep and sire Everdale neck-and-neck in Aachen dressage

Pete had the edge over his sire, Lottie Fry’s ride Everdale, finishing just ahead of him in each class. But Everdale banked a hat-trick of his own personal records, laying down his best ever versions of every test, including over 87% in the freestyle.

“I know Everdale is capable, but producing it all on the day and in the arena is another thing,” Lottie said after their 78.91% grand prix.

Everdale is widely expected to be Lottie’s reserve ride for the Europeans, behind world champion Glamourdale. And Lottie has even more exciting horses coming up the ranks. She was the busiest Brit in Aachen, with three rides across the grand prix and small tour sections.

In the CDI4* tour, she and the 12-year-old Negro son Lars Van De Hoenderheide twice finished second to Germany’s Frederic Wandres (Duke Of Britain FRH), both times with plus-75%. Lottie also piloted the eight-year-old Glamourdale son Kashmir on their first international outing together, scoring a fraction under 70% at prix st georges (PSG).

Meanwhile, Charlotte Dujardin was the undisputed queen of the small tour, riding the delightful mare Times Kismet on her first time overseas. The pair won both the PSG and inter I with super scores, Kismet gaining much admiration and many new fans along the way.

Annabella Pidgley also had a week to remember. With Vamos Amigos she helped Britain clinch their spot on the Nations Cup podium, while also dominating the young rider classes with Espe.

Annabella Pidgley and Espe win both young rider classes at CHIO Aachen 2023 (Image credit: creditUnknown)

The 18-year-old dedicated her 78.6% freestyle win to her late father, Tony.

“Today Espe gave me the most incredible feeling, dancing in the big arena with a fantastic audience,” said Annabella. “Thanks to everyone who makes this possible; I am so grateful. To my dad, who we lost three years ago this week, this one was for you.”

Aachen proved a useful learning curve for Laura Tomlinson’s Nations Cup ride, DSP Rose Of Bavaria, who suffered a little with tension in the contact during the grand prix, but was much improved in the special for 70.83%, leaving Laura “thrilled”.

Laura also brought 13-year-old gelding Fallatijn to contest the Aachen dressage, and he posted one of his best-ever international grand prix scores in the CDI4*, 71.59% for 13th.

Showjumping legend makes ‘spontaneous’ decision to retire, weeks before his 60th birthday

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:07:44 +0000

Legendary showjumper Ludger Beerbaum has retired from the sport at the age of 59, after an illustrious career spanning four decades. The German maestro is one of the most decorated riders in the world, winning four Olympic gold medals, the World Cup Final, countless grands prix and a further 16 championship medals.

In a surprise announcement at the CHIO Aachen on Sunday (2 July), shortly after jumping his top mare Mila in the Rolex grand prix for four faults, Ludger revealed that he would be stepping back from the sport.

In front of 40,000 spectators on home soil he bid his final farewell and left the international ring for one final time, marking the end of an incredible era for the sport.

“It definitely wasn’t an easy decision but I have been thinking for a while, ‘Should I, should I not?’,” Ludger told H&H.

“Originally I hadn’t planned to ride in Aachen as I’d passed Mila on to Eoin McMahon, who is my colleague here at the stables. But then he broke his arm, so I rode her a bit and I thought why should she not go to Aachen? She’s been there several years, so she knows the place well. I asked if it was possible and fortunately I got a wild card.

“I had quite a good week there, we qualified for the grand prix and she just had a fault at the water, but she jumped good. Then as I was leaving the arena, I thought ‘Well actually maybe this is the right moment’. So it was quite spontaneous!

“Aachen is a special place, especially for us Germans, so I thought that was the right place to do it,” added the Olympian.

“It was not an easy decision and there’s never a right time – it will take a bit of time to adapt to the situation I’m sure – but there is also something in me saying it was the right thing to do. That final lap of honour was very touching.”

Ludger Beerbaum retires: ‘I’ve had so much support over the years, which I really appreciate’

Ludger began riding at the age of eight and began his winning ways in young riders, going on to become core to Germany’s reign in the sport for so many years and he long held the position of world number one. His first appearance for the German Nations Cup team came at Dublin, Ireland in 1985 and he represented his country 133 times and made 24 championship appearances. He has ridden and produced some incredible horses such as Goldfever, Ratina Z, Chaman and Couleur Rubin.

Ludger has won all the top prizes including the Aachen grand prix three times and the CN International at Spruce Meadows. His Olympic team gold medals came in 1996, 2000 and 2008 and he was crowned individual champion in 1992 riding Classic Touch. He won European titles at every championship between 1997 and 2003 and was part of the gold medal-winning German team at the world championships in 1994 and 1998.

Seven years ago, Ludger had taken the first step down from the top rung of the sport when he announced he would no longer ride on national teams, although he made a brief comeback for the Nations Cup at Hickstead last year when the chef d’equipe was short of available riders.

Ludger Beerbaum riding Classic Touch at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, where he won individual gold. Photo by David Madison/Getty Images (Image credit: Getty Images)

He was regularly competing at the top level until in March this year, Ludger broke his leg in a fall while competing in Doha, Qatar, and was out of action for nearly three months. He returned to competition last month, taking in shows on home soil before jumping in the Longines Global Champions Tour five-star shows of Paris and Stockholm before bowing out at the equestrian mecca of Aachen, where he has jumped in the grand prix 35 times.

“If someone had told me when I started out that I would be bowing out at the age of 60, no way would I have believed them!” said Ludger. “Because I wasn’t born to do the sport like Marcus Ehning or John Whitaker. So I’m pleased I’ve had so many opportunities and I’ve had so much support, which I really appreciate.

“There are probably three moments that stand out for me from my career – winning individual gold in Barcelona with Classic Touch, becoming the first German to win the World Cup Final in 1993, and then winning the Aachen grand prix for the first time in 1996.

“I am probably different to many other riders who have one horse who really stands out – I have been very fortunate to have a lot of really nice horses. There was Ratina, Goldfever, Classic Touch and last but not least there’s Mila, who’s 11 years old and probably at the peak of her time. But maybe next year now she can go to the Paris Olympics with Eoin – that would be really good.

“There’s so much going on here with the young horses, which is very motivating and I will continue to ride at home a bit. I will really miss competing – but I will not miss the travelling!”

British world champions narrowly beat Michael Jung to historic Aachen eventing victory

Lucy Elder — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 17:06:26 +0000

World champions Yasmin Ingham and Banzai Du Loir scored a milestone victory to become the first British combination to win the prestigious SAP Cup at CHIO Aachen.

The pair put a hiccup of a run-out while in the lead at Kentucky CCI5* behind them to produce a stellar performance, sealing victory on a total of 27.1 – 0.1 of a penalty ahead of Germany’s Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk (27.2).

The last British event rider to taste Aachen glory was Zara Phillips when she piloted the great Toytown to take the world champion title in 2006. There’s an element of poetry, perhaps, in the fact that Yas should score a historic British victory in Aachen’s CCI4*-S while reigning world champion.

“I’m very lucky to be on such an amazing horse – we have an amazing partnership,” said Yasmin, 26, riding for Janette Chin and the Sue Davies Fund.

“It’s nice to sort of put things right after our little mistake, well, my mistake, in Kentucky in the spring. I’m really glad that I rode him to get his glory, because he deserves it. I’m so proud of him and this is his moment.”

Yasmin and Banzai, a 12-year-old Selle Français gelding, led the dressage on 23.5, before a couple of showjumping time-faults dropped them to provisional third.

Yasmin, who hails from the Isle of Man, admitted she was “kicking herself” for being too slow in the showjumping, and channelled that frustration to deliver a cracking cross-country round.

The pair stopped the clock four seconds over the optimum time – the equal fastest round of the day – to climb the leaderboard. Overnight leaders Tom McEwen and JL Dublin were last to go, but picked up 20 penalties at the Turkish Airlines Complex at fence 16c to put them out of contention individually.

“Dubs was phenomenal. We had literally two seconds of mistake, which cost us a big deal today,” said Tom. “But he was up on the time, he was flying – he was magnificent. We’ve learnt a lot, which is why we came here.”

Equestrian analytics company EquiRatings billed this year’s field as the strongest since its records started in 2015.

Yasmin added: “It’s the biggest event in the world in terms of calibre of combinations, in the dressage, showjumping and eventing. So to be here, surrounded by such amazing horse and rider combinations feels very special and to come out on top is quite surreal.

“I’ll certainly be relishing this moment for a very long time. It’s all down to how amazing Banzai is and our partnership.”

Kentucky five-star winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum were third on 33.7.

CHIO Aachen eventing Nations Cup: team standings

The four-star class at Aachen’s World Equestrian Festival also incorporated a Nations Cup team competition, which was won by the home side. The US finished second, with the British team of Yasmin, Tom, Gemma Stevens (Flash Cooley) and Kirsty Chabert (Classic IV) taking third place.

The Brits had mixed fortunes over Rudiger Schwartz’s influential cross-country course.

Pathfinders Gemma and the game Flash Cooley, owned by Pru Dawes, joined Yasmin and Christoph Wahler (Carjatan S) in producing the joint-fastest round of the day. But they were deemed to have missed a flag at fence 18b, resulting in 15 penalties and 24th place.

“I was thrilled with Flash Cooley, his round was absolutely amazing,” said Gemma. “I’m beyond gutted to have been given a 15. I did feel like the horse jumped the fence, but that’s the sport and we’ve got to take it on the chin and move forward.”

Kirsty and her 2022 Luhmühlen runner-up Classic VI, owned by Carole Somers, John Johnston and Kate Ward, started well, but picked up 20 penalties at fence 11b owing to a miscommunication. The pair finished 32nd.

“She was phenomenal,” said Kirsty, adding that the experience was “one of those learning curves”.

“I saw a huge stride coming up to the Normandy bank – I changed my mind and that split second made the difference. She’s a very careful jumper. She actually did nothing wrong. It was a split-second mistake for me and something I’ve got to go work on on a psychological side for me, is to trust your instincts.”

Individual rider Hector Payne finished second-best Brit in 21st with a clear cross-country jumping round with Dynasty, who is owned by Jeremy and Judith Skinner, and David and Margie Hall.

‘A privilege to ride on your wings’: top mare retires from competition aged 17

Becky Murray — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 15:39:17 +0000

HH Azur, the phenomenal ride of US showjumper McLain Ward, has retired from competition aged 17.

The announcement came yesterday (2 July) after McLain pulled HH Azur up during the first round of the Rolex grand prix, when the pair knocked down the second and third fences. Going into Aachen, McLain was the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping, having scored back-to-back grand prix wins at CHI Geneva and then the Dutch Masters, with “Annie”.

“Dear Annie, I knew this day would come but somehow you always were able to reach deep inside and achieve greatness time and time again,” said McLain.

“We all know there comes a time when your mind and body disagree but it is still hard to let go. You have given all of us so much but it’s time to say goodbye to our sport and retire in good health.”

Annie was bred in Belgium by Nathalie Beaufort, and was competed in young horse classes by Nathalie’s husband Pedro Nolasco. When she was bought by Francois Mathy in 2014, Annie’s international career began with Francois’ rider Perez Bilbao, before she was flown to America in early 2015 to begin her career with McLain, under the co-ownership of Double H Farm.

McLain and Annie’s first international victory together was a CSI5* 1.50m at Spruce Meadows in June 2015. The pair’s first team event was the Rome leg of the Nations Cup the following year, where they won the grand prix and helped Team USA to second place in the team competition. They made their Olympic debut together at Rio that summer, where they won team silver and were ninth individually.

In 2017 Annie and McLain became World Cup champions. Annie was named US Equestrian’s international horse of the year, and McLain won equestrian of the year, after the pair had not a single fault in team competition in 2017. The following year they were fourth in the World Cup final, and had continued to rack up five-star wins and placings around the world since.

“I knew from our beginning you were better than me and that it would take every bit of my ability to not let you down. Your wings carried all of us whose lives you have touched on an incredible journey that is the epitome of why we seek such lofty goals and pursue them with such passion,” said McLain.

“You are the very definition of a queen. It was a privilege to have been the one to ride on your wings, to be your partner and to be part of your life.”

McLain added a “special thank you” to those who had been involved in Annie’s career; Lee, Erica, Virginie, Kirstie, the Mathy family, the Harrison family, and all the “incredible team”.

“I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in Annie’s and my journey. Without each and every one of you the story we’ve written would not have been possible,” he said.

“I’m forever grateful for your contributions and I have no doubt Annie has touched your life in a positive way as she has everyone’s. Happy retirement, my Queen.”

Water woes and a valiant climb: Britain’s showjumpers narrowly foiled in Aachen Nations Cup thriller

Martha Terry — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 06:12:28 +0000

Britain narrowly lost out to Switzerland in a pulsating finish to the Nations Cup 1.60m class at CHIO Aachen. After two rounds in the hallowed main stadium in front of a 40,000-strong crowd, the Brits finished on eight faults, behind the Swiss (Steve Guerdat, Edouard Schmitz, Niklaus Schurtenberger and Martin Fuchs) on four.

But it was not without controversy. In round one, the British second rider Harry Charles was given a late four faults for a foot in the water, which neither he nor the rest of the team believed he’d had. They appealed to get the penalties removed, but no footage could show an unimpeded image to review.

This meant Harry’s eight faults had to count, which left the team languishing in seventh of the eight nations. But they stormed almost to the top in the second round, courtesy of clear rounds from Harry, Ben Maher and Scott Brash. Harry put his initial frustration aside to celebrate what he described as “the best night in showjumping”.

“These are the nights we do it for, and I think to come back like that in the second round, help out the boys out and push us close, I’m very proud,” he said. “I was disappointed by the decision with the water jump in the first round. Obviously they saw something that no one else did. He [Romeo 88] was definitely not in the water jump so it was a hard pill to swallow. But happy to come out and put it right in the second round. We’ve been third last year, second this year, so it looks like next year we should be winning.”

Aachen Nations Cup showjumping: how it unfolded

Pathfinder Ben Maher kicked off the British challenge and set the standard for the whole field with a neat clear on Dallas Vegas Batilly, a 10-year-old mare he’s been riding since last autumn. This first rotation of riders proved the cleanest of phase one, with four more clears out of the seven. Faults came thick and fast in the next two rotations.

Harry was first in the second group and had a frustrating start on Ann Thompson’s Romeo 88 when he knocked down part of the orange double at fence three. Then came the controversial faults at the water. Tim Gredley also had an early fence down and a water penalty, aboard Medoc De Toxandria, but Scott kept Britain in the running with an immaculate clear aboard Hello Jefferson.

Meanwhile, France, Switzerland and Sweden were battling it out at the top after round one, with each team logging just one fence down apiece. Things didn’t go so smoothly for the Netherlands. Although they started well with Marc Houtzager’s clear on Holey Moley, Lars Kersten’s Emmerton stopped when on a bad stride to the double at fence three. They re-presented but the gelding had had enough, causing Lars to somersault off, removing the bridle in the process.

The class built up to a dramatic conclusion in round two under the night sky. Clears from both Ben and Harry meant Britain started to edge her way up the leader board, while her fellow eight-faulter teams fell by the wayside.

Among the leading trio, Sweden put in a couple of mediocre rounds to drop out of the reckoning. France’s number three Marc Dilasser looked set to put a good result on their record until the penultimate fence, when Arioto De Gevres stood off and paddled through the “ocean waves” triple bar. This put him too far off the final upright, and after trying to chip in a little one, he stopped, catapulting Marc into the turf – and also lost his bridle. When Hello Jefferson produced another catlike clear, it left both France and Switzerland needing clears from their final rider to be assured of victory.

“He was fantastic,” said Scott of the 14-year-old owned by Lady Pauline Harris and Lady Pauline Kirkham, whose two rounds were copybook. “The first round I felt I was a smidgen too deep to the water, so I tried to make that improvement second time round and he felt really, really good.”

France’s Kevin Staut had endured a disappointing 16 faults in round one, and it didn’t improve much in the finale. He lowered three on Visconti Du Telman, and France dropped right down to seventh. But there was never a moment’s concern for Switzerland as Martin Fuchs clocked his second perfect clear on the 10-year-old Commissar Pezi to seal the Swiss victory, their first since 2002.

Martin showed his trademark coolness under pressure, and put this down to his “amazing horse”.

“Steve [Guerdat] told me just to do the same as the first round, and I entered the ring with so much confidence,” said Martin. “I said, ‘Pezi, I’ll give my best, and I know you’ll do yours so let’s try to win this Nations Cup’. Before the last line I started to get a little bit nervous, with two more fences to jump, but we’ve won the coolest Nations Cup there is, with a great team, my father as team trainer and an amazing chef d’equipe in Michel Sorg. It’s an amazing night.”

Behind Britain, in third, was Belgium after also making an impressive second-round climb.

‘A real one for Paris’: Aachen grand prix result boosts Charlotte Dujardin’s Olympic hopes

Martha Terry — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 16:25:36 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep boosted British hopes for the Paris Olympics when their smashing CDI5* grand prix test pushed the Tokyo 2020 champions Jessica von Bredow and TSF Dalera BB to the wire at Aachen CHIO. Runner-up Charlotte touted her world team silver medallist Imhotep as “getting better and better – he’s a real one for Paris”.

“Imhotep is so fun to ride; he’s a ball of energy and has so many highlights,” said Charlotte, after scoring 79.78%. “His piaffe is one of the best and he’s the biggest mover I’ve ever sat on. For me it’s about trying to control the balance of what he produces. You could see at the worlds that it was all there, but a bit out of control.”

Charlotte continued: “He wants to do everything so much bigger than he’s ready to do. So I’m trying to make it smaller and neater, but one day when I can let him do what he really wants to, he’s going to be really exciting.”

Both Charlotte Dujardin on Imhotep and Lottie Fry on Everdale heaped the pressure on Jessica, but ultimately were just shaded into second and third respectively in a classy field. This grand prix result puts Britain in third in the Nations Cup behind Germany and Denmark ahead of the special and freestyle. Annabella Pidgley, 18, clocked Britain’s third counting score of 69.87% on Vamos Amigos.

Aachen grand prix dressage: how it panned out

Lottie grabbed the lead from the eventual fifth Frederic Wandres (Bluetooth Old) at the halfway stage with a super test on the van Olsts’ stallion Everdale to strike a personal best of 78.91% at grand prix.

Everdale came into an arena charged with atmosphere after Therese Nilshagen (Dante Weltino Old) had just moved into second spot, but the stallion kept his focus to produce a bold and mistake-free test. He looked both powerful and elastic, with particular highlights being his extended trot and canter, as well as his tempi changes. They started well with a string of eights, and the tempo never let up.

“When I saw the list of entries, it’s basically a championship, the standard is so high,” said Lottie. “I know Everdale is capable but to be able to produce it all on the day and in the arena is another thing. I was a little emotional because he felt so amazing, and he’s been getting better and better all year.”

Lottie held on to her lead until Charlotte’s test on Everdale’s 10-year-old son Imhotep, who was seven from the end of the 36-strong class. It was nip and tuck throughout, until Charlotte clinched the top spot with her oustanding pirouettes, which earned her a smattering of nines. In the final analysis, three of the five judges had Charlotte in second spot, but the two Brits’ scores were so close that she edged ahead of Lottie with 79.78% to ensure Imhotep’s joint-owner Carl Hester’s birthday was a happy one.

“I told Carl the best present I could give him was to do him proud today, which I did,” Charlotte said.

Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep take Olympic champion to the wire

This was the first time Jessica has won in Aachen, and she admitted it was a different feeling being the target rather than chasing it. Although the mare is now 16, Jessica believes there’s still more to come.

“In 2019, we were so happy to come third in the freestyle – we were only top five in the grand prix,” she said. “For me it’s not about winning, it’s about developing. It still feels like there’s room for improvement. I think I had the best grand prix so far except for the hiccup on the entrance. It’s kind of hyper energy, she just wants to continue, she can’t wait. But I don’t make a big thing of it.”

Charlotte Dujardin’s rising star shines at Aachen, plus more things the horse world is talking about

Lucy Elder — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 11:40:27 +0000

Aachen

CHIO Aachen is under way and British combinations are already tasting success. One exciting name for your notebooks is the eight-year-old mare Times Kismet, who made a winning overseas debut with Charlotte Dujardin in the CDI* prix st georges. Charlotte hailed the Ampère mare as a future Olympic horse. “I’ve brought her up through the levels and I feel like I have that bond and partnership with her,” said Charlotte, riding for owner-breeder Peter Belshaw and Carl Hester. “We hold each other’s hand and that’s a magical feeling – moments like this are what I do this for. That I can put her in that sort of atmosphere and she feels secure.” Lottie Fry finished second in Wednesday’s CDI4* grand prix with Van Olst Horses’ Lars van de Hoenderheide, with more Brits in action today.

Catch up on all the latest Aachen news

Trailer warning

The owners of a trailer that “disintegrated” in transit, allowing their horse to fall out on to the road, are urging others to check their transport, to avoid a similar situation. Julie McMaster and her partner David Smilie were on their way back from a show last October when Julie’s horse Kalvin came out of their Equi-Trek. “All I could see was his leg hanging out of the back of the trailer. I jumped out and ran round, and it was horrific; his bum and back leg were right down on the road,” said Julie.

Selection puzzle

Mark Phillips muses on an unusual spring season, the challenges for the new British Eventing chief executive, and the puzzle selectors face in this week’s exclusive H&H column. “In normal times the judgement calls don’t seem too difficult, but there has been nothing normal about this season leading up to the European Eventing Championships at Haras du Pin in August,” says Mark, reflecting on the differences between Badminton, Bramham, Kentucky and Luhmühlen this year. “All these events have to be on the selectors’ “menu”. If anyone was hoping for a level playing field, they were out of luck! I guess that’s why we have selectors to make the judgement calls and not computers.”

Read Mark’s column in full

‘So much fun to ride’: Lottie Fry’s ‘cheeky’ chestnut in tussle for Aachen CDI4* grand prix honours

Martha Terry — Thu, 29 Jun 2023 07:54:29 +0000

A relatively new ride for Lottie Fry, Lars Van De Hoenderheide, caught the eye at the business end of the CDI4* grand prix at Aachen CHIO.

The flashy gelding’s electric one-time changes had the crowd itching to clap mid-test. Last of 23 to go in front of an appreciative crowd in the Deutsche Bank Arena, the Brit scored 75.2%, and was just shaded into second by the early leader Frederic Wandres. The German rider delighted his home crowd with a smooth performance on 16-year-old Duke Of Britain FRH.

Lars is a chestnut with a big white face, who stood out in a field of dark bays. Although he’s 12 years old, the Negro x Layout gelding is low-mileage, having arrived at Lottie’s base at the van Olsts’ as a 10-year-old.

“When he came, he wasn’t so experienced as he’d just done advanced,” said Lottie, 27. “So Anne [van Olst] trained him up to grand prix and absolutely loved him. Then at the end of last year, she said, ‘why don’t you hop on and ride through the grand prix?’ So I did, and she entered me for a grand prix the following week! She’s trained him so well, he’s so easy to ride.”

Lars finished sixth at that first show in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, and has been on a steady upward curve since – winning his four outings ahead of Aachen.

“Every time we go to a competition, he improves,” Lottie said. “He’s so much fun to ride, and I think he’s fun to watch too, with his cheeky face and personality. This is the biggest atmosphere he’s ever been in, and I could feel he was a little nervous, but as soon as he enters the arena, he’s so focused and honest. He just does everything I say, and he produced a really nice test.

“Each time it gets technically better, and I feel like we’ve got a few more marks to come.”

Lars produced a powerful yet elegant picture, with Lottie able to sit almost motionless aboard. His passage and one-time tempis were fabulous, yielding eights, and his purposeful walk was also well marked. Just the piaffe looked a little bit weak compared to the rest of the test – as Lottie said, the partnership is still strengthening.

The German judge at E, Knut Danzberg, had them in first place, but they wound up 1.7% adrift of Frederic’s winning score of 76.94%.

Laura Tomlinson was the only other Briton in this class. She rode a lovely consistent test on Fallatijn to score 71.59%.

‘I’ve always known she’s an Olympic horse’: Charlotte Dujardin’s ‘ballerina’ ride makes headway with Aachen win

Martha Terry — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 16:40:10 +0000

Charlotte Dujardin hailed her young small tour ride Times Kismet as an Olympic prospect after winning the CDI4* prix st georges at CHIO Aachen on the mare’s Continental debut.

The eight-year-old by Ampère x Lord Leatherdale showed impressive composure to nail her fourth ever start at PSG and score 77.58% in a busy stadium thick with atmosphere. They finished over 3% clear of runner-up Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster FRH, who is three years the mare’s senior.

“What a show to bring her to for her first international, the biggest show in the world,” said Charlotte. “She’s never seen anything like this, but from the moment she got here she settled in. I was just so happy with my ride today. There are still green bits, the changes are still wobbly. But what I love is that she’s still green but she doesn’t make mistakes and tries her best.”

Kismet’s performance was delightfully polished and elegant. She looked established at this level yet with the exciting reality that there is so much more to come. The trot work is already phenomenal, while the pirouettes were outstanding in this field. Charlotte left the Deutsche Bank Arena beaming, waving to the cheering crowd.

Charlotte Dujardin: ‘I look like I’m doing nothing!’

“She’s like oil to sit on, she’s so smooth and elastic, with that engine going all the time,” said Charlotte. “She’s beautiful, leggy, gymnastic – like a ballerina – perfect for this sport. It makes my job so easy. I just sit there, and look like I’m doing nothing.”

The smoothness certainly did give that impression – as only the very best tests and most accomplished riders can do. Charlotte put this down to her partnership with the mare, whom she has ridden since a four-year-old for owner-breeder Peter Belshaw, and Carl Hester.

“I’ve brought her up through the levels and I feel like I have that bond and partnership with her. We hold each other’s hand and that’s a magical feeling – moments like this are what I do this for. That I can put her in that sort of atmosphere and she feels secure. She trusts me so much, she’s like, ‘OK, Mum’.”

As for the future, the fact that Kismet’s temperament appears to match her talent is hugely exciting. At home, the mare is quirky – she demands to be ridden first, and has a preference for hacking on the road rather than in open fields. But she’s a consummate professional in competition.

“She can be weird at home, but she just loves it here, all the attention; this is what she lives for. I’ve always known she’s an Olympic horse, she’s so talented. She shows everything for grand prix and she’s only eight years old.”

Charlotte and Kismet are now on a winning streak of some 33 completed classes, which now includes their last three international tests. The only time they have been beaten was their very first novice together, some three and half years ago, when they were runner-up to another of Charlotte’s rides.

Lottie Fry was the only other Brit competing in this PSG class. She was riding Jennifer Leijser’s Glamourdale son Kashmir, also an eight-year-old. He produced a consistent test to score 69.97%, for a top-10 finish.

Ingrid Klimke out of CHIO Aachen days after being declared fit following surgery

Becky Murray — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 13:43:49 +0000

German championship eventing and dressage rider Ingrid Klimke’s remarkable efforts to be fit to compete at CHIO Aachen this week have come to nought after Franziskus picked up an injury.

Ingrid’s Aachen appearance was put in doubt when she broke her collarbone in a cross-country fall from Equistros Siena Just Do it in the Luhmuhlen CCI4*-S on 17 June. Ingrid had surgery, and returned to the saddle just days later, and at the end of last week she was declared fit.

Ingrid and her 2022 World Dressage Championship ride had been due to ride on the German Nations Cup team, alongside Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, and Frederik Wandres and Bluetooth OLD.

Today (27 June) Ingrid confirmed she had withdrawn Franziskus from the competition.

“I worked Franziskus this morning with our national coaches and he was fresh and motivated,” said Ingrid, who added that on the way back to the stable the 15-year-old Fidertanz son must have taken an incorrect step and it “clearly showed”.

“The wellbeing of Franz comes first and we have cancelled our participation in the Nations Cup team for Germany, in consultation with the team vet and national coaches.”

Olympic rider Sönke Rothenberger will now ride in the team competition on nine-year-old stallion Fendi. The pair won their last international at the Hagen CDI4* in April, scoring 78.34% in the grand prix and 77.15% in the grand prix special.

Britain will be represented by Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, Lottie Fry and Everdale, Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, and Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos. The first team test gets under way at Aachen on Thursday (29 June).

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(Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Five-time Olympic eventer injured in cross-country fall

Ingrid KLIMKE (GER) riding Franziskus 15 during the Grand Prix for the Blue Hors FEI World Dressage Team Championship at the ECCO FEI World Championships in Herning in Denmark between 6th - 14th August 2022 (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

Olympic eventer hopes for competition return a week after collarbone surgery

Becky Murray — Wed, 21 Jun 2023 13:05:11 +0000

German Olympic eventer and championship dressage rider Ingrid Klimke has undergone successful surgery on her collarbone – with hopes to return in time for CHIO Aachen next week.

The 55-year-old sustained an injury on 17 June when she had a fall in the cross-country from her 11-year-old mare Equistros Siena Just Do It in the CCI4*-S at Luhmühlen Horse Trials.

Ingrid said “Siena” went a “bit off the ideal line” jumping into a combination angled brush fence, and the mare “lost her balance”.

In an update yesterday (20 June) Ingrid said she had undergone surgery to repair her broken collarbone.

“Dear friends, a huge thank you for your lovely messages on all channels. That feels so good and inspires me a lot,” she said, adding that the surgery “went great” and her first action would be to go to the stables.

Ingrid and her 2022 World Dressage Championships ride Franziskus are scheduled to compete on the German Nations Cup team at CHIO Aachen (23 June to 2 July) with Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB, Isabell Werth and DSP Quantaz, and Frederik Wandres and Bluetooth OLD. The dressage competitions starts on 28 June, with the CDIO5* Nations Cup grand prix on 29 June.

Ingrid said she will sit on Franziskus tomorrow (22 June) and “test how it feels”.

“Then we’ll see,” she said. “A lot of sleep and a wellness programme for a quick recovery is now the top priority.”

Germany will be hoping to do one better in Aachen, having settled for second in last year’s Nations Cup event behind Denmark. The British team were sixth in 2022, and this year will be represented by Charlotte Dujardin and Imhotep, Lottie Fry and Everdale, Laura Tomlinson and DSP Rose of Bavaria, and Annabella Pidgley and Vamos Amigos.

Trio of British gold medallists make up top-class team for Aachen Nations Cup

Polly Bryan — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 14:22:21 +0000

Three Olympic medallists are among the hugely exciting quartet that will make up the British team for the CHIO Aachen dressage Nations Cup this month.

Charlotte Dujardin will return to compete at the prestigious German venue for the first time since 2019, riding her World Dressage Championships team medallist Imhotep. The pair will head to Germany fresh from their double win at Wellington CDI3* last week, where they broke the 80% barrier in the grand prix and the grand pix special for the first time.

Charlotte will be joined on the British team at CHIO Aachen by the world champion and current world number two, Lottie Fry, who will ride her Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist Everdale. Lottie and the 14-year-old Lord Leatherdale stallion Everdale were Britain’s top scorers at last year’s CHIO Aachen, finishing in the top 10 in every test and helping Britain to team sixth.

Laura Tomlinson will also make her return to Aachen, this time riding her top mare, DSP Rose Of Bavaria. The pair made a successful return to international competition following a lengthy period of time off for the 13-year-old Bordeaux daughter, and they are campaigning towards team selection for the European Dressage Championships this September.

Completing the team of four is Annabella Pidgley who, at just 18, became the youngest rider to compete on a British dressage Nations Cup team, at the Compiegne CDIO5* in May. Annabella brings forward her mother Sarah’s Vamos Amigos, the 11-year-old Vitalis gelding who won team gold for Denmark at last year’s World Dressage Championships under Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour.

Since taking over the ride on Vamos last autumn, Annabella has built up a string of solid results at international grand prix, as well as under-25 level.

“To ride in the arena in Aachen is one thing but to ride alongside Charlotte Dujardin, Lottie Fry and Laura Tomlinson on a team is such an honour to me,” said Annabella, who will also take her nine-year-old mare Espe to compete in the young rider classes at Aachen.

Lottie, Laura and Charlotte will also have second rides at Aachen: Lottie will campaign her up-and-coming grand prix gelding Lars Van De Hoenderheide in the CDI4, joined by Laura on Fallatijn. Charlotte has chosen Aachen as the location for Times Kismet’s overseas debut – Charlotte and the the eight-year-old Ampere mare will compete in the CDI1 small tour classes.

Aachen CHIO takes place from 23 June and runs until 2 July.

Medals, memories and incredible bonds: two greats to bow out at major show

Lucy Elder — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 19:52:19 +0000

Two sporting superstars will bow out at CHIO Aachen as eventing legend SAP Hale Bob OLD and former world showjumping champion DSP Alice will officially retire.

Ingrid Klimke’s double European champion and five-star winner was a stalwart of German championship teams, winning a total of seven medals.

Ingrid partnered the now 19-year-old Helikon gelding to her first CCI5* win, at Pau in 2014. The pair were second at Badminton the following spring and also finished ninth at the Gloucestershire event in 2017.

Their weighty medal haul features the 2017 and 2019 European individual gold medals, plus 2018 individual world bronze, Rio Olympic team silver, European team gold medals in 2015 and 2019 and 2021 European team silver.

Ingrid announced “Bobby” was retiring from eventing last year, after he sustained an injury at the World Eventing Championships test event in Pratoni in May 2022.

He will return to Aachen, where he has twice won the CCIO3*-S, one last time for an official retirement ceremony at midday on 1 July.

Simone Blum will retire her 2018 individual world showjumping gold medallist DSP Alice in Aachen’s main arena in the break between the two rounds of the Nations Cup on 29 June.

The exact details of the 16-year-old mare’s farewell ceremony are being kept as a surprise, but organisers added that “everyone should have a handkerchief ready to hand”.

Simone became the first woman to take the world individual title for more than 30 years when the pair took victory in Tryon, where they also helped Germany to team bronze.

Simone recalled the first time she sat on the now 16-year-old mare in 2014.

“I looked her in the eyes and thought: What type of a wonderful horse are you?” said Simone.

Their other achievements include the Halla challenge trophy for the most successful horse at CHIO Aachen in 2019 and securing team silver at the European Championships in Rotterdam the same year, finishing fourth individually. It would turn out to be their last championships together, as the mare sustained an injury, although she did return to lower-level international competition.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now without Alice. She has always been my soul mate. Because she is so unique, we have a very special connection,” said Simone, adding that Alice “loves Aachen”.

“I am very much looking forward to letting Alice revel in the applause of her favourite crowd.”

What are your favourite memories of these special horses? Send your thoughts to hhletters@futurenet.com, including your name, nearest town and country, for a chance for your letter to appear in a forthcoming issue of the magazine

‘All you need is love’: Household Cavalry to wow German equestrian fans at Aachen CHIO

Eleanor Jones — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 17:45:09 +0000

The “magnificent” Household Cavalry is to wow thousands of spectators in Germany as Britain is the official partner country of this year’s CHIO Aachen.

Organisers of the World Equestrian Festival (23 June to 2 July) say the partnership with Britain is a “wish come true”. The event hosts top-level jumping, dressage, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting, as well as supporting events, and features a “spectacular” opening ceremony on 27 June.

It was announced today (1 February) that the Household Cavalry’s musical ride will form part of the traditional ceremony, which is staged in the main arena in front of 40,000 spectators.

“The theme of the show is traditionally dominated by the partner country,” a spokesman for CHIO Aachen said. “And to this end, the unique charm of Great Britain offers a huge and wide spectrum of historical, cultural and modern opulence that will above all make the main stadium in Aachen one thing on the evening of 27 June: very British!”

CHIO Aachen sports director Birgit Rosenberg said the theme for the evening is All you Need is Love, from the Beatles song.

“Because the Brits love their musical heroes – and they love equestrian sport, which enjoys an extremely cherished tradition that dates back many years,” the spokesman said, adding that the Household Cavalry’s musical ride will be staged at other times as well as the opening ceremony.

“For us it is a great honour presenting ourselves to the crowd in Aachen in one of the biggest equestrian sport arenas in the world,” said Daniel Evans, equitation warrant officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

Britain will also be represented by the Shetland Pony Grand National, “splendid, typically British carriages” and plenty of music, not to mention top British horses and riders. The partner country will also be the central theme for both Horse & Symphony concerts (23 and 24 June), which will include a performance by double world champion Lottie Fry.

“Beyond this, the typical British flair will be noticeable all over the show grounds as well as in the city itself,” the spokesman said.

British Equestrian chief executive Jim Eyre added that the Brits enjoy visiting Aachen every year.

“The fact that we are taking over the role of the partner country this year is a wonderful opportunity to show what our homeland has to offer,” he said.

Isabell Werth among riders eliminated under blood rules at CHIO Aachen

Polly Bryan — Tue, 05 Jul 2022 11:53:13 +0000

The reigning world champion, Germany’s Isabell Werth, was one of three grand prix riders eliminated under blood rules at CHIO Aachen last week.

Isabell and her current top ride, the 12-year-old Qatarback stallion DSP Quantaz, were eliminated in the CDIO5* grand prix special after blood was spotted in the horse’s mouth partway through their test. The pair had just begun their line of two-tempi changes and were trending around the 74% mark, when the judge at C, Denmark’s Susanne Baarup rang the bell to call them to a halt. She wiped the stallion’s mouth with a tissue, which showed the presence of blood.

Isabell Werth being eliminated from the special did not result in team disqualification, and her score of 76.41% from the grand prix still stood, helping the German team, also featuring Benjamin Werndl (Famoso OLD), Frederic Wandres (Duke Of Britain FRH) and Ingrid Klimke (Franziskus 15), finish second in the Nations Cup. This was the first time the home side has not triumphed at CHIO Aachen since 2010 – with Denmark claiming a decisive victory in the team competition.

It is also the first year since 2016 that Isabell has not landed the title of Aachen grand champion, with Dane Cathrine Dufour taking the honour instead.

Two USA combinations were also eliminated under blood rules at Aachen; the team fortunes suffered a blow when Katie Duerrhammer and Quartett were eliminated in the CDIO5* grand prix special, while blood was also spotted in the mouth of Adrienne Lyle’s CDI4* ride Salvino during the freestyle, resulting in her elimination.

“I don’t think I’ve ever felt Salvino feeling so soft, supple, and powerful as he did today in the warm-up or in the show ring,” said Adrienne of the 15-year-old Sandro Hit stallion, with whom she won team silver at the Tokyo Olympics. “The feeling he gave under the lights was just phenomenal and then, in a sad turn of events, halfway through our test he must have bitten his lip because the judge noticed there was some blood in his mouth and so we stopped our ride. Salvino [was] immediately examined by our team veterinarian to make sure he is ok, and his well-being is our number one priority.

“I feel sorry for Salvino that he didn’t get to show off his favourite final centre line, but judging by how proud he was of himself back at the barn, I think he is still convinced that he was the winner.”

Meanwhile, Aachen debutante Katie was eliminated shortly after the conclusion of her 71.3% special, when blood was found to be present on 14-year-old Quaterback gelding Quartett’s bottom lip during the post-test stewards’ check.

“I am so proud of Quartett for laying down a great grand prix special today, mistake free until our last extended trot where unfortunately he tripped and bit the bottom corner of his lower lip. We still finished with a 71.3% but sadly there was a bit of blood from [the] lip bite present at bit check,” said Katie. “While I’m very sorry and disappointed for my teammates that my score couldn’t count, this doesn’t take anything away from how proud I am of this amazing little-horse-that-could.”

The USA team, which also included Benjamin Ebeling (Indeed), Charlotte Jorst (Kastel’s Nintendo) and Steffen Peters (Suppenkasper), finished seventh, just behind the British team of Lottie Fry (Everdale), Laura Tomlinson (Fallatijn), Lara Butler (Kristjan) and Susan Pape (Harmony’s Eclectisch).

Scott Brash is thwarted by a sneaky short-cut and an Irishman commutes between five-star shows: who won showjumping ribbons this week?

Jennifer Donald — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 20:16:55 +0000

At the weekend we watched Scott Brash’s future star come of age – as well as his oh-so-close finish in the prestigious Aachen grand prix. There were international dashes between five-star shows for one Irish rider, groundbreaking team performances and a proud moment for connections of Cian O’Connor’s latest talent, who he thinks has all the credentials to go to the top.

Here is your weekly round-up of just some of the international sporting action from the world of showjumping.

BRASH IS THWARTED BY A SNEAKY SHORT-CUT…

Seven years after Scott Brash landed the prestigious Aachen grand prix with Hello Sanctos en route to winning the Rolex Grand Slam, he and top horse Hello Jefferson looked odds-on to repeat the feat when forging a strong lead with just one combination left to jump in Sunday’s five-way jump-off to decide the Rolex Grand Prix.

(Image credit: Libby Law)

However, young German rider Gerrit Nieberg, son of Olympian Lars Nieberg, gambled with a short-cut to a formidable double on his scopey gelding Ben 431 and it was enough to secure a half-second advantage, which took them to the top of the leaderboard and made 29-year-old Gerrit the new live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping.

“Everything is still unreal – I really didn’t expect this. Dreams definitely came true today,” he said.

Runner-up Scott reflected: “Feelings are a bit mixed because everyone wants to win Aachen, so it was a bit disappointing not to snatch a win. But at the same time I have to be thrilled with Jefferson, he’s jumped fantastic all week — he did everything that was asked of him and more. We were beaten fair and square; Gerrit had to risk it all, so all credit to him. I saw the [inside] line he took but it was tight and it was tough so I must say Gerrit did it really well.”

Rolex grand prix of Aachen results

Courtesy of CHIO Aachen/Michael Strauch (Image credit: creditUnknown)

…BUT ANOTHER “HELLO” STAR IS THE TALK OF AACHEN

Earlier in the week, however, Scott Brash and the eight-year-old mare Hello Vittoria (above) produced a an exceptionally smart double-clear winning performance in the Sparkassen Youngsters Cup Final where they were up against some of the best young horses in the world.

Michael Quirke and Shane Breen bought Vittoria originally from a Fences Auction and Scott spotted the Kannan mare as a five-year-old while she was jumping at Hickstead with Georgia Tame. He has been producing her slowly to this level since.

“I was really happy with how she took to the atmosphere; it was a full stadium on Saturday night under the lights,” said Scott. “The tracks were difficult enough and they had a small water jump in there one day, but it’s great experience for the young horses and she felt like she grew up over the week. We’ve been ticking along quietly with her, but when you’re in Aachen you try to win!”

Scott describes her as a “very level-headed mare”.

“She keeps her jump, she’s very careful and a very straightforward horse to do everything with,” said Scott. “So it’s just about producing her in a nice way and showing her the world.”

Sparkassen Youngsters Cup Final results

CIAN O’CONNOR’S “UNEXPECTED” WIN

Ireland’s Cian O’Connor and the nine-year-old Emerald stallion Taj Mahal (below) won the 1.55m CSI3* grand prix at Knokke Hippique, Belgium. Course-designer Gregory Bodo had presented the field of 57 competitors with “quite a few technical hurdles”, which he said required riders “to have their heads in the game” and Cian produced the faster of only two double clears for victory.

“I’ve really taken my time with this horse — he’s definitely the most careful horse I’ve ever ridden; he’s so clever,” said Cian, who has high hopes for Sue Magnier’s stallion. “I’ve done a whole season really of 1.40ms and two-star grands prix.

“I was not expecting a win today. Taj Mahal is still only nine years old. It is his first three-star grand prix and it’s under lights.”

(Image credit: Boss Mare Media)

Cian spotted the stallion competing at young horse shows and he was given the name Taj Mahal by his new owner Sue Magnier, who was there on the night to witness their success first-hand.

“He had been on my radar then we managed to secure him last year,” said Cian. “I’m very lucky that Mrs Magnier owns him — her huge interest in horses comes from racing but she is now breaking through into showjumping through her grandchildren, Tom and Max Wachman, who are obviously doing very well.

“I am so happy his previous rider Dieter Vermeiren got to see him win here. He made the horse and helped me a lot with him, so I was able to take him to the next level — it was great teamwork.”

An emotional Dieter added: “We started out together when we were both young. Now he wins these amazing competitions. We have a great relationship with Cian. They are an amazing combination, especially because instead of wanting to change the horse, he knows and reinforces his strongest assets.”

Knokke Hippique grand prix results

EMERGING TALENT SHINES IN YOUTH EQUESTRIAN GAMES

Also on the agenda at Aachen’s World Equestrian Festival was the Youth Equestrian Games for riders aged 15 to 18, where Great Britain’s representative Claudia Moore on borrowed horse Largo Van De Molenhoek jumped brilliantly to finish sixth individually and help Team Europe to second place after a thrilling three-way jump-off to decide the podium.

“I knew Mimi [Gochman, from North America’s winning team] had an incredible round and I wanted to match that,” said Claudia. “I kept quite cool, calm and collected and went in and I had so much fun. I had my entire team behind me and I think that was the thing that drove me the most! Some people in their professional career never get to jump at Aachen and for us to be able to do it at this age, and have this type of experience early on, is amazing.”

South Africa’s Thomas van Rijckevorsel claimed individual gold ahead of Morocco’s Jed Guerraoui in silver and USA rider Mimi in bronze.

“I have three top open horses at home that jump at 1.40m and three young horses as well as a dressage horse”, said the winning rider from Johannesburg, who was competing in Europe for the first time. “After this week I definitely want to come back and jump at Aachen again — I’d love to have a career in this sport, it’s my life!”

Aachen Youth Equestrian Games results

SAYWELL’S RISING STAR COMES OF AGE AT BOLESWORTH

Back on home soil, Louise Saywell and Kingsborough Kasper triumphed in the CSI3* grand prix at the Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International Horse Show. The nine-year-old Kannan stallion “wants to win”, his delighted rider said.

“He loves being competitive as much as I do,” said Louise. “This was a big step up for him as he hadn’t done a 1.50m before, but he has a lot of talent.”

You can read the full report from Bolesworth in this week’s H&H (in the shops Thursday 7 July)

Bolesworth grand prix results

DARRAGH KENNY COMMUTES BETWEEN FIVE-STAR SHOWS

Not content with competing at one five-star show this week, Ireland’s Darragh Kenny commuted between Aachen and the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, competing at each venue on alternate days. It was an ambitious strategy, which paid off with an impressive runner-up spot in the Monaco grand prix riding Volnay Du Boisdeville. He reached round two of the Rolex grand prix in Aachen on VDL Cartello, where they just picked up four faults to be placed ninth.

“Second seems to be my position and it’s not exactly where I would like to be,” he said from Monaco. “But Volnay jumped unbelievable. He has been a great horse for me since I took him over from Teddy Vlock. I was a little slow in the jump-off and that is where I lost it. I definitely knew I left the door open, I did one more stride to the vertical then I would have liked and then I was a little slow to the last and I knew I was behind today.”

The winner in Monaco was Austria’s Max Kühner, securing his first LGCT grand prix and a ticket to the Super Grand Prix at the Prague Playoffs at the end of the season. Amazingly, the top three riders on the podium — Max, Darragh and Belgium’s Olivier Philippaerts (H&M Miro) — were the same three riders as the previous year, with Max just going one better this time.

Courtesy of GCT (Image credit: creditUnknown)

“It was really important for me to catch Darragh this year because last year I was in the lead but he was just a bit faster than me, so this year I really had the mission to beat him,” said Max. “In this sport, we don’t expect things we fight for it and of course, the golden ticket is something all the other riders are also fighting for and I am very happy to have it now.”

LGCT grand prix of Monaco result

A MILESTONE NATIONS CUP — WITH A DOUBLE CLEAR FROM HARRY CHARLES

It’s been five years since Great Britain last fielded a team for the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup of Aachen but the Union Flag flew proudly as the quartet of Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Scott Brash and John Whitaker finished on the podium after a hard-fought contest on Thursday night (30 June).

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the performances tonight,” said Di Lampard, Great Britain’s performance manager. “To come here to this stadium and have those rounds — we’re going the right way towards the end of the season.”

Aachen Nations Cup results

FROM MOUNTED GAMES TO MONTE CARLO GLORY

A few weeks ago, British teenager Isabella Beecroft-Luckett was representing England in the Pony Club games at Royal Windsor but this week she was leading a prize-giving ceremony in front of royalty and celebrities at the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco.

The 14-year-old rider teamed up with speedy Frenchman Olivier Robert to win the Longines Pro-Am team relay.

Pro-Am team relay result

“I COULDN’T BE PROUDER OF MY HORSE”

USA rider Giavanna Rinaldi may have had her “dream come true” when winning the Pan American Grand Prix presented by Rolex at Spruce Meadows, Canada, but she gave full credit to her horse Cosmona for her first five-star win, which came after a tactical two-way jump-off.

“I’ve always dreamt of coming to this show — it’s been a big dream of mine,” said Giavanna. “I couldn’t be prouder of my horse and the team behind us.”

The two-star equivalent went to Kent Farrington on new ride Chato Lou, just two hundredths of a second quicker than Robert Blanchette of Ireland (pictured top).

Spruce Meadows results

SAMPSON CONTINUES HIS WINNING STREAK

Fresh from his first five-star grand prix victory, British rider Matt Sampson landed the 1.40m winning round at Spruce Meadows, Canada, once again riding Curraghgraigue Obos Flight. He posted the winning double clear in 51.23sec.

Spruce Meadows results

“IT’S AMAZING TO JUMP MY FIRST DOUBLE CLEAR FOR THE TEAM”

Great Britain’s Lily Attwood (Calvaro’s Up To Date) teamed up with Olivier Philippaerts for the Stockholm Hearts powered by H&M We Love Horses to clinch victory in the Global Champions League of Monaco. The London Knights pair of Mike Kawai and team debutant Sam Hutton finished second, ahead of Berlin Eagles, represented this week by Eoin McMahon and Philipp Weishaupt, in third.

“It felt amazing today to jump my first double clear for the team, my mare really lit up in this arena and to have this win with Olivier feels amazing,” said Lily. “Ginger is quite a small horse so I think this arena suits her so much.”

GCL of Monaco results

A DOUBLE WIN FOR MCLAIN WARD – WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS NEXT?

USA rider McLain Ward landed a brace of big class wins at Aachen – Friday’s 1.60m RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia and Wednesday’s Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe, both riding Contagious.

“He’s on really good form and we’re aiming him towards the world championships – it’s one of the reasons we had this week planned for him, so we’ll stick to our plan and hopefully be in the mix,” he said.

Lottie Fry leads the Brits at Aachen, as podium favourites emerge ahead of World Championships

Polly Bryan — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 12:16:01 +0000

Lottie Fry finished best of the Brits in the CHIO Aachen 2022 dressage results, from which Denmark emerged as favourites for home gold at the dressage World Championships this summer.

Denmark’s Cathrine Dufour dominated both the CDIO5* and CDI4* with her two rides, the British-owned 10-year-old Vamos Amigos in the former and her European silver medallist Bohemian in the latter, while the Brits put in solid performances.

Lottie has the luxury of three potential rides for the worlds and at Aachen her Olympic and European medallist Everdale threw his hat decisively into the ring ahead of selection. The pair finished a fabulous fourth in the grand prix with 76.5%, and although their scores dipped to 73.68% for ninth in the special, they came back strongly to achieve 82.65% for seventh in a hugely competitive freestyle, where just 1.5% covered second to seventh places.

“The special was going really well and was probably one of his best tests right up until the final centre line, where you have to go into the shadows and he had a spook and some mistakes with that,” said Lottie. “It cost us about 3% probably, but I’m still really pleased with Everdale. He is so much more relaxed in the big atmospheres now; he’s really grown up.”

“The freestyle felt really amazing, and he was just incredible,” she added. “It was so nice to be riding in front of a really packed audience – the crowd at Aachen is unlike anywhere else in the world.”

After a busy early campaign with her top grand prix horses, Everdale, Glamourdale and Dark Legend, as well as her upcoming stars – including Inclusive, 11th in the CDI4* at Aachen – Lottie will now focus on training at home ahead of selection for the worlds this month.

Laura Tomlinson, Lara Butler and Susan Pape joined Lottie on the British Nations Cup team, finishing sixth.

Laura’s hot 12-year-old Vivaldi stallion Fallatijn faced his biggest challenge yet in the huge Aachen atmosphere, but he improved on a rather tense, distracted grand prix to score a fraction under 71% with a much more focused ride in the special.

“I really believe when he learns to take a breath and stay relaxed when away from the other horses he will be mega,” said Laura. “Being first to go [in the special] meant we were not in front of the big crowd, which helped ‘Finn’ too.”

Lara also improved her scores over the two tests with the Bechtolsheimer family’s home-bred Polarion gelding Kristjan, scoring 69.7% in the grand prix and 70.1% in the special.

Germany-based Susan rode the Zenon stallion Harmony’s Eclectisch to 69.15% in the grand prix and 68% in the special.

CHIO Aachen 2022 dressage results: Denmark dominate

Denmark won the Aachen Nations Cup for the first time, relegating home side Germany to second, and cementing them as one of the favourites to win team gold at the dressage World Championships in Herning this August.

The Danish line-up of Carina Cassøe Krüth (Heiline’s Danciera), Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Marshall-Bell) and Nanna Skodberg Merrald (Atterupgaards Orthilia) alongside their top performer Cathrine Dufour (Vamos Amigos), are the same quartet who will form the home team in Herning, and they proved unstoppable throughout the competition at Aachen.

Riding the Pidgley family’s 10-year-old Vamos Amigos (by Vitalis out of a Blue Hors Hotline mare), Cathrine achieved a CDIO5* hat-trick, leading the grand prix on 81.54%, the special on 80.06% and the freestyle on 88. 38% – personal best scores for this incredibly talented gelding in each respective test.

“I’m super proud of [Vamos Amigos],” said Cathrine. “I might have had five minutes too much warm-up [in the special], so I had little less power compared to the grand prix, when he was super, super electric. He’s 10 years old and is doing a super job.”

The German team, comprising Isabell Werth (DSP Quantaz), Benjamin Werndl (Famoso OLD), Ingrid Klimke (Franziskus 15) and Frederic Wandres (Duke Of Britain FRH), finished second after Isabell was eliminated in the grand prix special.

Sweden finished third, ahead of the Netherlands in fourth, Spain in fifth and Britain in sixth. The USA took seventh, with Australia eighth.

Tom McEwen spearheads Brits’ Aachen eventing win, plus protest over top of individual leaderboard

Pippa Roome — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 10:08:34 +0000

Triumph and heartbreak went in hand in hand for the British team as they topped last week’s Aachen eventing results (1-2 July), but the competition was marred by the loss of Ros Canter’s ride Allstar B, the reigning world champion who had to be put down after suffering an irreparable injury on the cross-country.

This is the second year in a row that Britain has won the SAP Cup, which has been dominated by the home side over the 15 years since eventing joined the competition schedule at this premier German show, after first being run at the venue for the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Last year, the fixture ran later in the calendar, and with the Olympics and Europeans taking precedence for top pairs, nations were mostly fielding teams of less experienced horses or riders. But the Germans certainly fielded a strong quartet this year and it was all credit to the Brits that they led throughout the competition and won by nearly 30 marks.

Britain’s effort was led by double Olympic medallists Tom McEwen and Toledo De Kerser – owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Inns and Tom’s mother Ali – who finished third after adding just 6.4 time-faults to their third-placed dressage score. No one made the time over Rüdiger Schwarz‘s cross-country course.

After his Olympic success last year, Tom has had a tricky start to the season with a fall at Badminton Horse Trials with Toledo and neither of his rides finishing at the five-star at Luhmühlen Horse Trials last month, but he said he didn’t feel any extra pressure.

“The horses been going really well. Sometimes in life, you make mistakes and I’ve made a good few this year, but it’s all about learning and coming out the other side, so if I can learn and move on from that, then we’ll be better and better,” he said.

“I’ve loved everything about being at the world’s best show – it was absolutely rammed for cross-country today and Toledo was super-excited to be at a big show again. He was letting rip trying to jump everything as usual. I couldn’t be happier with him and our team result.”

William Fox-Pitt provided Britain’s second-best score in seventh with his own and Jennifer Dowling’s Little Fire, while Yasmin Ingham impressed on her Aachen debut by finishing 12th on Janette Chinn and Sue Davies’ Rehy DJ. Both William and Yasmin added only time-faults to their first-phase scores.

“Aachen is more than I ever expected it would be and it’s really good for me to build up mileage and come to this incredible show,” said Yasmin. “Everything rode as I wanted it to across country. It was extremely fast and intense out there and lots of the let-up fences were quite decent as well.”

Sarah Bullimore competed as Britain’s individual on home-bred European bronze medallist Corouet – owned by his rider, her husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate – and finished 22nd with one showjump down and a few seconds over the time, plus a steadier round across country.

Aachen eventing results confusion after protest

German superstar Michael Jung looked set to top the individual Aachen eventing results on Kentucky Three-Day Event winner FischerChipmunk FRH when he led from the start on a dressage of 22.2 and held a significant lead as he headed out across country.

He crossed the finish line with 1.2 time-faults and was announced as the winner, but as he was waiting for the press conference to start, news filtered through that there had been a protest over whether he should have been penalised for missing a flag at the right-handed brush corner at fence 14. The 15 penalties were eventually added to his score card and Michael dropped to eighth.

Michael was riding Chipmunk as an individual. His team ride Kilcandra Ocean Power finished down the leaderboard after having 20 penalties at fence 16d, but the Germans had to count his score as Ingrid Klimke had 40 jumping penalties on Equistros Siena Just Do It.

Their team-mate Sandra Auffarth took top honours individually with Viamant Du Matz. She commented that Viamant Du Matz has more “life experience” than last time he was in Aachen in 2019 and “understands every question” now – an ominous prospect for Germany’s rivals ahead of the eventing World Championships with it in mind that Sandra’s last win in Aachen was in 2014 with another chestnut, Opgun Louvo, and the pair went on to be world champions that autumn.

Andrew Hoy finished second as an individual on David and Paula Evans’ and his own Olympic bronze medallist Vassily De Lassos; Australia did not field a team. The pair put in the fastest cross-country round, finishing just one second over the optimum time.

“It’s an absolute privilege to ride a horse like Vassily,” said Andrew. “I’ve worked with him since 2017 and we’ve developed a very good relationship. There wasn’t once on the cross-country when I pressed the button and said, ‘Come on, you have to go.’ He’s a horse that can just run and jump and for me it was a very nice ride.”

World champion Allstar B put down following injury at CHIO Aachen

Becky Murray — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 14:56:55 +0000

Allstar B, Ros Canter’s reigning world champion, has been put down after sustaining an injury during the cross-country phase at CHIO Aachen.

The 17-year-old, owned by Ros and Caroline Moore, was competing in Germany as part of the British squad in the Aachen SAP Cup (1-2 July). The pair had been lying in fourth place following the dressage, on a score of 26.5 penalties, before picking up four penalties in the showjumping phase.

In a statement released this afternoon (2 July), British Equestrian announced with “tremendous sadness” that Allstar B had been put down owing to an “irreparable injury” sustained during the cross-country phase.

“[Ros and Allstar B] had a run out at the final element of fence 16, after which Allstar B was immediately attended to by the veterinary team on course when he pulled up lame,” read the statement.

“The vets on the showground made the horse comfortable to travel to a nearby veterinary clinic for further investigation. It was then decided that, due to the nature of the injury, euthanasia was the only action for Allstar B’s welfare.”

Ros Canter and Allstar B competing at Badminton Horse Trials 2022. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“Alby” and Ros were most recently 12th at Badminton Horse Trials in May, where they posted a clear cross-country round and added 12 showjumping penalties to their dressage of 26.4.

Ros and the 17.1hh gelding made their senior championship debut at the 2017 Europeans in Strzegom, Poland, and they went on to become British team regulars. In 2018 they were crowned individual world champions at the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, leading the British team to win gold as well.

The pair were also part of the gold medal-winning team at the 2021 Europeans in Avenches, Switzerland. Last week Ros and Alby were named on the nominated entries list for the eventing World Championships in Italy in September.

Ros Canter and Allstar B at the 2017 FEI European Eventing Championships at Strzegom in Poland. (Image credit: Peter Nixon)

“There are no words for the love and respect that I have for Alby,” said Ros. “Time after time, he has shown his generosity, kindness and love of our sport. He has been such a huge part in building my career, and he will be missed by many.”

Caroline said Alby had been “the horse of a lifetime”.

“The most generous and brave horse that I’ve ever had the pleasure to work with. He will be deeply missed,” she said.

Richard Waygood, British Equestrian eventing performance manager, added Alby was a “special horse with a huge heart”.

“The partnership Ros and he shared is one of the greatest the sport has enjoyed. Together, they have given so much to eventing and British teams, and to see them win the individual world championship title at Tryon was a very proud moment,” he said.

“Alby will be missed, but will hold a place among the legends of our sport. I would like to thank the veterinary and organising teams at Aachen for their swift actions and professional treatment.”

‘I hope that’s secured my world champs spot’: exciting night for Team GB in Aachen Nations Cup

Jennifer Donald — Fri, 01 Jul 2022 09:34:20 +0000

It’s been five years since Great Britain last fielded a showjumping team for the prestigious Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup of Aachen, but the union flag flew proudly as the quartet of Ben Maher, Harry Charles, Scott Brash and John Whitaker finished on the podium after a hard-fought contest on Thursday night (30 June).

Germany came out convincing winners on home soil after two gruelling rounds of shifting fortunes for the eight teams involved. Their squad of Jana Wargers, Christian Kukuk, Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann and Andre Thieme lifted the silverware on a score of just five, sealing victory before final rider Andre had even jumped.

Belgium and Great Britain finished less than a rail behind on eight faults, the former taking the runner-up spot courtesy of a slightly faster accumulative time.

But GB’s third place finish was a tremendous result for a nation which hasn’t appeared on the Aachen podium since 2011, and last won the Nations Cup there – one of the toughest competitions in the showjumping calendar – 22 years ago.

“I’m absolutely over the moon with the performances tonight,” said Di Lampard, Great Britain’s showjumping performance manager. “To come here to this stadium and have those rounds – we’re going the right way towards the end of the season.”

Aachen Nations Cup: ‘That was everything I ever dreamed of’

Harry Charles was understandably thrilled to jump such a polished double clear on his Tokyo Olympics partner Romeo 88, owned by Ann Thompson, in his first Aachen Nations Cup. He made his five-star debut here four years ago in what turned out to be a breakthrough year for the Hampshire rider.

“That was my first ever five-star show and I sat here and watched the Nations Cup and said, ‘Next time I come back to this show I want to jump in that class’,” said Harry, 22.

“It was everything I ever dreamed of – the atmosphere, the lights, to be part of this team and to go double clear first time is amazing. Romeo did an amazing job and I think there were only four double clears so I’m delighted and it bodes well.

“I’ve had him for just over a year and a half and he’s still getting better – the last two Nations Cup he’s been double clear,” added Harry, who will jump Romeo 88 again in Sunday’s Rolex grand prix. “I’d like to hope that’s secured my spot in the Herning world championships.

“This is a very proud day and it’s amazing to have a British team back in Aachen, at the best show in the world, and on the podium.”

Scott Brash: ‘So unlucky’

Both Ben Maher riding Oakingham Stud’s 12-year-old stallion Faltic HB and Scott Brash with Lady Harris and Lady Kirkham’s charismatic gelding Hello Jefferson jumped one clear and one four-fault round, while John Whitaker and Equine America Unick Du Francport just collected four faults in the opening round, before the gelding seemingly misread the water jump in round two to finish on a score of nine.

“I thought Jefferson was fantastic, he jumped brilliant,” said Scott. “The one down in the first round I felt was quite unlucky – I maybe pushed him a little bit too much out of the combination – a lot of horses were struggling to jump the back bar and he pushed the front bar out. The rest felt very good and then the second round he felt fantastic.”

A gulf separated the top three teams from the rest of the field in the Aachen Nations Cup with early leaders Switzerland dropping to fourth on 18 penalties. France, USA, the Netherlands and Brazil completed the line-up.

Don’t miss more coverage from CHIO Aachen in next week’s issue of Horse & Hound, out Thursday 7 July.

A feast of top sport at the equestrian mecca that is CHIO Aachen, plus big names at Bolesworth and other events this week

Polly Bryan — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 08:04:45 +0000

CHIO Aachen kicks off this week in Germany, while closer to home there’s plenty of top-class sport and excitement to be had at Bolesworth, Somerford Park and Devon County.

1, CHIO Aachen, Germany

Dates: 28 June-3 July

More info: chioaachen.de/en/

How to watch: live stream available via Clip My Horse

Get the H&H lowdown: Combined report from the three Olympic disciplines in 7 July issue

Why we’re excited about it: the world’s top showjumpers descend on this equestrian mecca for some of the most prestigious prizes in the sport. The Rolex grand prix, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping is the class they all want to win, while Great Britain will once again be represented in the prestigious Nations Cup, with an A-list squad of Ben Maher, Scott Brash, John Whitaker, Harry Charles and Jessica Mendoza.

CHIO Aachen always attracts a stellar dressage field, too, and this year is no different, with many of the combinations expected to dominate at the dressage World Championships later this summer in action this week in Aachen. Germany’s Isabell Werth heads the home attack, while Denmark will put out a full complement of top combinations. Britain fields a good team, too, with Lottie Fry, Lara Butler, Laura Tomlinson and Susan Pape all in action in the five-star Nations Cup.

On the eventing side, Aachen is the cream of the CCI4*-S calendar and the home side, Germany, will field a crack team led by Kentucky Three-Day Event winners Michael Jung and FischerChipmunk and Olympic champions Julia Krajewski and Amande De B’Neville. A strong British quartet consisting of Ros Canter (Allstar B), Tom McEwen (Toledo De Kerser), William Fox-Pitt (Little Fire) and Yasmin Ingham (Rehy DJ) will take them on, while Sarah Bullimore and Corouet will compete under the Union flag as individuals.

2, Dodson & Horrell Bolesworth International Horse Show, Cheshire

Dates: 29 June-3 July

More info: bolesworthinternational.com

How to watch: horseandcountry.tv/liveevents

Get the H&H lowdown: bumper report in next week’s issue of H&H, in the shops on Thursday, 7 July, with online updates throughout the week

Why we’re excited about it: one of the country’s most popular international shows with classes ranging from the puissance to the mini-major to the grand prix, young horse and pony classes, featuring many of the sport’s leading names.

3, Devon County Show

Dates: 30 June-2 July

More info: devoncountyshow.co.uk

Get the H&H lowdown: Full report in 14 July issue of H&H

Why we’re excited about it: A traditional three-day agricultural show with a host of equine classes for horses and ponies of all types and breeds. The in-hand classes culminate in a Horse of the Year Show supreme in-hand championship qualifier on the final day, which is sure to be a stunning showcase of breed and section champions.

4, Baileys Horse Feeds Somerford Park Horse Trials, Cheshire

Dates: 1-3 July

More info: schedule on the British Eventing website

Get the H&H lowdown: full report in 7 July issue of the magazine

Why we’re excited about it: three full days of sport will come to a head with the jumping phases of the two international classes on Sunday. The CCI3*-S and CCI2*-S have over 100 entries each. Ibble Watson (Aristoteles S Z), Phoebe Locke (Pica D’Or) and Sarah Way (Dassett Cooley Dun) are ones to watch in the flagship CCI3*-S.

British championship pairs given chance to bounce back at Aachen after five-star blips

Pippa Roome — Tue, 07 Jun 2022 16:32:29 +0000

The British team for the eventing competition at Aachen, the SAP Cup (1-2 July), has been announced:

Sarah Bullimore with the 11-year-old gelding Corouet, owned by his rider, her husband Brett and the Kew Jumping Syndicate
Ros Canter with the 17-year-old gelding Allstar B, owned by his rider and Caroline Moore. Ros has a direct reserve horse – the nine-year-old gelding Izilot DHI, owned by his rider and Alex Moody
William Fox-Pitt with the 13-year-old gelding Little Fire, owned by his rider and Jennifer Dowling
Yasmin Ingham with the 12 -year-old gelding Rehy DJ, owned by Moorecroft Limited
Tom McEwen with the 15-year-old gelding Toledo De Kerser, owned by Fred and Penny Barker, Jane Coppell and the rider’s mother Alison

The team of four and the individual will be named nearer the time or upon arrival. British eventing performance manager Dickie Waygood will be the the chef d’equipe.

Aachen offers a chance of redemption ahead of selection for the eventing World Championships in September for three horses who have strong championship form for Britain, but who had blips at their spring five-stars – 20 jumping penalties across country for Corouet at the Kentucky Three-Day Event, three showjumps down for Allstar B at Badminton Horse Trials and a fall for Toledo De Kerser at Badminton.

Yasmin Ingham must surely be on the senior selectors’ radar too with Kentucky runner-up Banzai Du Loir. Riding on the British eventing team at Aachen will give her additional experience of a buzzy championship atmosphere, albeit on a different horse.

Britain scores first Aachen eventing team win in 10 years – Laura Collett: ‘It was nip and tuck at the end’

Pippa Roome — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 10:38:54 +0000

Britain topped the team competition in the Aachen eventing results for the first time in 10 years last week. But it was “nip and tuck in the end”, as team member Laura Collett said – the US team were just 0.3 of a penalty behind.

Laura and Emilie Chandler led the charge in the SAP-Cup – Laura finished second on individual ride Dacapo and fourth on team mount Mr Bass, while Aachen debutante Emilie also claimed a podium place individually with third on Gortfadda Diamond.

“People say Aachen is amazing and you build it up in your head – but it really was,” said Emilie, who added it was particularly nice after recent restrictions that both her mother and the horse’s owner Maria Doel could attend. “The week exceeded expectations in every way. It was a real experience and a fantastic result for the team and individually – I couldn’t believe it. We had good team spirit and it was a pleasure to be competing together.”

Fifth after dressage on 28.7, Emilie and 12-year-old Gortfadda Diamond added just 1.2 time-faults in the showjumping and four time-penalties across country.

“He put his best foot forward all week,” said Emily. “He did a really nice dressage test, which I was delighted with, and I think the showjumping was one of the best rounds he’s ever done. You never know if they are going to sink or swim in that big arena, but he obviously enjoyed it and really tried for me. It was a bit frustrating to have the time-faults; I was second to go [so didn’t have a chance to see how it was riding].

“The cross-country was a bit fast and furious for my liking – he’s a big galloper so when you’re twisting and turning and going and coming back, it felt a bit messy, but he answered every question and really tried his best.”

Emilie Chandler and Gortfadda Diamond on their way to third place individually at Aachen 2021. (Image credit: Libby Law)

Dacapo also added just a handful of seconds over in the jumping phases to rise from seventh after dressage and take the runner-up spot for his owners Diana Chappell, Gillian Morris-Adams, Alison and Michael Smedley and Carolyn Taylor.

“He’s really come into his own this week and it’s nice for him and his owners – who have been so supportive of me – that he has his moment in the spotlight. He’s always been in the shadow of London 52 because they’ve done everything together,” said Laura, referring to her Olympic team gold medallist.

Laura – who was third on her first visit here in 2012 on Rayef, at a tender 22 years old – said the cross-country course was on the softer side of what is normal at this venue.

“A couple of the combinations were a bit kinder, but it still had the intensity and the time is so tight that that’s what causes the problem – if you really take the risks to get the time, you get caught out,” she said. “It suited Dacapo because he’s not the biggest galloper, but he’s very nippy and polite.”

Mr Bass was fourth after dressage, had fence seven down in the showjumping to drop to seventh and then pulled himself back up to fourth with four time-faults across country.

“He’s only run at Cornbury since Bicton in June so he was very full of himself and very happy to be at a big party – he thought Aachen was right up his street,” said Laura. “He was a bit too feisty in the showjumping – he thought he’d died and gone to heaven in a huge arena with lots of showjumps and he ran a bit at one, but he was in really good form.

“Unlike Dacapo, the cross-country was not a track that suited Mr Bass as he is a big galloping horse. He got annoyed with me pulling him around and wanting to twist and turn, but he was really good through all the combinations.”

Both Laura’s horses will be aimed at the five-star at Pau.

Britain’s victory looked a lot more comfortable – and as if it would be paired with individual honours – until the closing seconds of the reverse order cross-country. After adding a clear showjumping to her equal seventh-placed dressage score, Kirsty Chabert went into the phase in the lead with her father John Johnston and Carole Somers’ Classic VI and was on her minute markers to make the time until the mare ran-out at the corner after an oxer in the final combination before coming back into the main arena.

Kirsty dropped out of contention individually and Zara Tindall’s 18th-placed performance with Class Affair was brought into the team score, leaving Britain just ahead of the US.

British chef d’equipe Philip Surl summed up: “It was a very pleasing result – tight at the end, but it’s small margins and it can go like that sometimes. The performances were very solid throughout.

“Personally it was disappointing for Kirsty and a shame to get all that way round and have that happen. But hopefully she can take away the positives and realise what she’s sat on and what she’s achieved. Hopefully there will be other days. The horse is relatively inexperienced, she’s a quality mare and she turned in a personal best in the dressage, was very solid in the jumping and would have been easily in the time if she’d had no jumping faults.”

Aachen eventing results 2021: Will Coleman takes individual title

In the individual results, Will Coleman became the first US rider to take the title, riding the syndicate-owned Irish Sport Horse Off The Record, who completed a trio of 12-year-old horses at the top. Eleventh after dressage, they added just time penalties for finishing two seconds over the optimum across country (the fastest round) to their first-phase score.

The pair were reserves for the US team at the Olympics and so trained in Aachen during pre-export quarantine.

“I decided to try to make that experience as formative as I could for this horse, and I think it was,” said Will. “I do think it helped him, the fact that he was here for 10 days without being under any major stress. I think it played a part in his ability to come here and perform.”

The US’s other counting scores came from Olympic travelling alternates Tamie Smith and Mai Baum, plus Ariel Grald and Leamore Master Plan, who were building on their third place at Luhmühlen CCI5* in June. Sydney Elliott and QC Diamantaire were their fourth team members.

Elizabeth Power led the Irish to third on her home-bred mare Azure (ninth), backed up by Cathal Daniels (Rioghan Rua), Joseph Murphy (Calmaro) and Sam Watson (Ballybolger Talisman).

Germany usually field their team for the forthcoming championship here and have been wildly dominant in the Aachen eventing results over the 15 years this competition has run, but with the fixture’s change of date this year and the Olympics and Europeans taking precedence for top pairs, they put out a quartet with less experience and finished fifth, between New Zealand and France.

Andrew Hoy was also a winner in Aachen – he teamed with showjumper Lillie Keenan and four-in-hand driver Boyd Exell to take the Porta Cup, a fun combined competition in which all three disciplines are represented. Andrew rode the cross-country leg on Bloom Des Hauts Crets before running across the arena to jump on Boyd’s carriage.

‘I’m the happiest man in the world’: World number one wins first leg of €1million Rolex Grand Slam in Aachen

Suzanne Jones — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 18:03:30 +0000

World number one Daniel Deusser lifted the Rolex Aachen grand prix in his home country of Germany with two killer turns on Killer Queen VDM to become the new Rolex Grand Slam of Showjumping live contender.

“Finally! I’ve come close a couple of times before [second on Tobago Z in 2019 to The USA’s Kent Farrington and second in 2015 on Cornet D’Amour] but to win the Rolex grand prix in Aachen is special,” said Daniel, who will now target Geneva for the second leg.

Two consecutive wins earns 500,000 euro and three consecutive wins makes a cool one million – Scott Brash is the only one to achieve this with Hello Sanctos.

Eighteen of the 40 starters contended round two – 12 clears joined by eight of the fastest four-faulters. Seven returned double clears over two full-round 1.60m tracks testing scope and rideability, built by celebrated German course-designer Frank Rothenberger, to make the jump-off.

Daniel set a fast opener with two breath-taking rollbacks and a gallop to the final Rolex oxer on the Eldorado VD Zeshoek x For Pleasure 11-year-old.

“At first I thought going first wasn’t an advantage but afterwards – good, I put pressure on and Killer Queen did a fantastic job, I’m the happiest man in the world,” he said.

He faced a nail-biting wait. You could hear a pin drop as Olympic champions Ben Maher and the big-striding Explosion W – third here in 2019 – galloped down the distances. But the front rail of the oxer out of the double fell and although they beat the time by 1.18 sec, Ben’s hopes were dashed and he finished fourth.

Britain’s other hopeful Scott Brash – second in Friday’s 1.60m three-way decider – also encountered problems at the same fence as Hello Jefferson bounced the back rail out of the cups. They slowed up to finish fifth behind the USA’s Laura Kraut riding Baloutinue.

Aachen grand prix: rising star finishes second

Last-to-go Brian Moggre, 20, almost stole the show. The American talent produced a double clear earlier in the week on Balou Du Reventon to majorly contribute to a USA Nations Cup win and was determined to give his all. He rode the round of his life on the Cornet Obolensky x Continue 15-year-old, kicking on despite rattling the double and galloped to the final Rolex oxer to finish second just 0.31 sec outside the winning time.

“It’s been my dream since a little kid to compete here and I wanted a positive experience; my horse has made it an awesome one, he’s the most amazing horse I’ve had in my short life,” said Brian.

Belgium’s Gregory Wathelet was the only other treble clear for third on Nevados S.

Scott topped Saturday’s Allianz-Prize winning round by 0.39 sec in a 10-horse jump-off with the 12-year-old stallion Hello Vincent.

“Ten clears and the top 10 qualified for the jump-off, the course-builder was exactly on target but the course certainly wasn’t a walk in the park – it never is in Aachen,” said Scott. “I kept it as quick, smooth and rhythmic as I could, he’s quick through the air too, which helps.”

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