The FEI World Championships get underway Tuesday at Aachen with Grand Prix dressage competition, as 19 nations (with 91 riders) take part.
The competition begins at 2 a.m. Eastern time, but if you don’t want to get up well before dawn, we will have everything covered on this site. So come back Tuesday afternoon to read what happened, and check in every day after that for a rundown on the six-discipline championships, which end Aug. 23.
In dressage, while only four teams would seem to have a real chance for making the podium when the medals are awarded on Wednesday, there are always surprises.
Twenty years ago, when Aachen hosted the World Equestrian Games (basically the same event, different name, no endurance competition) a lovely grey mare from Denmark, Blue Hors Matine, burst on the scene to produce the top score in the Grand Prix and take bronze in the Special.
Blu Hors Matine was a sensation 20 years ago, the last time the world championships were held at Aachen
So who knows what unexpected star or stars might get our attention in a big way this time around.
In the team ranks, however, the medal surprises won’t include the U.S. squad, which has been plagued by dropouts and the absence of the country’s top two horses, Jane and Indian Rock, rehabbing and resting respectively. But while the other nations are vying for places in the 2028 LA Olympics, the U.S. has no issues there — the home team automatically qualifies.
The big medal contenders include Great Britain, with reigning dressage world champion Lottie Fry (Glamourdale), reigning World Cup Champion Becky Moody and her homebred Jaegerbomb, as well as the architect of British dressage success, Carl Hester (Fame).
Unlike the Olympics, which allows only three riders on a team with all scores to count, the world championships permits a quartet on each squad. In Britain’s case, that’s Fiona Bigwood and another homebred, Donna Bella. Four on a team means leeway, since the worst score can be dropped when the totals are figured.
Teams in contention obviously include Germany, which enjoys a home-side advantage and the charisma of multi, multi-medalist Isabell Werth (Wendy de Fontaine). Denmark and Belgium each have power generated by their star riders, respectively Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour (Mount St. John Freestyle) and Justin Verboomen (Zonik Plus). Also, keep an eye on Spain, which is improving and interesting to watch with LA28 in mind.