Legendary German Equestrian Sports Site Hosts World-Class Competition This Week

Among the various showdowns on tap is CDI4* and CDIO5* (Nations Cup) Dressage, with top-ranked rider Isabell Werth competing before her home crowd in the traditionally horse-rich region. In front of tens of thousands of knowledgeable spectators at Deutsche Bank Stadium in Aachen, also known in some countries as Aix-la-Chapelle, Werth will be riding Emilio and Weihegold OLD. And the most decorated equestrian Olympian in history will be facing elite rivals such as the United States’ Laura Graves and Verdades.

In a recent interview with CHIO Aachen organizers, World No.4 Graves paid tribute to her illustrious German counterpart, saying Werth was undoubtedly the rider to beat in Aachen this year: “Because of the way she rides she succeeds in schooling one horse after another up to top level sport,” Graves said. “She demonstrates incredible precision in the dressage arena – by the way, I try to copy this in my daily training.”

As described previously, in their sport Dressage riders “lead their mounts through different ‘tests’, or series of movements which are judged using criteria corresponding to the difficulty of the techniques, as in figure skating. The movements, with names like the ‘Passage’ (a rhythmic trotting motion), the ‘Pirouette’, ‘Flying Change of Leg’ and ‘Half-pass’ are rooted in the centuries-old training system of the Imperial Spanish Riding School of Vienna, established in the 16th century.”

The history of Dressage is said to go back to ancient Greece, where military officers trained their horses how to manoeuvre in battle. And Great Britain will have three riders heading into the fray in Germany’s westernmost city: Gillian Davison (Alfranco), Emile Faurie (Lollipop 126) and Hayley Watson-Greaves (Rubins Nite). For Ireland, Judy Reynolds is set to compete with Vancouver K.

Of course, elite Show Jumping is also taking place this week in Aachen, with Scott Brash and four other British pairs chasing a spot on the podium. For their part, Bertram Allen and Cian O’Connor will be representing the Emerald Isle. To see all of the world-class field in the different disciplines on the scene in Aachen this summer, click here.