The final day of the CHIO Aachen World Equestrian Festival is always emotional, ending with the aufwiedersehen tradition of the crowd and competitors waving goodbye as white handkerchiefs flutter everywhere in the stadium to the accompaniment of the German folk song, Muss i Denn.
But the competition that wrapped up this afternoon seemed even more poignant than usual in terms of the high passion synonymous with one of the world’s great horse shows.
There was a lot to take in, from Rolex Grand Prix winner Marcus Ehning of Germany weeping following his victory, to dressage champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl’s tears after taking the freestyle and the disappointment (well-handled) of McLain Ward losing his chance at the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping (Read the details in the On the Rail section of this website.)
And then Ludger Beerbaum spontaneously grabbed a microphone and announced that he is retiring from show jumping.
As he looks ahead to his 60th birthday next month, the 1992 Olympic individual gold medalist explained, “Now is the time to make room for the younger generation. It is a pleasure for me to take this step at the most beautiful tournament in the world, which is not easy for me.” Or for the 45,000 in the grandstand, either, as tears came to their eyes while the German superstar rode his last lap of honor in what to him (and many others) is a sacred place.
Today’s victory on Stargold was the third for Marcus in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen; he also won in 2006 and 2018.
The class was a marathon, with 40 starters (all of whom had to qualify in order to compete) riding over an appropriately challenging Frank Rothenberger-designed course in the vast stadium, complete with its lake, hedges and ditches.
Frank conceded, “Sometimes designing the course can be difficult, because the arena is so big, so we have to make sure we include some technical combinations and lines instead of just related distances. I think the best courses use a mixture of modern course designing with a bit of everything.”
Marcus Ehning and Stargold in the vastness of the Aachen stadium–talk about atmosphere.
The original group was whittled down to the top 18 for a second round (although only 17 went because the 18th qualified, Laura Kraut of the USA, withdrew Baloutinue after he over-reached and grabbed himself in the first round.)
From the group of 17 that went over another course, five were tied on zero penalties to jump off over yet a different route. Four of them were past winners of the grand prix.
The only one in the group who hadn’t won the grand prix, Mexico’s Eugenio Garza Perez, had a rail at the Mercedes oxer with the lovely grey, Contango. They would finish fifth, but Eugenio earned the award for being the most stylish jumper rider at the show.
Next up was Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, who had been Olympic and world championships individual gold medalist, as well as a three-time winner of the FEI World Cup Finals. His mount, Major Tom, was really trying, but knocked a pole at the Grand Slam fence. His time of 47.08 was better than Garza’s 48.77, however, so he moved ahead in the placings.
Germany’s Philipp Weishaupt, the 2016 winner who was third to go, also had a rail at the Mercedes fence with his 9-year-old Zineday, the youngest horse in the class. But his time of 43.36 (which would be the fastest of the tiebreaker) insured that at least there would be a German winner.
The 2021 winner, Daniel Deusser, produced the first triple clear of the day on the horse who has the coolest name, Killer Queen VDM. He also left the jumps intact, but his time of 45.73 was eminently beatable, as illustrated by Philipp’s clocking.
So Marcus did exactly that, bringing Stargold through the finish line 0.61 seconds faster than Daniel.
Stargold made a statement after his victory.
“I tried to put a bit of pressure on Marcus,” said Daniel.
“I have mixed feelings; of course I would like to be standing on the winning podium, but even if I had ridden a second faster, Marcus would probably have done the same.“
Philipp blamed himself for his dropped rail, but pointed out “No one else had such a young horse. So, sitting here on the podium next to these two guys with their experienced championship horses is a great result.”
Speaking of his win, a delighted Marcus stated: “I was the last to go in the jump-off, and he was incredible. I couldn’t really watch the horses before me, but I know he is such a fast horse – I didn’t want to take too many risks and in the end, it all worked out.”
The crowd was behind him, he noted, saying, “I could feel their energy and I wanted to give them something back. So long as I rode well, I thought my horse could do it – I was slightly lucky in the second round, but without luck, you can’t win. Today was my day.”
Marcus Ehning and Stargold triumphant. (Photo by Tiffany van Halle)
Overjoyed and overcome, Marcus said, “It is absolutely amazing, my horse is a superstar and I really believe in him. I was the last to go in the jump-off, and he was incredible. I couldn’t really watch the horses before me, but I know he is such a fast horse.”
At the same time, he added, he was a bit cautious, explaining, “I didn’t want to take too many risks, and in the end, it all worked out.”
When it did, he took off his helmet, waved it around and then buried his face in the neck of his 11-year-old Oldenburg stallion by Stakkato Gold.
Marcus Ehning, overcome by emotion buries his head in Stargold’s neck.
Marcus emphasized, “Stargold is incredible, not many people believed in him, but last year at the FEI World Championships he showed how class he is. He is a very clever horse, and I am so proud of him and very thankful to his owners” (Elmrock BV).
Now Marcus is embarking on his own Grand Slam crusade. The Grand Slam prize goes to a rider who wins three of the events in the series, with Spruce Meadows in Canada the next up.
Before the white handkerchiefs came out, each nation competing at Aachen sent its riders into the arena for a farewell, passing between the stands and a line-up of Great Britain’s Household Cavalry. Workers were kept busy raising and lowering the appropriate flags as the anthem of each nation played.
Britain was Aachen’s partner this year. Annually, the show picks a country to be saluted. It’s the turn of the U.S.in 2024, but I ask you: What do we have that can match the pomp of the British Household Cavalry? Not only are the members of that group resplendent in their beplumed helmets and gold braid, but they also have swords and lances — and know how to use them. One demonstrated by galloping his horse past a hanging watermelon and slashing it in half with his saber. The other demonstrated tent-pegging (a former FEI discipline not practiced in many parts of the world) by taking his lance and sticking it through a peg and pulling it out of the ground (at a full gallop, of course).
You have 12 months, USA. Figure out how we can show off to that wonderful crowd at Aachen.
For the Rolex Grand Prix results, click here.
