Welcome to Horse & Hound’s live reports from the eventing World Championships in Aachen. We will be bringing you all the news you need to know as it happens. The first horse inspection took place at 8.30am (UK time, 9.30am local time) on Wednesday 12 August, and is followed by two days of dressage (13-14 August) and cross-country (15 August). On Sunday 16 August is the final horse inspection, showjumping phase and medal ceremonies.

Our eventing editor Pippa Roome will be in the Aachen mixed zone interviewing the riders after their performances, so if you want to know their initial reactions to their scores and more at the eventing World Championships, we are here to bring that straight to you.

Pippa will be supported by H&H team members back in the UK, who will be following the live stream and sharing useful insights and analysis of the action, so we look forward to sharing the highs and lows of the 2026 FEI World Championships with you here.

Useful links:

• H&H eventing editor’s World Championships medal predictions
• Eventing World Championships form guide
• How to watch the Eventing World Championships
• Dressage start times
• Photos of every fence on the cross-country course
• Learn about the competition format

Hello, I’m Martha Terry, H&H features editor, and I’ll be here to bring you all the action as the eventing World Championships kick off with the first horse inspection in Aachen.

The first horse – Harald Ambros’ ride Vitorio Du Montet for the Austrian squad – heads down the runway in half an hour (8.30am UK time).

Competitors will present their horses within their nations, so all the Austrians go, then all the New Zealanders, and so on.

The Brits have been drawn towards the end of the order, the fourth-last nation. Ros Canter’s ride Lordships Graffalo is scheduled to trot up first for Britain at around 9.45am UK time.

It’s similarly hot in Germany to back in the UK, with forecast temperatures of about 30ºC this afternoon. However, the trot-up will be done and dusted by mid-morning (8.30am–10am UK time), peaking at a very pleasant 24º.

First horse inspection (team and individual): Wednesday 12 August

And we’re off!

First up is the Austrian squad – the men patriotically clad in Lederhosen, of course. Katrin Khoddam-Hazrati (Renegade) wears a dirndl, a traditional Alpine dress, while Lea Siegl (Watermill Giorgio RS) is in waistcoat and skirt. All very Austrian.

They have just four combinations, which means their team is all set, with no individual.

Daniel Dunst’s ride Cavalier 97 wasn’t desperate to go down the strip, but got going and all passed.

New Zealand bring forward five. The guys (Clarke Johnstone and Tim Price) look very dapper in jackets and ties, while the girls (Jonelle Price, Monica Spencer and Sam Lissington) are corporate smart in short jackets and trousers.

Clarke’s ride Rocket Man lives up to his name and launches off the end of the strip in response to applause (he passed).

Bless Tim’s ride Falco with his tongue hanging out – he had his front teeth removed before the start of this season.

And the Kiwis are all through!

The three-strong, all-male Czech team are next up.

They’ve adopted the casual look with a padded gilet over a white shirt.

Pavel Březina’s ride Turin is asked to re-present – in trot – after cantering back down the strip. But he’s been passed.

First horse into the hold box! It’s Quaid for Czech Republic, ridden by Matěj Sukdolák. A reminder that three scores need to count for a team, so with only three riders forward for this nation, they’ll have no leeway.

His two team-mates have passed, though Miroslav Trunda was asked to trot Mellevue Van Rechteren twice for the ground jury.

Ooh, Diabolo is fancy for the USA! Will Coleman’s ride would be one of the favourites on the back of his Kentucky CCI5* win in April. He flies through.

The USA team look slick, in polo shirts and chinos for the men, white jeans for the ladies.

I have to say the US horses look fantastic as they begin their bid to improve on their team silver four years ago in Pratoni.

Their quintet, Diabolo, Denim, Cooley Nutcracker, HSH Blake and Lillet 3, are all accepted.

The two individual riders for Thailand, Weerapat Pitakanonda and Komtawat Samran – clad in suits – are through the inspection without incident.

Spain only brings forward one combo, Esteban Benitez Valle riding grey mare Ultera AA.

Esteban’s rocking the casual look with a baseball cap and white jeans, jacket, no tie – for those who care about the sartorial details.

And they’re through.

Poland’s Armin De Monsieur – presented by individual rider Joanna Pawlak – is very on his toes. He’s listed as a stallion on the start sheet (sometimes these details change!), which is still a rare thing in eventing.

Anyway, he's been accepted.

Japan have just the three combinations. A bit of drama for them...

Ryuzo Kitajima’s ride Feroza Nieuwmoed looks a little wild as he spooks at the start, then veers off at the end, trashing the pretty flowers.

Kento Nagura’s ride grand old campaigner Vinci De La Vigne has to trot up twice.

But all three pairs (rounded off by Toshiyuki Tanaka’s Jefferson JRA) are through to the next stage.

Czech horse Qaid is back from the holding box to be represented – and passes! Phew, Czech do have a team of three to go forward.

There’s a lot of cantering going on for a trot-up here.

Alex Hua Tian – green jacket, tie, sunglasses – has to repeat Chicko’s trot at a more sedate pace after cantering down the runway. But he’s accepted.

The Aussie women are sporting a sort of girl-scout look with a loose scarf and short blue skirts. Andrew Hoy, coming to his umpteenth championship at the age of 67, is in baseball cap and stripey tie. His ride Vassily De Lassos celebrates his acceptance with an exuberant buck.

Some of these horses have had a long journey from the southern hemisphere, or at least the US, but they look fit and raring to go, with the applause setting them off.

And all five are accepted.

Even trot-ups need breaks. They’re raking the sand and rolling with a machine to make it picture-perfect for the next set of competitors.

A reminder that the five-strong British squad is set to trot up at 9.45am UK time.

The ground jury – Anne-Mette Binder (Denmark), Peter Gray (Canada), Joanne Jarden (Ireland) – have not been too busy so far. There have been a handful of horses asked to trot twice due to shenanigans, and just one horse to the holding box (Czech horse Qaid), and all accepted.

The Brazilian trio are through – watched on by team trainer William Fox-Pitt.

Here comes Ireland, double silver medallists at the worlds in 2018 and European team silver medallists last year.

They’ve got something of a polo match look going on – dressed in pink shirts and white trousers.

Lovely to see five-star winner Colorado Blue, now 17 years old but looking fit as a flea. But all the Irish horses look calm, smart and sail past the ground jury for their acceptance nod.

France are renowned dark horses when it comes to championships and have to be among the medal favourites, as they have a habit of pulling great results out of the bag when it matters.

They’re also renowned stylists (do we wonder if Gaspard Maksud had a say in the trot-up outfits?), and wear natty red neckerchiefs over white shirts.

The horses look lively too, with Benjamin Massie’s Figaro Fonroy asked to trot again, but all five are now through.

More leaping about necessitating another go up the runway. Finnish individual Sanna Siltakorpi is asked to trot Bofey Click three times so that the ground jury can see her at the requisite pace. Diagonal pairs...

Shhhhh, the crowd are asked not to applaud as – in case they hadn’t noticed – Bofey Click is super-reactive.

And he’s through, along with compatriot Axel Lindberg’s ride Quelle Bonne.

The Swiss team are on the strip. This is a rising nation, flourishing under cross-country coach Andrew Nicholson, who are on the cusp of the podium. They’ll need a few things to go right for them and wrong for others but they bring forward five decent contenders.

Angelika Dubach also has to repeat the trot with Felin De Chignan but no drama, all five pass.

Big moments here, the home side German squad have arrived, dressed in dark polo shirts.

And it’s not without drama.

The Olympic champion fischerChipmunk FRH does a little rear with Michael Jung in response to the crowd – at 19 years old, he knows what’s going on.

More of a concern is Julia Krajewski’s Uelzener’s Nickel, who slips up at the end of strip and goes right on his side. He’s quickly up and away, and I’m sure he’ll have all the necessary vet checks, massaging and physio before going any further.

We have another hold! And this time it’s one of the German squad, Lissa Lübbeke, whose Caramia FRH is sent to the holding box after being asked to repeat her trot.

The other four Germans are all through.

Another horse plays up and is asked to trot again. Mokatoo, ridden by Indian individual Fouaad Mirza – who takes the award for the the biggest smile in this nerve-jangling phase.

But a buck and a kick from Mokatoo do not please the ground jury, though he’s passed – along with compatriot Ashish Limaye and D'Avril Du Pinier – on second viewing.

Sweden have a full squad of five. Both Louise Romeike’s grey, Caspian 15, and Sofia Sjöborg’s Brujamolga Van Het Marienshof Z (needs a stable name!) look lively but both riders manage them well and are accepted, along with their compatriots.

Orange shirts – naturally – for the five-strong Dutch squad.

Sanne De Jong’s ride Enjoy – a 17-year-old grey mare who competed at the Paris Olympics – is sent to the holding box. The other four horses from the Netherlands are accepted.

So we currently have two mares in the holding box, Enjoy and Caramia FRH.

(If you want an update on what to call Finnish rider Sofia Sjöborg’s Brujamolga Van Het Marienshof Z when you’re short of time, H&H eventing editor Pippa Roome has found out her stable name is Belle. Much easier).

Denmark have just one representative, Peter Flarup – who also competed at the last World Championships in Aachen, in 2006. He’s one of seven returnees.

He’s accepted with H. Carald Z.

BRITISH SQUAD ACCEPTED.

The five-strong British squad fly through the horse inspection with no drama, no one being asked to trot again, no holding boxes.

Good news on the horses who went to the hold box:

Lissa Lübbeke’s ride Caramia FRH has been re-presented to the ground jury and been accepted for Germany.

Sanne de Jong’s Enjoy also passed on second attempt for the Netherlands.

News on individual horses for Turkey and Morocco:

Kumru Say’s Baladin De l’Ocean LA and Noor Slaoui’s Legende P are both through.

All five Italian riders are accepted, the final nation fielding a team. Just Hungary’s two individuals to go.

The final two pairs from Hungary:

Balázs Kaizinger is asked to trot Clover 15 twice, but he passes.

Noémi Viola Doerfer, with red ribbon in her hair, is accepted with Piltown Harry.

And that’s a wrap on the first horse inspection for the eventing World Championships in Aachen 2026.

All 88 horses presented were accepted and go through to the dressage phase.

That’s all from the live blog for eventing today. You can follow the pure dressage live blog if you can’t get enough of the action from Aachen.

Meanwhile, eventing-wise, we’ll have a report on the trot-up on our website, plus dressage times and cross-country course pictures later, and of course we’ll be back with a live blog from the dressage tomorrow morning.

See you then.

Eventing dressage day one (team and individual): Thursday, 13 August

Good morning everyone, it's Lucy Elder here and I'll be bringing you the news as it happens from the first day of eventing dressage at the World Championships.

The first horse is set to enter the arena at 8.30am UK time (9.30am German time). There are 44 tests on day one and Austrian rider Daniel Dunst and Chevalier 97 will be the first pair down the centre line.

Two Brits are in action on the first day:

- Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley at 10.11am UK time (11.11am German time)

- Tom McEwen and JL Dublin at 2.57pm UK time (3.57pm German time)

H&H’s eventing editor Pippa Roome is on the ground in Aachen and has sent me a lovely photo of the arena looking beautiful in the morning sunshine.

A really solid start by Daniel Dunst to kick off the day, scoring 33.3. He looks delighted with that.

The dressage test being used for this championship is the Olympic short test – and it really is blink and you’ll miss it!

A beautiful performance by New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and the lovely grey Rocket Man.

Flying changes are such an influential part of this dressage test. There are four of them, meaning a possible 40 marks are on the table out of a total of 220 (well, 240 if you include the collectives) – and they come up so quickly.

Theirs looked pretty clean from where I’m sitting and their provisional score of 28.7 is a super starting point for their Aachen campaign and for the Kiwi team.

All the competitors before this morning’s coffee break are team riders, so these are critical starting points for each nations’ hopes. Don’t forget that the eventing World Championships are also an Olympic qualifier – the top seven teams will secure their ticket to LA28 this week.

Over the last few minutes we’ve seen US pathfinders Phillip Dutton and Denim (32.6), a horse who had a late call-up to these championships, and Australian combination of Sophia Hill and Humble Glory (37.6).

Sophia’s journey with this former racehorse is brilliant – do read more about them in this piece from the spring or in Pippa Roome’s exceptional form guide.

Going back to the details of the eventing dressage test being used at the Aachen World Championships, this is the test being used this week.

Pippa Roome has caught up with current leader New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone after his test with Rocket Man (28.7).

The 11-year-old gelding was produced by Britain’s Eliza Bell and joined Clarke in 2023.

“I was pleased with it, it was probably one notch down from what we could have done if it was as good as possible,” said Clarke.

“I thought that arena might have lit him up a little bit, but he was totally relaxed, and sometimes he's better when he’s just a fraction not so relaxed. But he did everything I asked.”

He added: “We had a small mistake in the halt to rein back. Otherwise, everything happened where it was supposed to and I thought there were some real highlights.

“He’s a beautiful horse, he’s really lovely to ride and to train. He has been to Aachen before, but this is his first championships, and he took it all in like a pro.”

Time for a quick iced coffee...

Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man are still leading the way at the first morning break.

Here is a run down of the top three at this early stage of the eventing World Championships:

1. New Zealand’s Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man (28.7)
2. Switzerland’s Robin Godel and Grandeur De Lully CH (30.1)
3. Germany’s Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia FRH (31.3)

Gemma Stevens is about to get underway for the Brits with Flash Cooley. Carl Hester, Fiona Bigwood and Becky Moody are there with Union Flags to watch and support.

What a brilliant start for Britain by Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley.

This little grey is so likeable. He is so light on his feet. They’ve got Aachen form on their CV already, but a championship is always a step up.

Their trot work was elegant and correct, and they were trending ahead of leaders Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man early on.

Gemma is very experienced and was part of the British team that won world gold in Tryon eight years ago. This is her first senior championships since that gold medal with Arctic Soul in 2018, and what a superb way to start it.

She rode for every mark – the transitions between collected and extended canter really showed that and were one of the high points of the test for me. Most of Flash Cooley’s flying changes were neat and tidy, a fluffy moment in the last one on the final centre line (a tricky move) cost them a few marks, but was the only blip in a lovely test overall.

Their score of 29.3 puts them in provisional second and just 0.6 of a penalty behind early leaders Clarke and Rocket Man.

Gemma Stevens has been speaking to the media after her test with Flash Cooley (29.3) and shared some fascinating insights into how she has put herself into the right mindset to be British team pathfinder.

“I knew that if I was going to be on the team that’s where I would be,” she said. “I’ve done it before, so they know I can do it. I’ve actually trained myself a few times this year to go out with no information at all on a course.”

Of course Gemma walked those courses in advance, in this context she means that she has gone out without the benefit of feedback from other riders.

“I did it at Royal Jump with him, I did it at Burgham with Chilli Knight – I've done it a few times just in the thought that it might happen. It's just a case of training your mind,” she said.

Reflecting on her test, she said that she was “over the moon” with all of it, except for the misunderstanding in the flying change on the final centre line.

She explained that Flash Cooley thought they were halting and went to stop, which led to the muddle.

“It was a real shame to lose that mark because that's actually been a real highlight in training. But the rest of it was so good, and he was so relaxed, so with me, and a real pleasure to ride,” she said.

Fancy a look at the cross-country fences that horses and riders will tackle at the FEI World Championships in Aachen on Saturday?

H&H has photos of every fence and explanations of the key questions on the eventing worlds course in our gallery – take a peek while we wait for the next rider.

Top photographer Peter Nixon has sent a couple of lovely photos of Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley from the eventing World Championships in Aachen this morning

We have some more reaction to bring you from the mixed zone, which is the area where riders speak to the media after their tests.

Irish pathfinder Ian Cassells and Millridge Atlantis, who were team anchors at last year’s Europeans where they helped Ireland to silver, banked pretty consistent marks throughout their test for an overall score of 33.5.

“I’m really happy with him,” said Ian. “He went in and held his breath a little, he’s naturally quite short in the neck; I was just trying to hold his hand the whole way round and he kept it together.

“He’s a very good mover, but that little bit of nervousness is kind of his character. We know each other very well and it was a case of just trying to keep him relaxed. He did a clear round test, so I’m happy.”

Germany’s Libussa Lübbeke and the home-bred Caramia FRH were first to go for the home side.

They showed some nice work, although tension did creep in, which was reflected in their mark. Their score of 31.3 is a little adrift of the kind of marks we know this pair are capable of – they scored 26 last time out at Avenches and 28.3 at the 2025 Europeans at Blenheim.

“I was really pleased with the horse,” said Libussa. “There were a few little things that could have been better, but I'm super happy with the horse. She was listening to me, and that's good.”

She added: “I liked the canter work, but the first flying change with the zigzag was quite expensive – it was a bit late, and there wasn't the reaction I hoped for. The rest was good and I was pleased with it.”

That’s the first rotation of team riders complete. The World Championships format is teams of four, with three scores to count – unlike the Olympic Games which is now teams of three, all scores count.

That means the team standings are an early sketch at this stage – important, but a lot can change.

New Zealand are flying! Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo are new leaders on 27.2, bumping team mates Clarke Johnstone and Rocket Man into second.

This is a new best international score for the horse at any level.

Greys fill the top three spots at this stage.

It started so well, but a few costly hiccups mean a slightly disappointing score for Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake.

This US combination usually score in the 20s in the first phase – they’ve only been in the 30s on four of their previous 30 international starts – so their mark of 32.3 today is adrift of what we might have expected based on previous form.

HSH Blake is extremely elegant. His beautiful frame, lift and expression, particularly for an event horse, made their early trot work a joy to watch, and they were rewarded with a smattering of eights, plus a nine, from the judges.

The 11-year-old gelding unfortunately picked up the wrong lead on the transition to counter canter, for which they scored fours across the board. A little hiccup in one of the later changes was also expensive.

In between, they showed some really beautiful work. It’s not where they may hope to be after day one, but is still a solid score for the US team – and there is still a long way to go before medals are awarded on Sunday.

Pippa Roome caught up with Caroline Pamukcu after her test with HSH Blake at the eventing World Championships.

“I have a lovely horse. He’s a very, very special guy. So obviously I’m pretty disappointed because I know we could do better – I could do better, not him. I didn’t give him the ride I wanted to today. But it is a sport, and that’s a fun thing about sport,” she said.

“I’ll go back and reflect. There are always a lot of things, but I’ve got an incredible team at home and with our federation. They gave me all the opportunities to do the best we can today, sometimes it just falls short. It is what it is.

“I’ll go home, work harder, and then come back swinging.”

Time for lunch and, I hope, an ice cream.

The grey trio remain at the top of the leaderboard after the first morning of dressage at the eventing World Championships.

New Zealand is blazing away out in front by holding the top two spots, and Britain’s Gemma Stevens is hot on their heels.

The top three at this stage are as follows:

1. Jonelle Price (NZL) and Senor Crocodillo (27.2)
2. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Rocket Man (28.7)
3. Gemma Stevens (GBR) and Flash Cooley (29.3)

The next combination to start after the lunchbreak will be Brazil’s Rafael Mamprin Losano at 1.44pm UK time (2.44pm German time).

British fans – set your reminder for Tom McEwen’s test with JL Dublin, which is scheduled for 2.57pm UK time (3.57pm German time).

• Are you watching? Do share your thoughts on the action with us today, and we will add some to the live blog. Email: lucy.elder@futurenet.com

Action is set to restart in the next few minutes in the dressage arena at the eventing World Championships.

Before the lunchbreak, Pippa Roome caught up with leader Jonelle Price for a chat about her great test with Senor Crocodillo.

“He’s a quiet achiever, he’s not really my normal genre,” said Jonelle. “He is a fairly steady sort of guy, a little bit of a plain Jane, but he’s just such a trier.

“Over the last couple of years, we've really been able to start solidly building a test – a pretty cool time to come out and show him at his best. I’m delighted.”

Do make sure to pick up a copy of this week’s edition of H&H – out today (Thursday, 13 August). This fabulous cover photo of Laura Collett and London 52, who will start their World Championship campaign tomorrow (Friday, 14 August) was taken by Peter Nixon.

Catch up on the action from this morning in H&H’s lunchtime report from day one of dressage at the eventing World Championships

• H&H’s lunchtime eventing dressage report: Thursday (13 August)

French rider Alexis Goury and Je’Vall shake up the top end of the leaderboard, powering into provisional second on a score of 28.5.

Aoife Clark and Full Monty De Lacense also gave a lovely performance for Ireland after the lunchbreak and have nestled into eighth at this stage (31.5).

This has been a hot half hour with four new entries into the top 10, including two new names in the top three.

Germany’s Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K fluffed their strike off into counter canter, and also broke into trot before the last centre line. But such was the quality of the rest of their work that they now hold provisional third on 28.6.

The Swiss team have been knocking on the door of the podium at recent championships, and their two riders today have put them in a great position in Aachen. Mélody Johner and Erin were the second Swiss combination to go, producing a smart test to score 31.5 and hold provisional 10th.

That’s a lot to take in, so here’s a quick list rundown to highlight what’s new since lunch…

1. Jonelle Price (NZL) and Senor Crocodillo (27.2)
2. NEW Alexis Goury (FRA) and Je’Vall (28.5)
3. NEW Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K (28.6)
4. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Rocket Man (28.7)
5. Gemma Stevens (GBR) and Flash Cooley (29.3)
6. Robin Godel (SUI) and Grandeur De Lully CH (30.1)
7. Libussa Lübbeke and the Caramia FRH (31.3)
8. Maarten Boon (BEL) and Gravin van Cantos (31.4)
9. NEW Aoife Clark and Full Monty De Lacense (31.5)
10. NEW Mélody Johner and Erin (31.5)

Britain’s Tom McEwen and JL Dublin will be the next pair into the arena after the tea break.

While we wait for that, here are some quotes from Ireland’s Aoife Clark (pictured, below) following her test with Full Monty De Lacense...

“I'm really pleased with him. I know they’re marking hard in there, and that’s actually a PB [personal best] for him at four-star,” said Aoife.

“Aachen is amazing, but it has got that atmosphere and the crowds are very enthusiastic, even when you come in. He’s a gorgeous, kind, genuine horse, but he is nervous, and that would have just got to him. So they kindly refrained from whooping as I went round, which is great.”

She added: “Going in there, just he sort of took a deep breath and was really with me. There’s lots more to come, but I’m delighted with him.”

Tom McEwen and JL Dublin have cruised to the top of the leaderboard – upending the grey stranglehold and putting the British team into equal first place with New Zealand.

This pair have such a wealth of experience on these big stages now, and the whole test reflected that in its polish. Their scoresheet is brimming with eights and such is their confidence in their ability, and each other, it’s almost relaxing to watch. A little wobble in the flying change on the final centre line was the only spot where their marks dipped below a seven.

Their leading score of 26.6 is 0.6 of a penalty ahead of lunchtime leader New Zealand’s Jonelle Price and Senor Crocodillo (27.2), with a handful of competitors left to go this afternoon.

“There’s a little bit more atmosphere than I even expected to begin with,” said Tom.

“He was a bit lit up from straight away when I went in there. I could feel it when I kept trying to trot, and he kept popping into canter and I thought, ‘Oh, right, we're not quite where I want to be’. But he delivered a really good test.

“It’s a shame because I know I can come out and deliver a 21 or 22, but honestly, coming back out with a 26, I’m really, really pleased. It’s great for the team.”

On that blip on the final centre line, he added: “He’s been annoyed by the flies all week, and we’ve been struggling with them. I know when he's completely with me because I know he's not paying any attention to the flies, and I could feel him starting to go.

“I thought, ‘Oh no, we’ve lost all concentration’. It's a tough test, and that was our one big mistake, which was a shame. The rest I was really pleased with.”

The team standings at this stage – after the second rotation of riders for the majority of teams – are as follows:

1. New Zealand (55.9)
1. Great Britain (55.9)
3. Germany (59.9)

The last chunk of riders this afternoon are all representing their nations as individuals.

There are some great stories among this bunch, and some cracking scores, too.

Australia’s Olivia Barton, who is making her championship debut with home-bred APH Sodoku, ends the first day in provisional ninth (30.6).

“That was everything I was hoping for,” said Olivia, who is based in Belgium “It was a PB for him, so it’s very exciting. He was super in there. He had a little jog in the walk – that is his weak spot – but apart from that, he was perfect.”

She added: “My mum stood two stallions at stud for a very long time, and they passed away just last year. So he is among some of the oldest stock and it's very exciting to have him on the world stage.”

The mare, by APH Coriandus, was also one of Olivia’s mother’s horses – and where this striking gelding gets his flashiness.

“She had four white socks, not quite as high as his, but she was a beautiful mare,” she said, adding they’ve had a lot of success with her progeny.

Samatha Lissington and Lucas Stone, who are competing as individuals for New Zealand, continued the Kiwi’s gold streak today, breaking the 30 barrier and shaking up the business end of the scoreboard. Their score of 29.7 leaves them in provisional seventh overnight.

Samantha, who is also a senior championship first-timer, said she was “stoked” with Lucas Stone’s performance.

“He is a little bit of an anxious person, and that's definitely by far the biggest atmosphere he's ever experienced – and that's about as big as it gets,” she said.

“For him to stay as much with me as he did, as only a 10-year-old – who I've only owned for 18 months – it’s a big deal.”

Another horse who caught our eye in this final section on day one of eventing dressage at the FEI World Championships was skewbald mare Fluorescent Adolescent, ridden by Canadian individual Jessica Phoenix.

• Read more about this five-star campaigner who is “all heart”

That’s it for day one of dressage at the eventing World Championships. Here is a run down of results and important info you need to know for tomorrow:

Individual results: day one eventing dressage

1. Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin (26.6)
2. Jonelle Price (NZL) and Senor Crocodillo (27.2)
3. Alexis Goury (FRA) and Je’Vall (28.5)
4. Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K (28.6)
5. Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Rocket Man (28.7)
6. Gemma Stevens (GBR) and Flash Cooley (29.3)
7. Samantha Lissington (NZL) and Lucas Stone (29.7)
8. Robin Godel (SUI) and Grandeur De Lully CH (30.1)
9. Olivia Barton (AUS) and APH Sodoku (30.6)
10. Libussa Lübbeke (GER) and the Caramia FRH (31.3)

Team results: day one eventing dressage

1. New Zealand (55.9)
1. Great Britain (55.9)
3. Germany (59.9)

What times should I set reminders for on Friday?

• Eventing dressage starts at 8.30am UK time (9.30am German time) on Friday, 14 August

Three Brits are in action on day two of dressage. These are:

• Laura Collett and London 52 at 11.24am UK time (12.24pm German time)
• Caroline Harris and D.Day at 11.52am UK time (12.52pm German time)
• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo at 3.46pm UK time (4.46pm German time)

To find out when other top contenders are competing tomorrow, don’t miss Pippa’s full run-down here:

• World Championships eventing dressage times

There are a few final stories to bring you before we say goodnight.

We hope you’ve enjoyed following along today and hope you will join us again tomorrow for the second day of eventing dressage at the World Championships.

Eventing World Championships: end of day reports

Tom McEwen heads the individual standings at the end of day one – and has helped put the British team into equal first place at this stage

• Read the end of day report for Thursday

We take a look at how the eventing team competition is shaping up

• Find out what today’s team results mean in the context of the overall competition

Organisers have given an explanation about why they have made changes to the dressage timetable tomorrow – but not the eventing

• Read what they had to say

Eventing dressage day two: Friday, 14 August

Good morning everyone, it's senior news writer Becky Murray here and I'll be bringing you the action as it happens from the second day of eventing dressage at the World Championships.

The remaining 44 combinations will take to the arena today. Moroccan rider Noor Slaoui and Legende P will be the first pair down the centre line at 8.30am UK time (9.30am German time).

The British times are:

• Laura Collett and London 52 at 11.24am UK time (12.24pm German time)
• Caroline Harris and D.Day at 11.52am UK time (12.52pm German time)
• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo at 3.46pm UK time (4.46pm German time)

It was a brilliant first day of dressage yesterday and the Brits got off to a great start with superb tests from Gemma Stevens and Tom McEwen. Find out how it unfolded here.

Team standings after eventing World Championships dressage day one

1eq. Great Britain 55.9
Tom McEwen on JL Dublin 26.6
Gemma Stevens on Flash Cooley 29.3

1eq. New Zealand 55.9
Jonelle Price on Senor Crocodillo 27.2
Clarke Johnstone on Rocket Man 28.7

3. Germany 59.9
Malin Hansen-Hotopp on Carlitos Quidditch K 28.6
Libussa Lübbeke on Caramia FRH 31.3

4. Switzerland 61.6
Robin Godel on Grandeur De Lully CH 30.1
Mélody Johner on Erin 31.5

5. France 64.1
Alexis Goury on Je’Vall 28.5
Benjamin Massie on Figaro Fonroy 35.6

6. USA 64.9
Caroline Pamukcu on HSH Blake 32.3
Phillip Dutton on Denim 32.6

British-based Noor Slaoui and 10-year-old Legende P were first down the centre line, competing as individuals for Morocco.

Olympic rider Noor looked delighted to be at Aachen, riding with a big smile on her face. Legende P got a bit tense, with a couple of mistakes and miscommunications creeping in before the canter work, but Noor did well to regain his concentration. The pair finished on 38.7

Denmark’s Peter T Flarup brought his wealth of experience to the arena as he guided home-bred H.Carald Z down the centre line. The 10-year-old is making his championship debut here, having finished 14th at the Luhmühlen CCI4*-S in June.

H. Carald Z showed some lovely expressive trot work throughout. They lost some marks on the second of the four flying changes, but overall produced a pleasing test for 35.1.

All eyes were on China’s Alex Hua Tian as he took the arena with the experienced 16-year-old Chicko. Cheshire-based Alex is known for his accuracy in this phase, but he had his work cut out, with Chicko looking just a little tense.

The pair scored a respectable 32.5, though are capable of more in this phase, having scored 24.8 at Aston Le Walls CCI4*-S last month.

Alex said two of the flying changes “didn’t quite go my way”.

“I need to watch it back and see, but he tried,” said Alex.

“It’s a hard test in there, I kind of feel like it was sort of a difficult Paris test, made more difficult.”

The test being used in Aachen is the Olympic short test, which has four flying changes including on the final centre line.

“I don’t know why we have a change on the last centre line. It seems like an afterthought,” said Alex.

“I think it surprises the horses. Yes, we’re supposed to have the horses on the aids, you can’t argue with that, but at the same time we haven’t really had any progression to a change on the centre line when they’re coming down to the final halt, so I think it slightly bamboozles them.”

New Zealand’s third team rider Monica Spencer has posted the first sub-30 of the day, scoring 29.2 with 15-year-old Artist.

The mark keeps New Zealand in a strong position, however the score will be disappointing for Monica, who is usually in the low 20s with the capable thoroughbred.

“It wasn’t the best mark we’ve had, but he was pretty lit up out there. The crowd gave us a good old cheer when we went in, but we made our way through the test fairly unscathed,” said Monica.

They started off strong, receiving two 8s for their entry, but tension crept in and Artist just lacked his usual relaxation and looseness.

“He’s full thoroughbred so it’s always the energy levels that are the hard part to manage. But it’s done now, so on with the next.”

We now have a short break and the top five standings remain unchanged from yesterday.

• Tom McEwen (GBR) and JL Dublin (26.6)
• Jonelle Price (NZL) and Senor Crocodillo (27.2)
• Alexis Goury (FRA) and Je’Vall (28.5)
• Malin Hansen-Hotopp (GER) and Carlitos Quidditch K (28.6)
• Clarke Johnstone (NZL) and Rocket Man (28.7)
• Monica Spencer (NZL) and Artist (29.2)

Next in the arena is Boyd Martin for the USA with Cooley Nutcracker at 9.50 UK time (10.50 German time).

We have lots of excitement to come. Here's a reminder of the British times:

• Laura Collett and London 52 at 11.24am UK time (12.24pm German time)
• Caroline Harris and D.Day at 11.52am UK time (12.52pm German time)
• Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo at 3.46pm UK time (4.46pm German time)

We are back under way. Crowd-favourite Boyd Martin was welcomed into the arena with Cooley Nutcracker to big cheers. This pair have built a lovely partnership since Boyd took over the reins from Liz Halliday, following her accident. Liz did an excellent job of producing him and she is very much still a part of Cooley Nutcracker’s journey through his ownership syndicate, Liz’s Nutrackers.

Boyd and Cooley Nutcracker get their worlds campaign off to a solid start, but are another just to lose marks on those flying changes. They score 30.9.

Welcome to Horse & Hound’s live reports from the dressage World Championships in Aachen. We are bringing you all the news you need to know as it happens. The grand prix is on 11-12 August, with the special on 14 August and freestyle on 15 August.

Our dressage editor Oscar Williams is in the Aachen mixed zone interviewing the riders after their tests, so if you want to know their initial reactions to their scores at the dressage World Championships, we are here to bring that straight to you.

Oscar will be supported by H&H team members back in the UK, who will be following the live stream and sharing useful insights and analysis of the action, so we look forward to sharing the highs and lows of the 2026 FEI World Championships with you here.

Useful links:

• Grand prix special start times
• Live grand prix scores
• H&H dressage editor’s medal predictions
• Dressage World Championships form guide
• How to watch the dressage World Championships
• Learn about the competition format

Oscar spoke to a frustrated Becky Moody after her test.

“It was certainly it's not the mark that I wanted to put on the board for the team, but after a difficult start we did probably some of our best piaffes,” said Becky.

“The first pirouette was good. The trot half passes were better in the test than they were in the warm up. So I was pleased that I managed to pull as much of it back as as I did, but obviously very, very frustrated with the bits that I didn't get right.

“It’s always that balance with him. I love it when he is hotter like that. It really is how I want him, but I just lost a little bit more of his focus than I would normally do.

“It’s such an unusual arena. I really didn’t know what I was going to get from him. It’s unusual because it’s incredible and it’s huge, but it’s all quite far away. I felt his his focus went too far away from me. Whereas when everything is closer, I feel like he stays a little bit closer. I think it’s just knowing how they’re going to react in an arena like that, and I have to learn from it and hopefully come back better for the next one.”

Talking about moving on from her early mistakes in the test, Becky said:

“As a top competition rideryou have to be able to not focus on the mistake that's happened, but really go to what can I do to try to either pull it back or at least not lose anymore. So my focus was really on just doing the rest of the work without taking unnecessary risk, but trying to get the best marks that I could.”

When asked if she was planning to do anything differently ahead of the grand prix special, Becky said: “I think maybe just be a little bit more prepared for how he's going to be. I know the special really suits him. I know you go straight into the trot extension still, but I'd probably be be a bit more prepared, a little more cautious with the first extension.

“But otherwise, the test really helps to get them focused and with all the transitions and the changes and the half-passes, I think that test is more helpful when he's like that.”

Tuesday 11 August: grand prix dressage day one

Welcome to our live reports service from Aachen. I'm Carol Phillips, H&H’s website editor and I'll be bringing you all the breaking news from today's grand prix dressage action.

Our dressage editor Oscar Williams is on site in Aachen and has been up in the stands before the action begins. What a beautiful sight!

For those familiar with Aachen, you'll notice that the dressage arena is in the main arena this time, rather than in the normal dressage arena. This means potentially many more fans can watch, but it will be interesting to hear what the riders have to say about the atmosphere the compare to the normal dressage arena, which has been described as a "cauldron" with the stands being much closer to the arena than for the World Championships.

Our first combination into the arena will be Brazil's Manuel Rodrigues Tavares De Almeida Neto and Hermes at 8.20am German time (7.20am British time).

Hermes, is a 14-year-old grey gelding (Rico x Noitibó) and their grands prix scores range from 62.15% to 67.3%, so it will be interesting to see how they do here.

The forecast in Aachen for today is sunny, with temperatures up to 26 degrees. This is expected to rise in the coming days, rather like in the south of the UK. At least the recent heatwaves in the Uk have given the British horses and riders the chance to acclimatise.

After making a very respectable start to the test, unfortunately Hermes spotted one of the big screens, and looked quite concerned by it, which then affected the walk. But they got back on track, produced some very expressive and high piaffe steps. Both the two-time and one-time changes came off. But the horse is really trying hard despite being uncertain of the screens. I think Manuel will be letting out a big sigh of relief after that. Good job!

The first of the Irish combinations is Kevin Acres, who is making his senior team debut with Ganesh, a 15-year-old by Jazz. Kevin secured his place with a second MER at Hartpury CDI3*, scoring 66.96% to finish 14th, just before the team was announced. His grand prix scores have hovered in the mid-to-high 60s all season, so a solid team contribution in Aachen would be a fine result.

Manuel Rodrigues Tavares De Almeida Neto and Hermes scored 60.761

Ganesh has showed some tension in the walk and the hind legs jumped together at the end of the two-time changes. The one-times were clean. The canter pirouettes were small but lacking some energy. Kevin looks happy with that. That’s the first score for Ireland on the board: 66.298

First of the French riders is Betrand Liegard riding Ginger, who is a 15-year-old bay mare. Bertrand took a patient path with Ginger, debuting her at grand prix only two years ago, after first riding her as a green seven-year-old.

That careful plan looks to be paying off: their 2026 grand prix average sits around 67%, a touch up on last year’s Europeans, where their 66.23% was France’s discard score.

This mare is showing some good steps of passage. Some good steps and length in the extended walk but is losing the connection down the rein. The piaffe isn’t of the same quality as the passage. She has a nice frame in the canter work, but is lacking a bit of reach and expression. Changes were all clean, but could have been more uphill. More good passage steps on the final centre line. Looking very relaxed as they leave the arena. That's a score of 65.637 for France.

The first Spanish rider is in the arena – Team debutantes Lucia Gallardo with HIP by Johnson – the early scores are looking a step up from the previous pairs we've seen. This horse has athletic paces. Although they didn't ride enough steps in the first piaffe. A tricky moment in the canter zigzag. One-time changes are clean but lacking a bit of ground cover. Very uphill in the canter pirouettes. And Lucia gives him a nice pat as they walk out of the arena looking relaxed. They score 68.37.

Currently in the arena is Robinvale, ridden by 25-year-old Theodora Livanos for Greece. Theodora makes her senior championship debut as one of the youngest riders in the field, though she has a wealth of international mileage, partnered with 19-year-old Robinvale — who was bred by the Pidgleys. The pair contested the under-25 Europeans and World Cup circuit together before stepping up; anything over 66% in the grand prix would mark a solid start.

Individual rider for Greece, Theodora Livanos riding Robinvale, scored 65.714

Oscar caught up with Ireland's Kevin Acres after his test – here's what he had to say: “I’m so happy. He was very good. He's quite a hot horse so there was a lot to contain and a lot of atmosphere. I really did enjoy it, and couldn’t be happier with him.”

On being second into the arena, Kevin said: “I don’t mind – I always think to myself, someone has to go first, someone has to go second, so if you have to do it, just try to do a good job of it. It was nice to get it done and dusted before the heat sets in. I really enjoyed it, it was great fun – especially for my first world championships.

“It’s such an iconic place, it's a real dream to ride in this arena, to be at this show. Everyone wants to ride at this show. It's a great privilige to be able to do it.”

A championships debutante aged 52, Finnish rider Anu Sironen was based in Britain with Kyra Kyrklund and her husband Richard White at their West Sussex base. She returned there this season to prepare for the worlds with Fioretto, competing at Hickstead, Wellington and Hartpury, as well as at home in Finland and at Aachen – five grand prix starts in all, averaging 66.15%. Here they scored 65.373% as the first score for Finland.

In the arena we have 71-year-old Mary Hanna for Australia. Mary is riding 13-year-old Ivanhoe.

With six Olympics under her belt, no Australian woman matches Mary’s longevity — she’s the squad’s steadying hand. Competing exclusively in Australia prior to the World Championships this season, she’s been averaging 69.14% in the grand prix.

They popped in a couple too many single changes, which will have brought that score down. He's one of a few horses whose eye has been caught by the big screens at times. A big cheer as she completes. This pair scored 67.267.

We now have a short break, with the next rider into the arena being 8.55am UK time. This will be Roy First for Poland.

While the action takes a short break, here are some thoughts from our H&H dressage editor, Oscar Williams, who was in Aachen for yesterday's first horse inspection of the dressage horses.

First horse inspection

All 91 horses passed yesterday morning's trot-up (10 August) with minimal fuss and drama – no combinations were sent to the holding box.

Dressage trot-ups are a modest affair compared to the more decadent outfits on show in eventing. For the Brits, the choice is normally between which chinos – navy or beige – to pair with the ubiquitous polo shirt. This year, though, they mixed it up with a crisp white button-down each – really pushing the boat out. Good old British utilitarianism: minimal fuss, as ever.

But for lovers of the polo, don't worry – there were plenty on show, in a whole range of nation-appropriate colours. Some nations went for a smarter blazer-and-tie combination – Belgium, Poland and Morocco among them – while Lithuania's Justina Vanagaite-Samuile went sporty, in a white top and skirt. Very Wimbledon.

In my (very undeveloped) fashion sense, the podium went to: the Portuguese team in their blazers (grammar school vibes), the Australians in their dapper, colour-coded cravat-type things and Ireland’s James Connor, who cut a sharp figure of his own. But the winner, as always, was France’s Pauline Basquin in her Cadre Noir uniform – which she’ll also wear in the test.

Oscar caught up with Mary Hanna after her test, who said that travelling from the middle of Australia's winter into Europe's heatwave has been a challenge.

“We had a big trip over and hit the heat wave – it was a terrible shock for the horse and me. It's hard, you know, going backwards and forwards from Australia, to keep the standard up. But it's been really great training with Patrick Kittle. He's really helped me a lot.

“I think when Ivanhoe came in to the arena today, he got a little bit starstruck. He backed off quite a lot, so I was having to ride a bit more than I wanted to. But look, any of the mistakes were my mistakes. I did too many one-time changes. I should have had him a little bit more forward and in front of me and gone a bit further.

“But look, he's such a soldier of a horse. He's such a sweetheart, and I am 71, so I need a horse that's kind to me, and he's certainly that. So couldn't be happier with that.

“It's great to be here. It's a most wonderful event. We've got a great team, great people, really good team feeling together, and it's really lovely to be part of that. We've got a lovely Australian crowd in there.”

First rider into the arena after the morning break is Roy First for Poland riding Infinity Win T. Born in Israel and now based in Belgium, Roy switched nationality to Poland via his father’s family roots in 2025, having previously represented Israel internationally. His 2026 grand prix form has been steady – six starts averaging 65.17%, ranging from 63.78% up to 67.41% – as he continues settling into life under new coach Domien Michiels.

Unfortunately Infinity Win T and Roy First had a misunderstanding in the extended trot and broke to canter momentarily. But they complete. Lots of pats and kiss at the end. They score 67.28% which puts them into second at this stage and not far off their season's best of 67.41%. A first score on the board for Poland.

The next rider Felicita Simoncic is just 21. She is riding Four Legends and it is remarkable that she's made it here for her World Championships debut – weeks after finishing second on her senior grand prix debut at the Austrian Championships last October, Felicita suffered severe bruising to her head and spine in a fall from a different horse. She is now back in full health, and her 2026 grand prix average sits around 66.9%

A couple of slightly short steps behind in the two-time changes from Felicita's 16-year-old stallion, Four Legends, who is rather busy in his mouth. Very small and engaged canter pirouettes. Expressive in the front leg in the extended trot but could cover a bit more ground. He shows a nice uphill tendency in his work. That takes the lead at this stage with a score of 70.73 for Austria. That's a big improvement on her 2026 grand prix average that sits around 66.9%

Now we have Vasco Mira Godinho for Portugal, riding 10-year-old grey athletic-looking Lusitano stallion Marques Dos Cedros. They bring forward a grand prix average of 69.99%.

Started well, then momentarily stepped back in the first piaffe, then got in a bit of a muddle coming out, but produced a clean walk tour. Direct transition into passage from walk. Clean two-time changes. A pat on the neck after the one-time changes. Overall a good job, the piaffes need to keep travelling forward a little, but the horse is only a 10-year-old so you'd expect that will improve with strength and experience. They score 68.68 for second at this stage.

Oscar has caught up with the 21-year-old current leader Felicita Simoncic from Austria:

“It was absolutely great to have a personal best at the World Championships. It's pretty crazy to me, as it’s not the easiest test for me. Usually, the grand prix is where I struggle a bit. So to be able to do it like this with him at the World Championships in an arena like this is just – it's insane. I can't believe it.

“He really let me ride him during the test, so all in all it was super nice. I always love doing the passages and pirouettes with him. They're just super fun to ride, and our one tempies are always a bit of a struggle, and they all worked. But all in all, I think it's the fact that he let me ride him so well during the test, even if it wasn't our easiest warm up, and that makes me really proud of him.”

Felicita went on to explain that Four Legends really needs her to be fully focussed to produce his best work.

“He's a stallion, so sometimes he can be a bit tricky if he notices that I'm a bit nervous or I'm not fully with him. In the warm-up, it's like he was trying to say, ‘you need to focus on me, not on what else is going on’, but then in the test, he completely shut that off and he listened so well. I'm very proud of him.”

And we have a new leader in Nadja Aaboe Sloth of Denmark, who has scored 71.96% with Favour Gersdorf on her World Championships debut. Nadja made her senior championship debut in Crozet, where she scored 71.23% so today's performance is an improvement on that score, although not quite reaching her 72.17% grand prix average from this season.

Currently in the arena we have 47-year-old Denielle Gallagher for Canada. Denielle’s road to a championship debut has been a long one – she has been shortlisted for two previous Olympics without selection. Denielle is a former groom for US rider Ashley Holzer and has had six grand prix starts this season with Come Back De Massa, with scores tightly bunched in the mid-to-high 60s, averaging 66.6%. Come Back De Massa is an attractive and energetic buckskin. Big smile from Denielle as they complete on a score of 68.07% which puts them fifth at this stage.

The next rider is Rebecca Mauléon for Sweden, who is making her World Championship debut at Aachen. She earnt the call up for the final spot on the Swedish team thanks to her “consistent and high results”, according to team captain Stefan Jansson. Her grand prix average with 12-year-old Johnnie Walker BCN has jumped over three points this season, to 69.56%.

Johnnie Walker BCN has incredible energy and is showing very high steps in the piaffe and passage work. There were some excellent extended walk steps early on, but unfortunately got a bit too quick in the steps towards the end and almost jogged before the collected walk. The changes were clean, but could cover more ground. Nice pirouettes, slightly stepped out behind for a moment in the second pirouette. They finish on a score of 68.71%. A few minor blips, but the quality of the work was very good – a very exciting 12-year-old horse for the future.

Now in the arena is 21-year-old Rowena Weggelaar riding 18-year-old Don Quichot for the Netherlands.

Rowena has partnered Don Quichot from juniors to, now, her second senior championship team. They were 31st at last summer’s Europeans with 68.84%. This season’s grand prix scores have ranged from 64.76% to a personal-best 70.72%, with steady improvement each time out.

This is an attractive looking horse and they've got off to a good start. Super square halt at C. Some nice relaxation of the topline in the extended walk, although the mouth isn't completely still. This young rider is doing a good job and it's noticeable that she's using a forward hand to encourage the horse to take the nose out when he gets a little short and tight.

They've scored 69.5% for a fluent test that was enjoyable to watch. That puts in third at the moment.

It's time for our first British rider Fiona Bigwood riding 10-year-old Donna Bella. Fiona's home-bred mare’s rise has been rapid. After winning the grand prix at Hartpury CDI3* on 72.22% in March, Fiona earned a Nations Cup debut at Fontainebleau, where they scored a solid 71.63%. Successive grand prix personal bests of 73.13% at Hickstead and 74.61% at Wellington then sealed their selection.

Fiona is riding with a noticeably loose curb rein. The 10-year-old mare is blowing her nose a little, but they are off to a good start in a nice frame. It looks like Fiona is riding the mare quite within herself but there is some lovely trot work. She looks very light on her feet in the early passage and piaffe steps. Donna Bella comes quite base narrow in her piaffe. Clean two-times, but the mare is blowing her nose again towards the end of them. Unfortunately two too many one-time changes. That will be expensive. More lovely light and expressive extended trot steps. Great riding by Fiona of an inexperienced horse, who has a lot more to come in the future. They score 69.35% for fourth place at this stage.

Fiona Bigwood is the final rider from this session. Oscar will be catching up with her shortly and we'll bring you her thoughts. The next rider into the arena will be Dara Ninggar Prameswari of Indonesia riding Miestral d'Ferraria at 10.30am UK time.

“I am absolutely delighted,” Fiona Bigwood told H&H’s Oscar Williams in the Aachen mixed zone. “She's only 10. She hasn't done a huge amount of grand prix, and to come to one of the biggest venues in the world and do that. She's really trying for me, and I just can't ask any more from her at the moment. I'm so pleased with her.”

Fiona claimed responsibility for the extra one-time changes: “The one tempis is really irritating. I thought I had it, and then we had two more. It was my fault, rider error. The whole year she's hardly made any mistakes, so it's okay, you know, just to go around that and try like she did, because she was nervous in there. So I just had that one mistake.”

Riding down the centre line today was a full-circle moment for Fiona as she also competed Donna Bella's dam, Atterupgaards Orthilia, at Aachen for the 2015 Europeans: “She was also 10 years old, and I rode her at the Europeans here, where we won the silver medal. So it's really nice to bring her daughter here and do the same thing in their first years at grand prix. It's a really special moment. They're both very similar too. They both go and try their hardest, and so it's been lovely to have brought her here.”

They are a definitely a pair who are going places. We look forward to seeing them in the years to come.

Dara Ninggar Prameswari is the first Indonesian rider to compete at a dressage World Championships. Partnering the inexperienced Lusitano Miestral D’Ferraria, her grand prix scores this season have ranged from 56.63% to 66.7%, averaging 64.06% across five starts. They scored 63.12% today.

In the arena now we have 56-year-old Belgian rider Jeroen Devroe riding 10-year-old gelding Lestor (Ghandi x Painted Black). They have only one international grand prix score recorded of 70.24% this year.

Lestor has half an eye on the big screens and the camera at the A end of the arena. The one-time changes look a bit tight and green, not much ground cover. NIcely ridden pirouettes. Some good piaffe and passage steps to finish.

They score 69.69% for third at this stage.

Here is the first of the German riders – Raphael Netz riding 15-year-old Great Escape Camelot.

Raphael is a protégé of Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, and is making his senior championship debut. Camelot's grand prix average has been tight all season: 73.72% from four starts, none more than a quarter-point from the mean.

The quality of the work is generally high, although the piaffe isn’t of quite the same standard of the rest of the work. Very good balance and straightness in the two-time changes. Oh no! A big mistake going into the one times – good recovery, but that's going to be expensive.

Raphael looks very happy with that. And crowd express their appreciation. They finish with a score of 73.34% to get the Germans underway.

The first USA rider to go is Meagan Davis riding Toronto Lightfoot, who is by Totilas. Megan was a late call up for the World Championships.

This horse has attractive and even white markings and scopey movement. Unfortunately they have an expensive error in the two-time changes, but the one-times are clean and correct. They finish the test nicely and earn a score of 67.62%

Four more riders before the lunchbreak. Here we have the second rider for Brazil, Nuno Chaves De Almeida riding nine-year-old bay Lusitano stallion Noga.

The horse is showing its greenness in the first piaffe, with issues with the rhythm and not even in the steps. Good overtrack in the extended walk. Clean two-times with nice uphill tendency. The canter zigzag isn't quite centred over the centre line. Getting a bit short behind in the one-times.

A good job for such a young horse competing at grand prix in this big atmosphere. They score 66.27%.

Second rider for Ireland is Alex Baker riding Top Gear, another eye-catching son of Totilas.

They could be Ireland’s most exciting combination on their day, despite having the lowest grand prix average of the four Irish combinations heading to Aachen — 64.8% from six starts — but their personal-best was 67.48% last time out, so we look forward to seeing how they go.

Top Gear is a nodding a bit in the first piaffe after some nice early trot work. The transitions between the movements could be cleaner and more precise for higher marks. The two-time changes were clean but he was pushing the hind legs out behind in some. One-times lacked a bit of ground cover, but they were clean. Also lacking some energy in the pirouettes. A miscommunication in the final piaffe on the final centre line, but well ridden by Alex and they get through it.

They score 64.596%

It's a first championship call-up for Pavlina Révész, 49, riding as an individual for Hungary. Jiodinus PP is a showjumping-bred 12-year=old gelding but they’ve been competing internationally since May 2025. Consistent mid-60s scores all season.

Jiodinus PP has an attractive energetic step with an expressive front leg. But he's went very irregular in the passage steps before the first piaffe, which got rather stuck. Also struggling in the second piaffe after the walk tour. The two-time tempies are confused, which is going to be expensive. Another problem at the end of the canter zigzag.

They finish on a score of 59.26%

Our final rider before the lunch break is Thailand's Suphajit Vuntanadit, 25, riding Wall Street JV.

Suphajit, known as “Patty”, is riding on the team alongside her sister Suphakamol. Patty was the first Thai rider to secure her qualifying scores – she and Wall Street JV have spent four years building towards this moment.

Their form has cooled since qualifying (sub-65% all season), but Wall Street has competed at big venues before with former rider Juliette Ramel and shouldn’t be fazed.

They get off to a positive start with an attractive picture in the early trot work, although he looks a fraction irregular in the right trot half pass. This horse has an energetic passage, although the piaffe is less energetic.

Some nice extended walk steps, but a little tight in the collected walk. The two-time changes look very confident and secure from this 19-year-old gelding. Slight confusion in the canter zigzag. Good clean one-time changes. Better final piaffe steps on the final centre line.

They score 65.08% for team Thailand.

Of all the horses I've seen so far today, this is the one I'd like to take home!

We're going into the lunch break. The next rider into the arena is Alizee Roussel of France riding Bel Amour at 12.50pm. In the meantime, we'll catch up with some of the riders that Oscar has been speaking to after their tests.

Oscar caught up with Germany's Raphael Netz, who is in the lead at the lunchbreak on the first day with Great Escape Camelot.

“It was incredible,” said a delighted Raphael. ”We had a super super feeling. It made me incredibly proud to be able to present Germany on a World Championship on home soil, and it's also our first World championship.

“Camelot gave me a great feeling. He was on point today. We performed. We did everything we could, and now we're in the lead of the first group. That was the mission, and mission succeeded.”

Raphael’s beautifully quiet seat really stood out during his test, and not surprisingly, it’s the result of a lot of work.

“I go to the gym twice a week and I ride one horse each day without stirrups for as long as I can remember. After the rising trot, I take my stirrups away and I finished the rest of the ride without stirrups,” he explained.

“I'm very grateful to my very first trainer who set me on the horse when I was four years old, because she lunged me for over a year before I was allowed to take the reins in my hand. She set the foundation for my seat today because she lunged me with with a saddle, without a saddle. She threw tennis balls to me, and I had to catch them. If I didn't, I had to get down from the pony and pick them up.”

And we are back in action with Alizee Roussel, who is the only French dressage rider who wasn't on their team at the Crozet Europeans.

A former rider for Paul Schockemöhle, Alizee brings a 2026 grand prix average around 66.9% – the weakest of France’s scores, although her best two scores have both come in the past three months.

She is riding Bel Amour, a 14-year-old chestnut stallion (Bretton Woods x Donnerhall).

Bel Amour has a beautiful passage. The piaffe is better than many we've seen. The twos started well, then the horse took over slightly and the stride pattern was interrupted, which will be expensive. Good riding by Alizee Roussel in the canter zig zag. Nice one-time changes and the pirouettes. The transition from passage into piaffe on the last centre line is a little bit messy. But that was a good job! They score 67.41%

It's time for Olympian Severo Jurado López, who has returned to the Spanish team after a three-year absence.

Flaconi W, a 12-year-old chestnut mare (Foundation 2 x Breitling W), is in her first season at grand prix, with three outings so far. She won the grand prix (71.52%) and special (71.85%) at Olomouc CDI3*, before scoring 69.57% and 71.64% at Rotterdam CDI4*.

A tricky moment in the first piaffe, as Flaconi W jumps forward out of the movement (I wonder if the big screen caught her eye?), but she's settled nicely into the extended walk. Much better in the second piaffe. She's showing some real potential for quality there.

In the canter and lovely expressive two-time changes with lots of air time. That will help the scores. Clean one-times. Tidy pirouettes. Could come through with the hindlegs a little more in the extended trot. And a solid final centre line.

They scored 68.91%

Finland's Ville Vaurio, 36, is riding 13-year-old Dante NL (De Niro x Alantas). They have had four starts in 2026, scoring between 65.65% and 67.94% for an average of 67.14%. The Finish team will looking to beat their Euros total of 201.755 and 12th place.

This is a smart-looking bay gelding (I admit, I am fond of bay geldings). Halts could be squarer and slightly dragging the legs in the rein back. Not quite taking even weight behind in the first piaffe. Nicely relaxed in the extended walk – could be out for a Sunday afternoon hack! Similar in the piaffe to the first one.

On to the canter, and a mistake at the end of the two-time changes., where a one-time change slipped in. Some balance issues in the canter zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Pirouettes are tidy but lacking impulsion. Clever riding on the final piaffe and a nice final halt.

They score 68.51% which is their best score of the season. That puts them in 10th individually.

Next is Simone Pearce for Australia riding 10-year-old Will Marq. Simone was the Australian team’s top scorer in Paris, on former ride Destano. Her new ride, Spanish-bred Will Marq — owned by fiancé and international showjumper Martin Fuchs — is in his second season at grand prix. A three-time grand prix winner — picking off a few big names en route — he’s not once dropped below 70% this season, so we wait to see this performance with interest...

Will Marq is a 10-year-old bay stallion (Rio Marq x Lanciano). He really articulates his joints in the trot work, but the first two halts weren't quite square.

The passage steps could cover a little more ground. First piaffe was achieved. Maintains the same rhythm through the passage, piaffe, passage transitions.

Big two-time canter changes in good balance. Slightly swinging one-time changes but they were clean. Tidy pirouettes. Best piaffe of the test on the final centre line.

And the crowd goes wild at the final halt. That test scores 72.39% and moves into second place individually.

Turkey’s only grand prix rider, Rotem Jale Ibrahimzadeh, 30, makes her worlds debut in Aachen, three years after reaching grand prix level – and just one year after breaking new ground at the Europeans, where she finished 50th (65.11%).

Rotem’s partner is her self-declared “heart horse”, the 18-year-old chestnut schoolmaster Double Dutch (Johnson x Hexagon’s Rubiquil), nicknamed Bubbles, and their grand prix form stays steady in the mid-60s.

He's a solid chap with long white stockings on three legs and a really active step, particularly in the passage. Oh no! He's decided to do a dropping which interrupted their first piaffe. And the second piaffe is lacking activity.

Into canter, big clean two-time changes. Clean one-times. Horse is trying really hard in the pirouettes. Another sticky piaffe on the final centre line.

Rotem gives him a huge hug and looks very happy. They score 62%

Poland's second rider is Hubert Jankowski who is riding Guerlain, a 15-year-old black mare (Blue Hors Hotline x Painted Black).

Hubert and Guerlain narrowly missed selection for last year’s Europeans, so make their championship debut in Aachen.

Their 2026 grand prix form (65.87% average) sits a touch below last year’s, spread across a busy international calendar – Rotterdam, Fontainebleau, Lier and more – though he’s shown he can hold his own at some of the sport’s bigger venues.

Guerlain is an attractive and elegant looking horse. The passage steps are nice, but the first piaffe took a while to get established.

The extended walk steps aren't seeing much overtrack and the collected walk is losing regularity.

Horse doesn't look entirely confident in the second piaffe. Into canter, and clean two-times. A little mistake going into the one-time changes. Some issues in the canter pirouettes. Lost the canter momentarily in the second one.

The final piaffe is the best of the test. They score 66.51%

Florida-based Micah Deligdish has long been a flagbearer for Israeli dressage and was part of the nation’s first team to compete at a Nations Cup.

Her season with 14-year-old grey Lusitano stallion Carpe Diem De Massa has been solid with a 65.12% grand prix average across seven starts. Will she be able to recreate that score in the famous Aachen arena?

Fun fact: three of the horses competing at the FEI Dressage World Championship including Carpe Diem De Massa were all bred at the same French stud: élevage Massa, in Provence, southern France.

The other two are Come Back de Massa, who is competing with Denielle Gallagher-Legriffon for Canada, and Jedai de Massa, competing with Wim Verwimp on the Belgian team.

Unfortunately a little mistake in the two-time changes, but he looks like he's enjoying the extended canter. Good job in the canter zig zag. Clean one-times but could have covered more ground. First pirouette was good, but a little interruption in the second one. Some good piaffe steps on the final centre line. Micah looks delighted. They score 65.98%

Taking us into the next break is Ulrike Prunthaller of Austria riding 14-year-old bay mare Fleur TSF. Despite a long international career, this will be 42-year-old Ulrike’s first championship. She has an 11-start grand prix average around 68.7% this season, and her scores have been on a clear upward curve, climbing to a 70% win in June.

Ulrike Prunthaller and Fleur TSF give a good early impression. The mare has a very expressive front leg in the early trot work.

Very square still halt but slightly before C before the rein back. The mare's mouth is quite busy in the passage, piaffe, but some nice steps, particularly in the passage and good transitions between.

Fair overtrack in the extended walk. Into canter. Two-time changes were active and clean, but could have covered more ground. Zig zag was well ridden. A mistake in the one-times, which will be costly. Tidy pirouettes.

Good passage steps on the final center line, losing activity in the piaffe, but Ulrike looks pleased with that. They score 68.67%

We're going into a short break. Next in will be João Miguel Torrao for Portugal riding Lirio MVL. They are due in at 2.25pm UK time.

H&H's magazine and eventing editor Pippa Roome has also arrived in Aachen and was impressed to find pictures of horses and the World Champs logo guiding fans from Aachen station to the shuttle bus – "Most useful"

She's also been out spotting some famous names on the Aachen's walk of fame...

We are hearing that Turkey's individual rider Rotem Jale Ibrahimzadeh has been eliminated. When we find out why, we'll let you know.

Oscar spoke to Australia's Simone Pearce after her test that scored 72.39% to put her in second place.

“I am so happy. I think it’s his sixth grand prix ever, and we've had a little bit problem with him being shy in big arenas. So I went in there and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, please, please let it be that he's brave’. And as soon as I went, I was like, “Okay, he's on, he's with me.’ And I was just so happy with him.”

It's a huge life change for this horse who a little over a year ago, was living on the Spanish island of Minorca.

“I had hoped that maybe we could do something like this, but you know, I didn't know. I was thinking probably there's going to be some hiccups, and in the end I had some mistakes which we don't usually have. So I saw the scoreboard. I was like, ‘what?’ I was shocked.

“It's so nice because he's such a positive horse, and I'm just really super proud that the judges see that he's happy doing his job. If we made the special, it'd be a dream, but we didn't come here expecting it, so whatever happens, happens.”

In the arena is João Miguel Torrao for Portugal riding Lirio MVL. They produce a cracking test to score 71.398% to move into fourth place individually. Understandably, João looks absolutely delighted with the 11-year-old grey Lusitano stallion.

Next is Estelle Wettstein, 29, for Switzerland. Estelle has represented her country at five championships since 2018. Quaterboy has been her long-time ride, with the pair averaging 66.73% in the grand prix this season.

This horse has lots of spring and lift in the passage steps. The walk is looking rather fragile... and he's piaffing as they move into the collected walk. This walk is going to be expensive.

Phew, she'll be pleased to be back into the passage and some nice piaffe steps are coming. And off into canter. Lovely big expressive two-time changes. She earning the scores back now. Super one-time changes.

Lots of front leg action in the extended trot, but not really matching the steps behind. Lovely piaffe and passage on the final centre line.

They've scored 67.795%

Gabriele H.-Kiefer has carried the flag for Cypriot dressage for a while now, riding this horse Cyprus Ophelia at the past two Europeans – the first rider from her nation to do so.

Last on 60% in 2023, she improved to 65.45% in 2025. The pair have Aachen experience, scoring 67% in the CDI4* grand prix there in May. They’ll be looking to improve on their previous championship score today.

Cyprus Ophelia is showing better bend in the left trot half pass than to the right. A little hesitation before the rein back. Some nice extended trot and passage steps. Well ridden in the first piaffe when they nearly stepped backwards. The walk is looking fragile and she's jogged in the collected walk. Back into passage, well ridden again in the piaffe. Clean two-time changes. 15 clean one-time changes, but could cover a little more ground. Coming a bit short in the neck and dropping the poll at times. Good final centre line. They complete on a score of 63.91%

Now we see Carina Cassøe Krüth of Denmark riding Heiline's Danciera. Carina is the only combination forward from Denmark’s gold-medal team at Herning 2022.

Carina has returned from an eight-month suspension over a welfare case, against which she appealed.

The partnership have one qualifying score this year, 74.04% at Göteborg – though her Danish Championship win in May (75.91%) points to better form than that alone suggests.

There is a lot of good work in this test, but the piaffe is proving tricky for this pair.

Clean two-time canter changes. The one-time changes looked lovely, earning several eights. The canter work has definitely pulled their score back up. Lovely last extended trot. Better final piaffe but a bit unsteady in the contact.

They finish on 72.17% to sit third individually.

Three years on from her international grand prix debut, Canada's Camille Carier Bergeron – a former under-25 world number one – has settled into solid form with Finnlanderin.

Their grand prix average this season sits at 69.2% across four starts, and her most recent competition brought her best scores of the season: 71.67% in the grand prix, 70.13% in the special.

Finnlanderin is a eye-catching type, showing uphill trot work with an expressive front leg to begin.

Creeping forward a bit in the piaffe steps, but it was achieved. Good active extended walk steps. Slight muddle moving into canter.

Plenty of ground cover in the two-time changes. And bold extended canter. The canter zig zag looked easy, and good one-times. Tidy pirouettes.

A decent final centreline. Great riding by Camille Carier Bergeron. They score 70.56%

For Sweden we have Therese Nilshagen riding Navarro. Therese, 43, was a Swedish team stalwart on former ride Dante Weltino.

Early signs are promising for her new ride Navarro, a 10-year-old black stallion by Negro, with a grand prix average near 72% this season, while their grand prix special is a touch higher.

Whether that’s enough to reach the freestyle is a genuine toss-up, so a kür might be worth having up their sleeve – she hasn’t debuted one on Navarro yet.

Navarro makes an impressive start in the early trot work. Plenty of expression combined with suppleness in the trot half-passes.

Lovely ground cover in the extended trot and spring in the passage. The piaffe looks a little green, as is understandable with a 10-year-old.

Blowing his nose in the collected walk, but it's maintained. Similar in the piaffe to the first. And into canter. Clean two-time changes, that looked easy. Good ground cover in the extended canter. Lots of sideways travel in the canter zigzag. Clean one-time changes, but could be bigger.

Well ridden by Therese in the pirouettes as Navarro tried to take over slightly. The piaffe is definitely work in progress, but the potential is clearly there for the future.

This is a very exciting horse for the future. They score 72.38% to sit in third place individually.

Final rider before the afternoon break is Julio Mendoza Loor, riding as an individual for Ecuador, and Pan-American individual gold medallist Jewel’s Goldstrike.

They have been competing in the US this season, including a sixth-place finish at the World Cup Finals in Texas. Their 2026 grand prix average of 71.6% is up on last year’s 70.83%.

Julio and Jewel’s Goldstrike make a good start to the test. Loads of reach in the trot half passes.

Some moments of tension creeping in during the passage. Nice relaxation in the extended walk.

The horse is trying really hard in the passage, almost a little too much. Clean two-time changes, but could cover more ground. Clean one-time changes. Tidy pirouettes.

Unfortunately a little confusion at the end of the final centre line.

They score 71.3%

We have another short break. Next in will be the Netherland's Thamar Zweistra riding Hexagons Mr Magnum N.O.P.T at 3.50pm UK time.

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb will be third after the break at 4.10pm.

Oscar spoke to Carina Cassøe Krüth after her test, which scored 72.17% for fourth place individually.

“I'm quite happy,” said Carina. “She was quite tense in the beginning. As I went to go in [the arena party said] ‘You can go’, and then I went, and the gate was closed.

“Then she got a little bit scared so it's not the best start. So she was quite tense in the trot. But then she relaxed a little bit more in the cancer and started breathing again. Yes, and then she felt quite like herself again.

“She is 15 this year. So I've been riding her since she was four. It's like longer than most relationships. So we know each other in and out.”

The Netherland's Thamar Zweistra riding nine-year-old Hexagons Mr Magnum N.O.P.T is in the arena.

Slightly spooky early moment for this one that affected the half pass, and then the rein back.

Hexagons Mr Magnum has stepped up following an injury to Thamar's planned ride, posting two 71%-plus scores in his first – and only – international grands prix. NOP status, awarded to the Netherlands’ top prospects, soon followed.

Some green moments during the test as could be expected from a horse at this age and stage of his education. Problems in the one-time changes. He looks like a horse with huge potential. It will be interesting to see him a few years time. Nice pat on the neck during the test from Thamar to help give him confidence.

They've scored 65.34%, but there will be plenty of higher scores to come for this partnership.

Here is Marcos Santiago Ortiz Diez of Mexico riding Waitoni, a 15-year-old chestnut gelding(Wynton x Weltmeyer).

Based near Mexico City, this pair have been unbeaten domestically this season, sealing qualification with 68.3% and 66.54% scores at home CDIs.

A recent step onto the European circuit at Sint-Truiden yielded a freestyle win, though his grand prix mark there (64.96%) was some way off his home form.

Not enough steps of piaffe shown. Waitoni looked to take over slightly. Clean two-times changes but lacking some ground cover and slightly croup high. The canter has a slight downhill tendency, which shows up in the one-time changes.

They score 61.24%

Second British rider Becky Moody and Jagerbomb are next into the arena. They bring forward a 76.43% grand prix average this season. What can they produce today? Keeping everything crossed here...

Not really immobile in the first halt... and Bomb broke to canter in the first extended trot. Gah!

Good halt and rein back and no problems in the second extended trot. Good first piaffe steps on the spot.

Bomb is looking a bit hot, clever riding in the walk.

Correct passage and piaffe steps.

Big powerful two-time changes. And a super extended canter.

Well ridden canter zig zag. Clean one-time changes.

Well balanced pirouettes. Great ground cover in the last extended trot.

And he stands in the final halt.

Becky Moody and Jagerbomb score 73.82% to move into first place at this stage.

Here comes Wim Verwimp of Belgium riding Jedai de Massa. Wim brings forward a grand prix average of 69.5% this season. They edged out Jeroen Devroe to become Belgian champion in May, 32 years after his first title — so it will be interesting to see how they go.

Wim Verwimp brings Jedai de Massa back to walk for a few strides before entering the arena. This is another of the three horses forward from the élevage Massa stud, in Provence, France.

Expressive regular passage and some super piaffe steps shown before they move into the canter work. Clean two-time changes. A big spook at the end of the extended canter – what a shame!

A mistake at the start of the one-time changes. That will be costly. A miscommunication in the final piaffe, then does some lovely steps.

They finish on a score of 68.12%

Next in is New Zealand individual rider Wendi Williamson with Don Vito MH. An environmental engineer from Waimauku, Wendi has had the 13-year-old chestnut gelding (Don Frederico x Anamour) since he was a foal.

With the exception of a brief spell in Europe after the 2017 World Cup Final in Omaha, Wendi has campaigned exclusively across New Zealand and Australia – this season winning at home with 69.8% at Taupo, then a more modest 66.37% in Sydney.

Some lovely steps in their first extended trot to get this pair underway. Showing great spring and lift. Transitions on and out of rein back were a bit abrupt, but he's loving showing off his extended trot again. Issues in the first piaffe and the passage that followed it.

The second piaffe looks hard work. And into canter. Clean two-time changes, showing nice expression. And some good steps un the extended canter. Zig zag achieved and followed by very nice one-time changes.

A bit sticky in both pirouettes with the hindlegs jumping together. Lovely last extended trot. This is clearly his favourite moment.

Some better piaffe steps on the final centre line. And a great final halt.

They score 64.95%

Two more to go today. For the home side, it’s Frederic Wandres riding Bluetooth OLD.

Frederic and Bluetooth have been a picture of consistency in the grand prix for three seasons, averaging in the mid-70s throughout and up to 76.83% so far in 2026, with all this season’s results in a tight band.

What can they produce today?

Frederic starts with a very square still halt from Bluetooth. Lovely first extended trot. Lovely steps bend in the trot half pass. The rein back wasn't diagonal pairs.

Good riding through the first passage, piaffe, passage. Lots of over track in the extended walk. A few sticky moments in the second piaffe.

Into canter, clean two-time changes of good quality. Clean one-time changes. You could hear a pin drop in the arena.

Hindlegs almost jumping together in the second pirouette. Lovely steps in the extended trot.

Final centre line... some better piaffe steps there. And stands still aas the crowd cheers.

They score 75.96% to take the individual lead and put Germany in pole position for the team competition at this early stage.

Our final rider of the day is Kasey Perry-Glass of the USA riding Heartbeat W.P.

The Aachen arena is absolutely rocking after Frederic’s test.

Kasey was called up last week after the withdrawal of Jordan LaPlaca and Gold Play.

Kasey gets off to a good start. A little limited in the first extended trot but keeps a good balance. Halted square, then stepped one front foot forward before the rein back.

Shows slightly more ground cover in the next extended trot. Good active steps in the extended walk. Lots of spring in the passage. Losing some rhythm and power in the piaffe.

Into canter, and clean off the floor two-time changes. Could cover more ground in the extended canter. Lots of bounce through the one-time changes.

Good pirouettes, It's very pleasant picture to watch. The best of the piaffes on the centre line.

Kasey looks very happy with that. They score 70.61%

That's today's action complete. We have more rider interviews to come, including Becky Moody's thoughts on her test, so do stick around or check back later.

Once we wrap up here, we'll have more detailed reports on today's top performance on the website. And our live reports will continue on Wednesday morning, in time for Brazil's Murilo Augusto Machado grand prix test on Jorge V.O at 7.20am UK time.

Our dressage editor and Aachen reporter Oscar Williams caught up with Becky Moody after her test.

"It was certainly not the mark that I wanted to put on the board for the team, but after a difficult start we did some of our best piaffes. The first pirouette was good, the trot half passes were better in the test than they were in the warm up, so I was pleased that I managed to pull as much of it back as I did, but obviously I was very, very frustrated with the bits that I didn't get right,” said Becky.

“It's always that balance with him. I love it when he is hotter like that, it really is how I want him. But I just lost a little bit more of his focus than I would normally do.

“I think it's such an unusual arena. I really didn't know what I was going to get from him. It's unusual because it's incredible and it's huge, but it's all quite far away. So his focus went too far away from me. When everything is closer, I feel he stays a little bit closer. So it's just knowing how they're going to react in an arena like that, and I have to learn from it and hopefully come back better for the next one.”

On being able to move on from mistakes, Becky said: “As a top competition rider, you have to not focus on the mistake that's happened, but go to ‘what can I do to try to either pull it back or at least not lose anymore‘. So my focus was really on just doing the rest of the work without taking unnecessary risk, but trying to get the best marks that I could.”

Asked whether she planned to change anything before the grand prix special, Becky replied: “I think I'll be a little bit more prepared for how he's going to be. I know the special really suits him. You go straight into the trot extension still, but I'd probably be a little more cautious with the first extension. But otherwise, the test really helps to get them focused and with you with all the transitions and the changes and the half-passes. So I think that test is more helpful when he’s like that.”

We wish Becky the very best of luck in the grand prix special on Friday.

The overnight leader Frederic Wandres spoke after his test about why it's impossible to prepare horses for the main arena in Aachen.

“I think we cannot train for this stadium, there is nothing like this anywhere in the world, but for everyone it's the same. What we couldn’t train in the familiarisation was moving pictures on the big screen. So that was something different for the horses.

“My horse came a little bit back to me when he saw himself. Maybe he was thinking, ‘Oh, is there another horse’ or something? I don't know. And especially in those important lines, the one tempi line and the second extended trot, you are going towards the screen. So he was holding himself back a little bit.

“But other than that, I think it was a quite fluent test – a consistent, harmonious round. Here and there, it could have been a little bit more. But I think, especially for a team test, you have to bring consistency and don't risk too much here and there.”

Frederic described Bluetooth as a very elegant horse, but a bit of a spoiled kid.

“He's a very elegant horse. I hope he could show that. He likes to present himself, but he's also a little bit shy sometimes, especially at home. If there is a trash can always there, and next day it's not there, then I have to take care.

“But when he's in the competition arena he's fine. He feels the pressure in a positive way, like he wants to show off a little bit himself.

“Other than that, he is very spoiled. He's a spoiled kid, but that's okay. He gets like 24/7 care [at shows] and he enjoys that and knows that. Next week when we are home, he's expecting that someone is there 24/7, so then he's a little bit like ‘Hello, hello, I want to go out, I want to do this or that.’ Then we have to slowly tell him, ‘Sorry, we have 15 other horses which have been missing me for two weeks’.”

I will be back tomorrow (Wednesday 12 August) ahead of our first rider into the arena at 7.20am UK time. I hope you'll join us then.

Wednesday 12 August: grand prix dressage day two

Good morning all. H&H website editor Carol Phillips here, ready to bring you all the news from Aachen on the day the team dressage medals will be decided.

As it currently stands, Britain has a gap of 2.14% that we need to close in order to catch up with Germany, who lead the team standings. Both countries have two big hitters to come today.

Carl Hester (Fame) and Katharina Hemmer (Denoix PCH) go head to head in the group just before lunch, before Lottie Fry (Glamourdale) and Isabell Werth (Wendy De Fontaine) close out the day in the final group.

For a fuller picture of the team standings, read Oscar Williams’ end of grand prix day one report.

Before we get started, here are a few thoughts from our dressage editor Oscar Williams, who is on the ground in Aachen, about yesterday's action:

Big winners on day one of the dressage were obviously Germany, with Frederic Wandres capitalising on the mistakes from Becky Moody and Jagerbomb to open up a 2.14% gap between the two teams. Lottie and Carl will now have to deliver either personal bests or hope for a German slip-up to get gold.

Elsewhere, Simone Pearce and Will Marq had a terrific round, scoring 72.39% – the fourth-best score of the day – to catapult the Australians to third place after day one. The 10-year-old stallion, owned by her fiancée, showjumper Martin Fuchs, had a couple of mistakes; a cleaner round could have scored even higher, but he's definitely one to watch.

Twenty-one-year-old Felicita Simoncic defied the form book on Four Legends for Austria – her 70.73% was almost 4% up on her season average, the biggest overperformance in the field.

The ninth-placed Canadians are also on the up – Camille Carier Bergeron scored 70.56% with Finnländerin, leaving them just 0.05% behind the US team in eighth. If the Canadians can come out on top in that battle, it'll be a real boost for them – and quite an embarrassment for the US.

First into the arena is Murilo Augusto Machado riding Jorge V.O for Brazil. Murilo and Jorge VO have competed two grands prix this season (67.7%, 67.22%), but have never competed in Europe before.

Murilo is dressed in army uniform and Jorge is an attractive 12-year-old grey Lusitano stallion. They're off to a good start with the first trot section complete. This horse is showing nice ability in the piaffe/passage work.

Into canter and clean two-time changes. Canter zig zag done. A slightly short first change behind in the one-time changes, which is a shame and will be expensive. Lacking a little energy in the pirouettes.

Front and hindleg action matching the last extended trot. Good final centre line with a lovely square halt to finish.

That was an enjoyable test to watch to get up under way. They score 65.09%

Next is Ireland’s third rider Jessica Dunn who is riding Dan Its Carston.

Jess is Ireland’s top scorer going into the worlds, with a season-best 69.5% at Aachen CDI3*. The World Championships will be valuable championship experience for this exciting combination — with a more realistic tilt at LA 2028 likely to come via the 2027 Europeans.

A bit of a whoopsie as they enter the arena, but hopefully things will improve from here. Now settled and a good extended trot and half passes.

Slightly stepped back to square up in the halt, which was a shame but was still and then reinback achieved. An awkward moment before the first piaffe but Jess rode it really well and got him settled into some piaffe steps. Super extended walk steps.

Back into passage, better transition in – that will be a big relief to Jess. And into canter. Lovely big balanced two-time changes. Good job with the canter zig zag. A few hiccups in the one-times. Jess is doing a great job of keeping everything together and not being knocked off her stride by a few things going slightly off-piste.

Well done Jess! That was a class bit of riding. They score 63.4%

Here is Suphakamol Vuntanadit riding for team Thailand with Dreamboat BCN. Thailand’s original grand prix pioneer, “Pam” blazed the dressage trail that her sister and Pakjira Thongpakdi have followed.

With only three riders, Thailand has no discard score – every result counts. Pam’s grand prix average is 63.93%.

Dreamboat would quite like to have a look around at this stunning arena, which is affecting the early work. The judge has rung the bell after the initial halt. And Suphakamol is leaving the arena.

The head of the ground jury at C eliminated this pair because the horse was unlevel.

Now in the arena is Alexandre Ayache riding Ruling Olivia for France. They are a steady mid-to-high 60s pairing. This horse is quite base narrow in the first piaffe. Nice steps in the extended walk, although the neck could come out a bit more. The head is a bit nodding in the piaffe and passage steps. Clean two-stride changes. Slightly quarters leading at times in the canter zig-zag. Tidy one-time changes. And a tidy final centre line. They score 67.95%

In the arena is Dominican Republic individual rider Yvonne Losos De Muñiz with a new ride Idwinaretto. The pair have averaged 68% in the grand prix this season.

He has nice spring and lift in the extended trot work, and the passage. A slight tendency to step one hind leg back slightly in the piaffe. Anticipating the passage in the collected walk.

Into canter. Clean twos. He has a tendency toward being croup high at times in the canter work. Ones achieved. Lacking some balance in the pirouettes.

Last centre line complete. They score 67.16%

Spanish rider José Antonio Garcia Mena is riding bay Lusitano stallion Gladiador Do Lis.

This pair have emerged as the team’s leading combination ahead of the World Championships, topping Spain’s scores at the Nations Cup in Hagen (71.7%) and finishing highest of the worlds-bound squad at Fontainebleau Nations Cup (70.15%).

José Antonio reached the special at Herning 2022 with Divina Royal (73.88%) – will they be able to repeat that achievement?

This pair show particular talent in the transitions into and out of piaffe.

They score 71.13%

For Finland, here is Stella Hagelstam riding Hagels Prince Nassak, who is just a nine-year-old so is still finding his feet at the level, averaging around 66.2%.

Stella has had mixed luck at past worlds – hospitalised for eight days with meningitis after Caen 2014, then a late horse swap ahead of Herning 2022.

The first piaffe sort of didn't happen. Some "half steps" achieved in the second piaffe. This horse is showing potential for some really quality work, but his greeness is coming through. Confusion in the two-time changes. The one-times started well, but then he got in a bit of muddle.

Stella did a great job of schooling this horse through the test. They are definitely ones to watch for the future. They scored 62.52%

Our final rider before the morning break is William Matthew for Australia riding 11-year-old chestnut mare Faye 43 (Fürst Wilhelm x Aljano 2).

Isabell Werth’s former assistant rider, William impressed on his Olympic debut aboard Mysterious Star, scoring 69.95% in the grand prix.

New ride Faye 43, in her first grand prix season, has already competed at championship-level venues — Aachen, Lier and Rotterdam — and just posted a personal best of 69.04% at Hagen, suggesting she is a rising star.

Flashy front leg action shown in the early trot work. Very square halt at C but it took a few seconds to settle. The piaffe has room to improve. In the extended walk the horse looks a little bit tight - the hind feet are just about landing in the prints of the front feet. Nice passage steps.

Into canter. Clean two-time changes that could have a bit more ground cover. The ones were clean until the end – then a mistake towards the end. That's going towards one of the big screens, which has caught the eye of a few horses.

They score 67.02%

The next rider will be Aleksandra Poplawska-Slazak for Poland riding Sambalito. They are due into the arena at 8.55am.

Our reporter on the ground in Aachen, Oscar Williams, caught up with Ireland's Jess Dunn after her test. Here’s what she had to say.

“I'm very pleased on the whole. Really pleased. Obviously, there was a few mistakes which were unplanned and quite expensive, but we're both new to this kind of championship.

“I was a bit disappointed, but that's because I always aim for perfection. But he was really good, and the bits that we've really practiced over the year got me some good marks, so I'm on the whole pretty happy.”

Jess had to quickly regroup when her horse spooked dramatically going into the arena.

“He's never done that before, so it was a little bit of a shock. But at least he was going forward and not running backwards,” she said.

“He's just a bit of an inward worrier, and he gets a bit nervous. But I'd rather that than him be hot and explosive all the time. He just has these little moments. But you know, he quickly recovered his head, and the other little mistakes were just a bit of a miscommunication. So you know we'll learn from it.

“He's just a little bit of an anxious kind of guy; he looks really chilled on the surface, but you can just feel it. That's why I do loads of patting, and most of our rounds are for building confidence where I just keep telling him he's great.

“He's a really lovely horse, and we've gone from strength to strength as a partnership. And we're still very new to the level, really. He only did his first grand prix last May, so he's not really done a huge amount, either. So we've got lots to take from this, and he's only gonna get better. So I'm thrilled with him.”

Aleksandra Poplawska-Slazak for Poland riding Sambalito is in the arena.

Another championship debutante, Aleksandra sits on the management board of her family’s cosmetics business alongside her riding career.

Her grand prix form has been consistent this season – four starts within two points of each other for a 66.2% average – though even a personal best would likely fall short of special qualification in Aachen.

An attractive looking partnership with the horse in a good frame in the early work. Good activity in the extended walk. This is another horse who is clearly aware of his impressive surroundings. The piaffe and passage is a correct but a little bit limited so won't earn the highest marks.

Into canter, clean two-time changes. The canter zig zag was not centred over the centre line. Nice one-time changes heading towards the big screen.

This test was easy to watch. Shame a few minor spooks crept in. Aleksandra looks pleased. They score 66.79%

Austrian competitor Bettina Kendlbacher is riding 13-year-old compact chestnut gelding, Broadmoars Don Alfredo AWÖ (Destano x His Highness 2).

They rode at their first senior championship in last summer’s Europeans, finishing 36th in the grand prix (68.48%), bang in line with their season average — they’ve stayed a consistent, high-60s combination ever since.

They've got off to a good start with impressive trot half passes. Shame the halt at C before the rein back wasn't quite square. Lots of energy in the passage and piaffe, although not all piaffe steps looked quite even front to back. Walk is slightly fragile, but maintained.

Into canter, very good two-time changes with lots of lift and energy while maintaining the balance. Zig zag done. Good one-time changes. These are a highlight of this test. Good pirouettes.

They scored 69.08%

Here is João Pedro Moreira for Portugal riding Drosa Fuerst Kennedy OLD.

João and Drosa Fuerst Kennedy were forced to withdraw last-minute from the Paris Olympics, but recovered to top Portugal’s grand prix and special scores at the Europeans.

They won the grand prix at Aachen CDI3* this spring (71.41%), but their grand prix form has since settled at 69.95%.

Walked out of the first halt momentarily, then found their stride. Free moving front leg action in the first ext trot. Lacking a little bend in the half pass.

The horse looks like he enjoys the extended trot. A bit sticky in the piaffe, the passage is better. Swingingly nicely through the body in the extended walk. Slight glitch moving from collected walk to passage.

Into canter, clean two-time changes with good ground cover. Well ridden canter zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Good pirouettes.

Well ridden test. They score 70.2%

For Switzerland, we have Delia Eggenberger riding 11-year-old black mare Santa Maria.

Delia’s has produced a 67.78% grand prix average this season, near-identical to her level heading into last year’s European Championships, where she scored 66.35%.

Santa Maria was blowing her nose on the first centre line. Impressive first extended trot with matching elastic front and hind legs. This is a good start.

Very direct to a square halt at C. Good height in the passage steps. Good piaffe steps, but slight glitch in the transition out.

Collected walk is looking fragile, but was maintained. Better transition out of piaffe this time. Into canter.

Started boldly into the two-time changes. All clean. Zig zag complete. An early mistake at the start of the one-time changes. That's a shame.

They score 68.74%. The mistake in the one-time changes will have had a real impact on that.

Next is Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Flash Gordon 37 for Denmark.

This is a new partnership still finding its feet – they've scored 73.53% across three grands prix before Aachen.

Off to an impressive extended trot to begin. The horse looks quite impressed by his surroundings. Lovely transition into the first piaffe, which is gently travelling forward.

A little bit of distraction in the extended walk. Maintained the collected walk. Piaffe started travelling then some steps on the spot. Very smooth in and out. Into canter. Two-time changes were clean and uphill, could have covered more ground.

Well ridden canter zig zag. Solid one-time changes. Nailed the pirouettes. Big loose extended trot steps. And a good last centre line.

Daniel looks very pleased with that. He punches the air after his final halt. They score 74.88% which puts them into second place individually and will really strengthen the Danish team position.

Here is Caroline Chew and Blue Hors Zatchmo, Singapore’s individual dressage flagbearers.

Caroline heads to Aachen five years on from becoming the first Singaporean rider to compete at the Olympics – Tokyo in 2021. She is currently averaging 65.8% in the grand prix.

No issues in the early trot work. Not clear transitions between the passage and the piaffe steps, which were travelling very forward. Good lengthening of the neck in the extended walk. Good four-time steps in the collected walk. Clearer piaffe shown this time.

Into canter. The two-time changes didn't show much ground cover. Clean but quite small one-time changes. Good small pirouettes. This horses doesn't show the biggest ground cover in the extended work.

Final centre line complete and they score 65.65%

Riding as an individual for Mexico is Carolina Cordoba Wolf, 28, with 17-year-old dark bay mare Isabella (Gribaldi x Blue Hors Don Schufro).

Carolina has campaigned Isabella at the top level since 2023, but two of her best three grand prix scores have come this season: 66.24% at Herning, 68.5% at Tolbert, then a career-best 69.3% at Lier in May.

Nice floaty first extended trot. Good reach in the front leg through the trot half passes. Square halt, not quite at C. First piaffe slightly travelling forward in parts. Good relaxation and stretch in the extended walk. Showing potential for good piaffe steps, but intermittently travelling forward.

Into canter, solid uphill two-time changes. Some tricky moments in the canter zig zag. Good one-time changes. Lacking canter in the first pirouette. Second one was better. Walked through the canter to trot transition. The final piaffe on the centre line didn't come off.

They score 62.7%

Our last rider before the next break is Chris von Martels riding 13-year-old chestnut mare Londoncrown (Londontime x San Amour) for Canada.

Two-time Olympian Chris has built his season nicely as it’s gone on – four grands prix in 2026, climbing from 63.07% in March to 68.7% at Lier CDI3* in May.

Good start. Not quite square halt at C and looked up at the screen. But focussed again for the ext trot. Good passage and quality piaffe steps, slightly travelling forward. Very active extended walk - perhaps slightly quick, but covering lots of ground. More lovely passage. Very base narrow in the piaffe, right hind slightly tending to step back if the horse doesn't travel slightly forward.

Into canter. Lovely two-time changes. Super steady outline. A dodgy moment in the zig zag. Jumped together in one of the one-time changes. What a shame. And the horse struggling slightly in the second pirouette.

Lots of spring in the passage on the final centre line, piaffe started well, And a good final halt. They score 66.32%

We are having another 15min break. We'll hear from Daniel Bachmann on his text shortly and be back with the action at 10.30am UK time.

Daniel Bachmann Andersen was delighted with Flash Gordon's test, which scored 74.88% to move into second place individually ahead of Becky Moody and Jagerbomb.

“This was his fifth international grand prix. I started a little bit careful to see what he did. I mean, he's never been in a championship or anything like this.

“I still have so many points to get when I have a little bit more experience with him, few more piaffe steps, everything even more smooth. It's gonna come just with the work that we do.

“He's felt absolutely amazing. We went to Falsterbo, did the five star there, and we unlocked some new relaxation in the ring. We've just trained on that since, and he took that with him here.’

“He's such an honest horse, such an amazing horse that we train on relaxation. I just have to learn to trust him and not want him to do so much because he gives so much.

“When he learns to be relaxed in there and really trust me, then it's gonna be absolutely phenomenal because I feel there is there's no limit on him. He's good at almost everything – going towards eights and nines and the pirouettes and piaffes can become eights and nines when they can just stay a little longer, with a little bit more sitting, but it's just a matter of time.

“I'm careful always bringing a horse into championship level within one season to not ask too much and not be too greedy. I'd rather come out with a horse that has gained experience in a positive way, and then maybe I can do one more step on Friday. We will see.”

Now in the arena is individual rider Nicolas Wagner Ehlinger for Luxembourg with Quater Back Junior FRH.

Nicolas and Quater Back Junior FRH have contested the last seven championships over a more than decade-long career together.

At last summer’s Europeans, they scraped scored 68.88% in the grand prix. Form remains consistent this season.

They've got off to a fair start. The second piaffe is slightly limited and a bit of a muddle coming out into the passage. Into canter.

Clean two-time changes, that could have covered a bit more ground. Zig zag all present and correct. Clean one-time changes, could have covered a bit more ground. Good sitting and activity in the pirouettes.

Last centre line, blew his nose in the piaffe and lost a bit of balance coming out. They score 68.94%

Maria von Essen of Sweden is riding Invoice.

Patrik Kittle tends to get the Swedish headlines, but at last summer’s Europeans, Maria out-scored him in both the grand prix and special.

This season’s form (73.46% grand prix average) is a little up on last season’s and Sweden’s top-six push will lean on her as much as him.

A good start to the test but a bit sticky in the rein back. Expressive passage steps, nicely in and out the first piaffe. Horse is slightly looking around in the extended walk. Good transition back into passage from collected walk. A slightly tricky moment moving into piaffe.

Into canter, quality two-time changes in good balance. Tidy zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Well controlled and balanced pirouettes. Those are a real highlight of this test.

Lovely last piaffe on the centre line, looked like it might become too much but well managed. They score 72.08%

One rider to come before Carl Hester and Fame for Britain. Now in the arena is Dinja van Liere of the Netherlands riding nine-year-old stallion Mauro Turfhorst N.O.P. (Glock’s Zonik x Negro)

Mauro Turfhorst looks a superstar in the making, improving from 73.02% on his April grand prix debut to 75% at Rotterdam in June.

They've got off to a good start. Good square halt at C and quality rein back steps. Lots of lift through the front leg in the passage. Slightly base narrow in the piaffe – the potential is there and will undoubtedly improve with age and strength.

Walk executed well. Slightly sticky moment in the second piaffe but well recovered. Into canter. Super uphill and light two-time canter changes. Lovely picture. Well ridden zig zag. Super one-time changes. Lovely air time through those.

Good sit in the first pirouette, slight moment coming out, but great work. This horse has so much potential for the future. One mistake on the final centre line, but a wonderful job.

What a cool customer this young horse is! Walking out looking totally relaxed on the buckle end of the rein. They score 74.16% to slide into third place individually.

Right here we go – here is Carl Hester and Fame. They bring forward a 76.75% grand prix average.

Not quite square on the first halt. Lovely steps in the first ext trot. Excellent balance in the trot half passes. Square halt at C, clear rein back. Another good extended trot. Slightly travelling in the first piaffe.

Good relaxed extended walk steps. Good transition from collected walk to passage. Nice piaffe steps. And into canter.

Big uphill two-time changes. A nice pat for Fame. The master at work in the canter zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Two good pirouettes. Lovely ground cover in the extended trot.

Final centre line: Good passage steps and the best of his three piaffes. Slightly stumbled into the final halt. But lands square and stands still.

Fame looks relaxed walking out on a loose rein. They score 77.31% That's the highest scoring test so far. Great work!

Next is Larissa Pauluis of Belgium riding Flambeau. This veteran pair have been the picture of consistency this season — seven grand prix starts, all between 71% and 74.2%, headlined by a personal best of 74.2% at Neumünster in February.

Larissa and Flambeau have got off to a good start. Lots of air time in the passage steps. Some good piaffe steps, not the smoothest transition out. Active extended walk steps. Nicely from collected walk into passage. Good piaffe steps. Slightly smoother coming out this time.

Into canter. Nice air time in the two-time changes. Good job in the zig zag. A problem in the one-time changes – that's unfortunate and expensive. Good pirouettes. Last centre line done.

They score 72.47%

Here is individual rider Diana Porsche and the former Charlotte Dujardin ride, Imhotep, aka “Pete’.

Diana switched allegiances from Austria to Hungary in February. She’s averaging just under 71% in the grand prix, which is nearly eight points down on Imhotep’s career average with Charlotte.

Nice easy steps in the first extended trot. He's looking full of power in the half pass. Not quite square halt at C. Another lovely ext trot. Some great piaffe steps, with a narrow base. Extended walk has lots of activity and not that much length.

Pete looks happy to be back in passage, very on the spot in the second piaffe. Into canter.

Huge two-time changes with an expressive front leg. Zig zag done. Big one-time changes. Pete is coming a little short in the neck at times, but Diana is trying to let his neck out.

Diana looks very pleased with that, as she should. Good job! They scored 70.26%

This is a key ride for the team scores: Katharina Hemmer of Germany with Denoix PCH.

This pair were debutantes at last summer’s Europeans, with Katharina helping Germany win gold by just 2.86 points. They’ve had a disrupted season but returned to form in the grand prix at Hagen, winning July’s selection trial with 77.02%.

She's giving her 14-year-old ride a nice pat as they walk around the arena.

Not quite square in the first halt. This is an attractive picture in the early trot work. Halted slightly before C and not quite square, half extra step in the rein back.

Good height in the passage steps, slightly travelling in the first piaffe, but good steps. Extended walk is a little quick, but maintained. Top quality passage and piaffe steps.

Into canter. Super two-time changes, plenty of lift and ground cover in a good open frame. Nailed the one-time changes. Pirouettes done. Lovely extended trot.

Super passage, piaffe, passage on the final centre line. Not sure the final halt was immobile, but I think that's outscored Carl's 77.31% – yes they've scored 79.22%

That puts Germany on 155.187, Britain on 151.134 and Denmark on 147.050 in the team competition.

Our final rider before the lunch break is Christian Simonson, 23, for the USA riding Fleau de Baian.

America’s rising star arrives without his top horse: Indian Rock, who is being rested after finishing runner-up in the World Cup Final.

Fleau De Baian is a 16-year-old chestnut stallion (Jazz x Ulft) – formerly Adeline Cornelissen’s – steps up, averaging a solid 69.12%.

A few minor issues in the early trot tour. Some nicely on the spot piaffe steps. Extended walk isn't showing any overtrack. Collected walk looks a little bit fragile.

Nice regular passage and kept the rhythm in and out of piaffe. Into canter.

Expressive well balanced two-time changes. Well presented canter zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Really sitting through the pirouettes.

Good final centre line. Great riding by Chrstian on his World Championships debut. They score 71.3%

It's time for lunch. The action will restart at 12.50pm UK time with João Victor Marcari Oliva of Brazil riding Feel Good Vo NRW.

In the meantime let's find out what Carl Hester had to say after his test...

Carl Hester spoke to H&H’s Oscar Williams after scoring 77.31% with Fame.

“It’s beyond relief after three weeks of feeling like you're up to here with worries about getting here and logistics and competition,” said Carl.

“It’s a big year; we're trying to qualify for the Olympic Games and pave the way for new combinations to come along during the next few years. So that feeling of relief is is huge.

“Three years ago at the European Championships, I had a handful there [with Fame]. He was always eyes on stalls, and the walk wasn't good. So to go in there, especially following Dinja, who did a great test and the crowd very excited, which is how it should be.

“The confidence I got as Fame walked in and they were clapping and cheering, and I didn't feel a hair on his body change. He was just like, ‘This is my arena. Chilled out. Come on, let's do the test that we've done 100 times’.

“I've been on my phone this morning, rewatching my best test that I ever done, thinking, ‘Do it again, do it again, do it again. This is all you have to do’. It sounds very small, considering I've been riding this grand prix for 36 years, but it still doesn't make you feel like, ‘Oh, I know what I'm doing’.

“You don't know till you go in there what you're going to get. You have to have your horse relaxed, but on the aids. He has to be hot enough to piaffe, and he has to be calm enough to walk and halt. And I felt today I got some of my best work.

“The fiddly bits were better, the easy bits were better, and he often makes the easy bits difficult, and the difficult bits good. But today it all all came nice.”

Talking about the test in more detail, Carl said:

“I've really learned how to trust him with pirouettes now. I'm normally working at building on what's happened at the beginning of the test, because the beginning of the test is normally his tense bit, so it's always like the letting go in the extended trot, for instance.

“An easy halt with an easy rein back, and then the first piaffe, passage, which tends to light him up a little bit for the walk. But I think the walk was probably my best mark today, and he does have a good walk. This is what's been so annoying over the years. He's got a great walk, but he just doesn't do it in the test. But today he offered that.

“It was just details that I felt in every movement. My twos had nice ground cover and felt straight. The extended canter I could ride out, the zigzag, he's just so lovely and easy. II don't even do those in the warm-up, I just save it for the test. And his pirouettes are his speciality.

“The horse I had before him, Vogue, taught me how to do a pirouette, and Fame and I just enjoy doing them together for as high a mark as possible because I know that's something I can go for, and I can make it small with him.

“I just like direct him round, and he just is so proficient in all of these exercises. I couldn't ask for more of him today.

“It's been a hot week, and he was very tired when he got here, so I did my first bit of work with him yesterday. He knows his job, so for him to come out with so little work, but feel like he enjoyed his test was just a lovely feeling for me.

“I like to get off and think the horse enjoyed it, and he's walked back to the stable without any sweat on him, with his ears pricked. So, couldn't be happier.”

Oscar also caught up with Germany's Katharina Hemmer, after her test that scored 79.22% to extended Germany's lead over Britain in the team competition.

“It’s very special to deliver a personal best in front of the home crowd in the World Championships,” explained Katharina, who came into Aachen off the back of relatively few warm-up competitions.

“There were not many [shows], but what he did was good. And I had the feeling that we made a step forward and were even better than before the last show. So I was feeling quite quite confident, and Denoix felt confident as well, so that was good.”

“I think the highlight for me was probably the harmony during the whole test. That was the good feeling for me because I could really do everything with light aids. He was listening, and I think that was what made it good.

“I was in a very, very good situation today, and that made me feel relaxed and confident. I tell Denoix every day that he's the world's best. For me, this horse has no limits, and I'm very grateful he showed it today.”

Our first rider into the arena after lunch is João Victor Marcari Oliva for Brazil riding Feel Good Vo NRW.

João is Brazil’s leading dressage rider – having competed at three Olympics and the 2022 worlds; where he finished 21st in the special on former ride Escorial.

Feel Good VO scored 70.1% at the Paris Games; he then spent the 2025 season as an under-25 horse for Marta Fernandes, returning to João this winter. Another plus-70% score would be a great result.

João Victor Marcari Oliva and Feel Good start with a not quite square halt.

This horse has a very scopey extended trot with nice lift and ground cover. More flow in the right half pass than the left. Halt and reinback achieved. Nice first piaffe steps, slight glitch for the transition in.

Extended walk is very quick and lacked length of neck. Back into passage. Better transition into piaffe this time. Into canter.

Clean two-stride changes. Zig zag complete. Super one-time changes, staying in a lovely uphill frame. Back into extended trot, which is really attractive with excellent ground cover.

Some nice piaffe steps, then a bit of a glitch. Lots to like in that test.

They score 70.71%

Here we have the final rider for Ireland, James Connor, 67, riding 13-year-old bay gelding Vanotti (Vitalis x Florestan I).

Hugely experienced, having competed at three previous World Championships, Milan-based James and Vanotti arrive in Aachen following by far the busiest campaign of the four Irish combinations — seven grands prix across four countries this season, averaging 67.05%.

This partnership are producing a nice picture during the early trot work. Nice square halt at C and five steps back. Good passage steps, a bit sticky in the first piaffe.

Good physical and mental relaxation with over-track in the extended walk. Tidy collected walk. Lacking drive from the hindleg in the piaffe.

Into canter. Mistake in the two-time changes. That's a shame as they started well. Zig zag not quite centred over the centre line. Clean uphill one-time changes. They should score well. Second pirouette is better than the first.

They complete with a score of 68.28%. That puts Ireland on a finishing score of 199.161, behind Brazil on 202.080.

Next is Pakjira Thongpakdi riding as an individual for Thailand with Definitely after the elimination of one of her fellow riders in their three-strong team as their horse went unlevel in the test.

Pakjira bought Definitely unbacked as a three-year-old back in 2015. Based in Bilbao, Spain, she didn’t make her international grand prix debut on Definitely until April 2026, yet banked both required MER scores inside 10 weeks, right up against the deadline.

Showing some nice passage steps, the piaffe is a little lacking. The neck is curling rather than stretching out in the extended walk. Slight glitch in the transition from collected walk to passage. A few issues in the piaffe, passage sections.

Into canter. Problems in the two-time changes, that will be costly. This horse is struggling to show a poll high frame in the canter work. One times changes were clean. The three one-time changes on the centre line between the pirouettes. Looking in a better frame in the extended trot.

They complete with a score of 63.23%

The final rider for France is Pauline Basquin, 47, with Sertorius de Rima Z Ifce. Pauline is wearing the black uniform of the Cadre Noir.

An experienced pair, into a fifth straight championship after a disappointing Europeans last summer, where their grand prix score (68.59%) fell short of season norms. They’ve bounced back since – a 2026 average around 71% in the grand prix.

Very good entry directly into a still square halt. Nice swing and lift in the first extended trot. Good trot half-passes. Was very square at C, then slightly moved a front leg before the rein back, which was a shame.

Light passage steps, but the first piaffe was slightly lacking spring. Good lengthening and relaxation in the extended trot. Was a little early into passage after the collected walk. The piaffe steps are going to be costly for this pair.

Into canter, clean two-time changes, but could have had a little more ground cover. Clean one-time changes. The pirouettes are slightly large.

They complete on a score of 68.70% and that puts France on a final score of 204.053, which sees them go ahead of Brazil.

The fourth and final rider for Spain is Borja Carrascosa, 44, riding Frizzantino FRH. This pair arrive in Aachen after a personal best in the grand prix (72.59%) at Mâcon Chaintré CDI3*.

Didn't go all out in the first extended trot, but trot half-passes look easy. Very square halt exactly at C. A bit more power in the second extended trot. Some lovely piaffe steps. Good relaxation in the extended walk, although slightly quick in the steps.

Into canter, huge two-time changes but looked a little against the rein. This horse is very active behind, which brings its own challenges. The one-times were a bit messy.

Good piaffe steps on the final centre line. They finish on 69.33% which puts Spain on 209.379 and they finish ahead of France.

Henri Ruoste is the fourth rider for Finland with Tiffanys Diamond.

The leading lights of the Finnish team, Henri and this 14-year-old mare look to have kicked on since a mixed Europeans – 16th in the grand prix, but a below-par 25th in the special.

Granted, their 2026 campaign has been a light one, just a single CDI so far, but it brought a strong return at Hagen: 72.78% in the grand prix, then 72.98% in the special.

This horse has a nice round action with the forelegs. Good half-pass steps, uphill and with good bend and reach. Stepped back to achieve a square halt at C. Super passage, piaffe was varying in tempo at times.

Horse is having a slight look around at the start of the extended walk, improving as it goes. Collected walk looks a bit fragile. More good passage steps. Better piaffe, slightly lurched out into passage.

Almost struck off on to wrong canter lead, but rescued. Clean two-time changes, but could have covered more ground. Extended canter could have been bolder. Clean one-times but needed to have been bigger for top marks. Very small first pirouette. Good second pirouette. Those will have earnt good scores.

Slightly lurched out of the final piaffe, after not many steps.

They scored 71.82% putting Finland on a final score of 205.699 to sit behind Spain and in front of France in the team competition.

The last rider for Australia is Warwick McLean riding Le Special.

Former international event rider Warwick's preparations were rocked when he and Le Special were involved in a serious multi-truck collision in May, though both emerged largely unscathed.

They’ve since had two more grand prix starts, scoring 68.2% at Lier and 67.39% at Rotterdam, adding to an Aachen debut of 66.3%.

Some lovely swing and lift in the first extended trot. Better bend in the left half pass. Halted slightly before C and not quite square.

Very light footed passage and went into piaffe very early. Good over-track in the extended walk. The hingleg steps aren't matching in the second piaffe, which will be costly.

Into canter. Clean two-time changes. One-time changes achieved, but getting tense going towards the corner where the big screen is. Some better piaffe steps on the final centre line.

They score 64.98% which takes Australia to 206.677 which slots them in between Spain and Finland.

Our last rider before the first afternoon break is Sandra Sysojeva of Poland with Maxima Bella.

You may remember Maxima Bella as a breakout star in Paris, finishing 15th, aged just eight. Grand prix form has plateaued in the mid-70s, but the freestyle remains their real strength – third at April’s World Cup Final on 80.77%.

Incredible forelimb action from this mare, both forwards and to the side, as shown in the half pass. Excellent passage steps and highly motivated in the piaffe. Lovely extended walk steps. Collected walk is nicely four-time.

Into canter. Slightly fluffed an early change in the two-times. Good zig zag. Clean one-time changes. Good pirouettes.

The right hind is occasionally taking a double beat in the passage and piaffe, which will be costly.

They scored 73.15% which puts Poland on 207.220 to stand ahead of Australia and behind Spain.

Time for a short break. The action will restart at 2:25pm with Peter Gmoser of Austria with Dante's Daiquiri.

In the meantime we'll hear from Irish rider James Connor after his test.

Oscar caught up with a very happy James Connor after his grand prix, which scored 68.28% for Ireland.

“I'm very happy, because he he tried his hardest,” said James. “He didn't look at anything, and he was really fighting for it. It's nice when you're both doing the same thing. He was so nice, so it was fun to ride.

“The half passes were nice and forwards. I missed the two-time changes, so I'll have to go back to the drawing board there. Normally they're very, very good. The one-time changes were good, I think, and the pirouettes were quite good. The canter zigzag was a little bit difficult, but it worked. So I'm really happy and very proud of him and our work and my teachers.

“He is an amazing horse, who belongs to a lovely lady who sponsored him to me a year and a half ago. He's a dream horse. He's getting better every day. He's getting stronger every day. He knows me, and I know him. So we make compromises with each other, and it's getting better.

”He was good from the beginning. I'm probably only halfway there now, so hopefully he can get much, much better.”

Here is the final rider for Austria, 55-year-old Peter Gmoser riding Dante's Daiquiri.

Peter hasn’t been on a championship team since the 2011 Europeans – where he was 35th in the grand prix on Cointreau 10 (67.49%). He’s been a steady mid-to-high 60s scorer all season with his 12-year-old black mare, by Dante Weltino.

She is looking rather affected by the atmosphere. Looked up and lost concentration in the half at C. Had a very difficult moment in the first piaffe. Extended walk was tricky but settled better in the collect steps.

Better steps in the second piaffe, but needing careful management. Into canter. Lost the communication in the two-time changes, which were mainly ones. The canter zig zag came off better. Good one-time changes.

Well ridden in the pirouettes. Great example of how to manage a tricky ride there by Peter. They score 59.04% to be the team drop score. Austria finish on 208.479, which puts them behind Spain and ahead of Poland.

Next is Maria Caetano, 39, of Portugal riding Hit Plus.

This pair are Portugal’s most experienced campaigners, and finished 23rd individually in the special at last summer’s Europeans. This season’s grand prix average (71.92%) marks a real step up for the pair.

Very active trot steps in the early work. Looking a little strong in the hand at times. Good relaxation in the extended walk. Better piaffe steps this time. And into canter.

Lovely ground cover in the two-time changes, despite the horse blowing his nose. One-time were very nice to watch. Their pirouettes should earn good marks.

Good passage on the final centre line. Slightly lurched out of the piaffe.

They score 71.03% and Portugal finish on 212.625, moving ahead of Spain.

The final Swiss rider is Charlotte Lenherr, 55, riding Dettori.

Dettori experienced an off-day at last summer’s Europeans, managing just 63.88% in the grand prix as the canter work – flying changes, zig-zags and transitions – fell apart.

Heading into Aachen, his grand prix form has nudged up to a 69.4% average, so we wait to see how things go this time.

Very still square halt and big smile from Charlotte for the judge at C to begin.

Fair crossing in the trot half passes. Not quite square at C. Could cover a bit more ground in the extended trot. Some rhythm and tempo issues in the first piaffe. Purposeful steps in the extended walk.

The piaffe is proving a bit tricky. Into canter.

A few issues in the two-time changes, with one stride jumping together behind. That will be affect the marks. The zig zag was well centred over the centre line, but the one-time changes started with a two-time change. Well controlled pirouette.

Getting some double beats behind in the passage on the final centre line. Good final halt.

They score 68.26% which puts Switzerland on 204.798 below Finland and in front of France.

Here is Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle for Denmark. They bring forward an 83.43% grand prix average, which has been untouched all season.

Freestyle is looking on great form at the start of this test, combining power with softness. Lovely passage steps, Slightly base narrow in the piaffe, but lovely steps. Great relaxation in the extended walk with huge overtrack. Good four beat collected walk. A little bit of a problem coming out of the second piaffe.

Into canter. Lovely ground covering two-time changes. Zig zag looks light and easy. Super one-time changes and a nice pat on the neck. Super small first pirouette.

Great reach of the foreleg in the final extended trot. Lovely even and light passage steps and better transition coming out of the final piaffe.

They score 82.38% which puts Denmark on 229.426, which puts them into contention for a podium place.

Next for Canada we have Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu riding Jaccardo.

Jaccardo made his international grand prix debut in August 2025 and his form has been excellent: a 2026 grand prix average of 71.5% across four starts. A cast-in stall injury forced a late World Cup Final withdrawal in April, but he’s bounced back to full fitness since.

Brittany is clearly going for it from the start with a very positive first extended trot. Good square halt at C before the rein back. Good activity in the passage and piaffe, but could be more over the back. Huge overtrack in the extended walk. Better in the second piaffe.

Into canter, clean two-time changes. Bold extended canter. Well ridden zig zag. Clean one-times. Pirouettes achieved. Very square final halt.

That scores 71.93%, which will take her through to the grand prix special, and Canada is on 210.559, sitting behind Denmark and Portugal and ahead of Spain.

Now we have Patrik Kittel for Sweden with Touchdown. His form mirrors last year’s almost exactly with a 73.16% average in the grand prix.

Unfortunately stepped one hindleg back into the first halt. Yikes, a little misstep and then cantered during the first extended trot. That's not the start they were hoping for.

Absolutely square halt on the marker at C. Really flicking the toes in the next extended trot. Some good piaffe steps, if slightly early, but then climbed out back into passage. Good relaxation in the extended walk.

Very on the spot in the second piaffe, and a better transition out. Into canter.

Lovely two-time changes with good ground cover. Very bold extended canter towards the big screen. Good one-time changes. Solid pirouettes. Bit awkward coming out of the final piaffe.

That scored 72.10% which puts Sweden on 216.552 so they go behind Denmark and in front of Portugal.

Our final rider before the last afternoon break is Marieke van der Putten of the Netherlands riding Zantana RS2 OLD N.O.P.

This pair have come on leaps and bounds since last summer’s Europeans, where they finished 21st in the grand prix on 70.26%. They arrive in Aachen having set successive grands prix personal bests, including a 77.96% win at Rotterdam CDI4*.

This a very athletic-looking horse with a natural uphill tendency. Lovely half-pass steps. Good halt at C, but the rein back steps were a bit quick. Super passage steps. Slightly base narrow in the piaffe. Good extended walk, was a bit keen to get into the passage steps. Better piaffe this time.

A slightly issue going into the canter. Very big uphill two-time changes. Lots of airtime in the extended canter. Clean one-time changes. Good pirouettes. Nailed the last centre line.

That scored 77.76% which puts the Netherlands on 221.428 behind Denmark.

A brief break before the final session of riders, which includes the final riders for Germany and Britain. Lottie Fry needs to score 78.296% or more for Britain to win silver. Who takes team gold will depend on the performance of Germany's Isabell Werth.

Stick around to hear what Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour had to say about her test on Mount St John Freestyle...

Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour was delighted with Mount St John Freestyle’s test, which scored 82.38%.

”It was wonderful. She warmed up so well out. You could feel that she was a tiny bit on her toes, but overall, I would be an idiot if I was not happy about the score today.

“It's a championship, and I was just really pleased that [the judges] dared to go up to that level today. You know, sometimes it changes a little bit when you come to the championships, and I'm just really proud, and I'm really humble that the judges liked what they saw today.”

Cathrine also praise the arena and the crowds: ”It is a wonderful arena, and it's probably the biggest I'm ever gonna enter with any horse. I'd like to thank the audience. They are really clever, and you can feel that they are horse people. They respect all our horses, and they know good results when they see it. So I'm very thankful to have the support in there, even though I'm not German.”

So here we go with the final group of riders. First in is individual rider from Lithuania, Justina Vanagaite-Samuile riding Nabab.

Aachen will mark their fifth senior championship. Their well-travelled 2026 season — from Sopot and Doha to the World Cup Final in Texas — has yielded a 68.79% grand prix average to date.

Nice swing and lift in the early trot work. Not much immobility in the halt at C before the rein back. The first piaffe was a bit sticky. Good extended walk showing good relaxation and a big overtrack. Nice transition from collected walk to passage, but issues with the piaffe.

Into canter. Uphill two-time changes with good ground cover. Good zig zag. A few dodgy moments in the one-time changes – that's unfortunate. Nice job on the pirouettes.

Good final extended trot. Nice frame and balance in the passage, but lacking spring in the piaffe.

They score 68.11%

Next is individual rider from Morocco, Yessin Rahmouni and 11-year-old gelding Kind of Magic. Two-time Olympian Yessin sold his Paris ride, All At Once, to Dutch under-25 rider Lara van Nek soon after the Games, before debuting Kind of Magic in November 2025.

Kind of Magic is still green at the level, but earned a wildcard to the 2026 World Cup Final, where the occasion rather got the better of him. It will be interesting to see how he copes here.

Smart entry, but cantered early in the extended trot. Something caught the horse's eye at the end of the trot diagonal, but he was soon back on track.

Good halt at C and rein back steps achieved. Into the passage and softly into first piaffe. Not the biggest passage steps and this horse does come a bit short in the neck at times.

Better relaxation in the extended walk than the previous work suggested. Unfortunately timing for a dropping coming out of the piaffe rather scuppered the transition back to passage.

Into canter. Through the zig zag. One-time changes achieved, were getting tighter the further they went, but no mistakes. Good pirouettes. They look to be a highlight for this pair.

Better steps in the extended trot. The quality of the work on the final centre line was some of the best in the test.

They scored 65.36%

OK, deep breath for the British fans. Here is Lottie Fry and Glamourdale. They need to score 78.296 or more for Britain to secure team silver.

The current individual world champions have a grand prix average this season with 79.62% across three starts, so it is within reach.

A great entry and first halt for Lottie. Lovely extended trot steps. The half passes look easy with good reach. Super halt at C and good rein back. Another great extended trot. Halted briefly going into the piaffe. Good passage before and after.

Great relaxation in the extended walk. Good transition from collect walk to passage. Better transition into piaffe, but lost the energy slightly.

Into canter, absolutely huge two-time changes – just about fitted them into the diagonal. Good zig zag. Nailed the one-times. Those pirouettes should earn good marks. Extended trot looks so easy.

Final centreline. Best piaffe of the three in the test on the centre line. And a great square final halt.

They've scored 80.31%, which secures Britain the silver medal ahead of Denmark on 231.445. Now we wait to see what Isabell Werth can do.

Justin Verboomen and 10-year-old Zonik Plus are next in for Belgium.

The double European champions and Aachen favourites have been unbeaten since Crozet.

Incredible spring and lift in the early trot work. Halt at C is very square but the hindlegs are little out behind. Very on the spot in the first piaffe, but the neck coming a little bit high. Good relaxation in the extended walk. Good transition into passage. Right hind moving fractionally back in the second piaffe.

Into canter. Lovely forward two-time changes. Zig zag done. An issue at the start of the one-time changes, where he slipped in a two-time at the start. Very good first pirouette, but a little mistake in the second one.

Not a clear round for Justin today. But still lots of top quality work. They score 80.89% which puts Belgium on 223.044 ahead of the Netherlands and behind Denmark. Justin sits ahead of Lottie on the individual scoreboard and they are both behind Cathrine and Freestyle.

Apologies, slight technical glitch there. Really bad timing for the internet gremlins to decide to get involved!

In short, Isabell Werth and Wendy De Fontaine scored 79.88% to put Germany on a final score of 235.063 to take team gold, with Britain in silver and Denmark in bronze.

To summarise Isabell's test, she had problems in both the two-time and the one-time changes, but the piaffe, passage and pirouettes were excellent.

On to our penultimate rider of the grand prix, Isabel Freese and Total Hope OLD riding as an individual for Norway.

This stallion is showing good relaxation in the medium walk. The collected walk wasn't all four-time, which will be expensive. Lovely passage steps and piaffe was very on the spot.

Into canter. Lovely easy two-time changes. And a good extended canter. Good riding in the zig zag. One-time changes looked very secure with lots of uphill bounce. They should have scored well. Green tick for the pirouettes.

Super final extended trot. Head is a bit nodding in the passage on the final centre line, good piaffe at X. And a square final halt.

They score 76.23%

And our last rider of the day is for the USA – Ashley Holzer, 62, riding Charlotte Dujardin’s former ride Hawtins San Floriana, who has been consistent in the run up to Aachen, with a grand prix average above 68%.

Not quite immobile in the first halt. Struggling a little bit with balancing the power with the sideways in the half pass. Active passage steps, quite on the spot in the first piaffe. Fairly good relaxation in the extended walk. A little loss of rhythm at the end of the collected walk.

Piaffe steps are very on the spot. Into canter, issues in the two-time changes. Some tension showing up in the zig zag. Ones very clean, but lacked ground cover. Some changing behind in the canter between the movements. Losing balance in the pirouettes.

Good final centre line. They score 68.71%, which will not take them forward to the grand prix special. USA finish on 210.621, just ahead of Canada on 210.559.

So we know who our team medallists are, but we are going to bring you interviews with Lottie Fry, Justin Verboomen and Isabell Werth before we log off for today, so do stick around.

Our Aachen reporter Oscar Williams spoke to Lottie Fry after her grand prix test with Glamourdale, which scored 80.31% to help Britain secure the team bronze medal.

“He was absolutely amazing in there,” said Lottie. “I think that's the best feeling I've ever had in a test with him. He was on fire. He was listening. He was calm and on the aid and relaxed, yet so sharp and with me the whole way.”

Lottie was quick to take responsibility for the mistake they had in the first piaffe.

“I just kind of threw him into that first piaffe, which was a shame because it caused a bit of a misunderstanding. I think we showed in the piaffe on the last centre line that it has really become one of his strong points, so I'm really excited to get back in the ring in the special to show how good he has become. Because everything else, I don't really think it can be better. He's just incredible.

“He loves Aachen. He loves that arena, and it's going to be so exciting to ride in there again on Friday because it was amazing feeling.”

Reflecting on the team silver medal, Lottie said: “Any medal is amazing to to win at a world championship, and we've come here with such an amazing team. Becky [Moody] had a difficult ride yesterday, but she did everything she could and still pulled it out the bag for us.

“This morning, Carl was so inspiring – every time you're surprised at how amazing he is riding a test. It was just beautiful to watch and then Glammy just cemented it all in there, so any medal is amazing and it's add one more to add to the collection for Team GB.”

Oscar also caught up with Justin Verboomen after his test with Zonik Plus, which scored 80.89% to finish in second place individually.

“I was really happy today because Zonik offered me a super warm up. I think it was the best ever,” explained Justin. “I was happy with everything, and I could feel that he was really improving compared to what it was in the past, and also in the canter work.

“But today he was really impressed by this beautiful arena, so he was a bit holding himself back. So I had I tried to give him more confidence and to help him. But I'm sure it will be better the next few days.

“He's young. He's only 10 years old. He's easily impressed. [At the Europeans] in Crozet, he was impressed too. So impressed. So, I think he just need to to get more experience.”

I am signing off for tonight. My colleague Lucy Elder will be taking over live reporting duties here on around 9.30am on Friday (14 August) ready for the grand prix special. I hope you'll all rejoin us then.

To read in-depth analysis on how the dressage team medals were won and lost, check out Oscar Williams’ reports.

In the meantime, tomorrow (Thursday, 13 August) Lucy will be running live reports from the first day of the eventing dressage. So any eventing fans among you, please do join her there.

Goodbye for now.

News update: Aachen’s grand prix eliminations explained

The reasons for the elimination of three competitors during the grand prix have been confirmed.

Rotem Jale Ibrahimzade (TUR) and Wendi Williamson (NZL) were both eliminated under the blood rule on 11 August when blood was found in or around their horses’ mouths at the post-test welfare check.

Thailand’s Suphakamol Vuntanadit was eliminated because Dreamboat BCN was showing signs of “marked lameness” early in the test.

Grand prix special (Friday, 14 August)

Good morning, it’s Lucy Elder here running the live blog for the grand prix special today at the FEI World Championships.

Action is set to get underway in at 7.30am UK time (8.30 UK local time) and we will bring you news, analysis and quotes from riders.

H&H’s dressage editor Oscar Williams is on the ground in Aachen and will be speaking to competitors after their tests.

Today, riders are competing for individual medals. A total of 30 competitors are on the start list, including three members of the British silver medal-winning team.

They are:

• Becky Moody and Jagerbomb now go over two hours earlier than planned – 11:46am German time (10:46am British), rather than the original 2:01pm (1:01pm)
• Carl Hester and Fame – 3:22pm (2:22pm) unchanged
• Lottie Fry and Glamourdale – 4:28pm (3:28pm) unchanged

Have a read through Oscar’s full summary of important times to note on the link below:

• Aachen heatwave forces reshuffle of grand prix special times

Austria’s Felicita Simoncic sets grand prix special day off to a lovely start with Four Legends.

The 21-year-old rider scored a personal best in the grand prix earlier this week – almost four percent up on her season average – and has backed up that form with a super performance in the grand prix special. Their score today (70.08%) is not far off some of their best marks in this test, so I expect she will be pleased.

Ecuador’s Julio Mendoza Loor and Jewel’s Goldstrike have been one of my favourites since I commentated on them winning individual gold at the Pan American Games in 2023.

Jewel’s Goldstrike has really stepped up another level since then, and boy does he look flashy in Aachen’s morning sun – his chestnut coat is light activated! Their piaffe and passage work was a highlight and they showed nice correct work through the canter.

These two have an amazing story, too. My colleague Martha Terry wrote this lovely feature on the horse during the Paris Olympics – he was bought for $20.

Their grand prix special score of 71.51% takes them to the head of the standings at this early stage.

We’ve had three competitors complete their tests so far this morning. Portugal’s Maria Caetano and Hit Plus were in the arena just before Julio and scored 71.13%.

H&H’s dressage editor Oscar Williams is at Aachen. He tells me the temperature is quite pleasant so far this morning, but that everyone is anticipating it to be a hot one today.

“Lots of linen!” he says.

Back to dressage, here is what the grand prix special test looks like on paper:

• Grand prix special (PDF)

Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdor made a really positive start to their test, trending around 73% for their early trot work. They were part of the Danish team that won bronze earlier this week.

He is very uphill in his frame, and kept a super rhythm through his trot work. It was lovely to see how he stretched out into his walk. Their changes were correct, if a little on the conservative side. Overall, a great test. Nadja punched the air as she finished, closing her eyes and smiling in delight, perhaps relief, before waving to her supporters as she left the arena.

Their score of 73.72% is the best we have seen so far today by more than two percent.

Brittany Fraser-Beaulieu and Jaccardo score 69.27% in the grand prix special for Canada at the dressage World Championships.

Jaccardo, a big, loose moving chestnut, sprang and swung through his early trot work. He has such a scopey stride and the ground cover in his walk was absolutely gigantic. Glitches in their flying changes were very expensive, dropping their overall score well below what they have previously achieved in this test, but what a horse to watch for the future –he only stepped up to international grand prix this time last year.

Before them, we saw Portugal’s João Miguel Torrao and the 11-year-old Lusitano stallion Lirio MVL shuffle the upper end of the leaderboard. A double air punch by João, followed a hug for his horse, showed just how pleased he was with their test. Their score of 71.4% puts them into provisional third at this stage.

Time for a coffee!

Henri Ruoste and Tiffanys Diamond were the last combination to go before the break. She is a beautiful horse with so much talent, and we saw Henri giving her lots of reassurance throughout their test.

They had a little mistake in the one-time flying changes, after which Henri gave the 14-year-old mare a pat just to reassure her. There were plenty of little pats too as they made their way up the final centre line.

Their score of 72.19 % is good enough for second at this stage of the morning.

Provisional results at the first coffee break

1. Nadja Aaboe Sloth (DEN) and Favour Gersdorf (73.72%)
2. Henri Ruoste (FIN) and Tiffanys Diamond (72.19%)
3. Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike (71.51%)
4. João Miguel Torrao (POR) and Lirio MVL (71.4%)

How does qualification for the freestyle work at the dressage World Championships?

The top 18 combinations from the grand prix special will qualify for tomorrow’s freestyle, for which there are another set of medals.

However, the maximum number of combinations from each country is three. This means that for strong dressage nations, who have four riders through to the grand prix special, a competitor who finishes in the top 18 finish does not automatically bag a ticket to the freestyle.

Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline's Danciera, the sole combination from the world gold medal-winning Danish team in 2022, are into second (70.17%) behind their team-mates Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdorf (73.72%).

I expect that Finland’s Therese Nilshagen will be very pleased with Navarro. He’s only 10, so still young in dressage terms, and there was a lot to like from his performance and attitude in the grand prix special today.

Their canter zigzag swept across the arena and their forward movements were really flowing. There were just a few times they lost impulsion, resulting in the odd stutter in some of the collected movements and the two-time changes – he’s got a big future ahead of him.

They scored 70.17%.