by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 10, 2026
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.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 5, 2026
First it was Marilyn Little withdrawing La Contessa from the U.S. show jumping team at this month’s world championships in Aachen, Germany. Then came Phillip Dutton’s substitution of his back-up mount, Denim, for Possante on the U.S. eventing team.
On Saturday the U.S. Equestrian Federation has announced another U.S. world championships team drop-out, Genay Vaughn and Gino. Their place will be taken by Meagan Davis and Toronto Lightfoot.
It’s the second change in less than a week. On Wednesday, Jordan LaPlaca said he was stepping aside from the dressage team, with Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat WP taking the place of himself and Gold Play on the squad.
Jordan LaPlaca and Gold Play.
“In the spirit of staying true to my core convictions as a horseman and as a committed partner to my horse, Gold Play, I have decided to withdraw from this year’s FEI Dressage World Championships. Gold Play is okay and that is the most important thing,” Jordan announced.
“But as a member of the U.S. team, I have to do what is best not only for my horse, but for the entire team as well. This is not the end, just the beginning of great things still to come.”
Jordan, who was fifth in the national Grand Prix Championships in May, is short on experience internationally. Kasey has been a team medalist in both the Olympics and World Equestrian Games. Those honors came with her previous horse, Dublet. Heartbeat has far less milage. He and Casey were fifteenth at the national Grand Prix championships, where they withdrew from the freestyle.
Kasey Perry-Glass and Heartbeat WP.
This is a building year for the U.S. dressage team, as it looks toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Team members will get experience at the world championships next week, but there is no chance of a U.S. medal in the discipline there.
The country is short on proven horse power at the top level. Jane, a veteran of the Paris Olympics with Marcus Orlob, has been rehabbing from injury for most of this year and was not a contender for the world championships team. The top-ranked U.S. horse internationally, Indian Rock, has been resting since the national championships, where he dropped out before the freestyle.
Things could be worse. Canada had only two entries for the world championships eventing. Now Michael Winter has withdrawn after his Olympic veteran, El Mundo, sustained an injury during his prep work and can’t compete. Now Jessica Winter and the Fluorescent Adolescent are Canada’s only represntatives in the discipline at the championships.
Mike explained about his horse, known as Roberto, “The care and well-being of Roberto, and of all our equine partners, is paramount. The most important thing is that Roberto is here at home, being well-cared for.
“Not because of what he has done for us, or what he may still do, but because he is a valued partner entrusted to our care. We have a responsibility to make the best decisions we can for him, always with his long-term welfare at heart and with the goal of creating the best possible outcomes throughout his career and his life.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2026
Author and ground-breaking trainer Monty Roberts died Saturday at his ranch in California. He was 91.
His best-selling memoir, “The Man Who Listens to Horses,” was read by millions of people and made him an international sensation.
The horse-training method he called “Join-Up” involved trust-based communications, detailing a sympathetic way for humans to interact with them. He mentored the late Queen Elizabeth II after she learned of his methods in 1989. They often were photographed together while he worked with her horses.
Monty Roberts at work.
The son of a trainer, Monty started as a stunt double for Elizabeth Taylor and others, while training such actors as James Dean for East of Eden.
But growing up, he saw things he didn’t like in the ways people “training” horses interacted with them.
“My father trained horses in the traditional way, 6,000 years of methods handed down generationally, often violent and rarely fair to the horse. He expected me to follow in his footsteps and so I was also violently disciplined in the only way he knew how, through pain and force. I vowed to seek better methods for my horses.
“I first learned to listen to horses while observing wild mustangs in Nevada at the age of thirteen. Sent there to round up horses for the Salinas Rodeo Association’s Wild Horse Race, I spent hours silently watching the feral horses interact with each other.”
Monty and Shy Boy, who died this year at the age of 33.
Monty sought an alternative to the rough horse training involving force and fear that he too often witnessed, paving the way to the kinder natural horsemanship approach that is widely favored today.
He believed horses communicated through a language he called “Equus.” By understanding and respectfully using this language in a round pen, he showed that a trainer could invite a horse to voluntarily “join up” and choose partnership with a human.
His daughter, Debbie Roberts Loucks, commented, “For the world, he was known as the man who listens to horses. To me, he was simply Dad, a man of extraordinary kindness, unwavering integrity, and an unshakable belief that trust could accomplish what force never could.
“For more than eight decades, he dedicated his life to changing the way people understand and work with horses. His mission reached far beyond horsemanship. He believed that true leadership is built on communication, patience, empathy, and respect; lessons that have touched the lives of countless people around the world.
“Our family is deeply grateful for the love, friendship, and support you have shown him throughout his remarkable life. Your letters, visits, stories, and shared experiences have meant more than you could ever know. Together, you became part of a worldwide community united by a common belief that both horses and people thrive when they are treated with kindness and understanding.”
Through his organization, Join-Up International, based in Solvang, Calif., he promoted his methods, teaching horse owners, trainers, and even corporate leaders about non-adversarial communication.
Monty is survived by his wife, Pat Roberts; his children, Debbie and her sister, Laurel Roberts, as well as “a legacy that forever changed how humanity interacts with the horse.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jul 15, 2026
The Los Angeles Olympics and Paralympics are two years away, but it’s time to apply if you’re interested in volunteering at the Games.
Maybe you can buy a ticket, or maybe not,(there’s great demand) but it’s more fun to be part of the action than it is just to watch. Being a volunteer means swag and all sorts of possibilities, from interacting with athletes to being part of the ceremonies and so many other jobs.
You don’t have to be in the Los Angeles area; volunteers also are being sought in Oklahoma City, New York City; Columbus, Ohio; Nashville, St. Louis, San José and San Diego. But equestrian is in Arcadia, Calif., just outside LA.
Volunteers with sport roles (such as equestrian) will assist with field-of-play operations and maintaining a safe, organized and fair environment for athletes. They will play a crucial role in supporting competition readiness, managing equipment or athlete areas and ensuring that sessions run smoothly and efficiently. Your area of expertise also will help determine your type of volunteer participation.
You must be 18 at the time of your application and be proficient in reading and writing English. Click here if you want to apply. To be in line for an equestrian volunteer job, use this code: 9SMGGA3Q
Or would you like to buy a ticket instead?
July 22 is the final day to register for the second LA28 Ticket Draw for the opportunity to purchase Olympic tickets in Drop 2.
Fans who previously registered for the first LA28 Ticket Draw but didn’t receive a time slot or didn’t purchase their ticket maximums during their time slot in Drop 1 will automatically be entered into the draw for Drop 2.
Additionally, qualifying LA28 Visa cardholders also have until July 22 to opt into the LA28 Visa Presale Ticket Draw, an early purchase window running July 29–31, ahead of Drop 2. Existing registrants can opt in by logging into their account at Tickets.LA28.org, navigating to their profile and checking the Visa Presale box. Paralympic tickets won’t be sold until next year.
Click here to reach the LA28 ticket page.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 1, 2026
An injury to Possante in training has led to his replacement for the world eventing championships in Aachen this month. But Phillip Dutton still will be on the team. He had a direct back-up in Denim, who will be his starter in Germany.
“Unfortunately, Possante has come up with an injury in training. He will heal well but not in time for the WEG (world championships).. My huge condolences to Impy and all of his owners! We were really clicking well,” Phillip announced on social media.
Phillip and Possante (Any Dragoo photo)
“It has been an emotional roller coaster of a week to say the least, as, fortunately for me, Denim was then selected as Impy’s replacement. I’m really excited still to be a part of the U.S. team in a very special venue at Aachen.
Possante won the final pre-Aachen competition at the Horse Park of New Jersey last month, where Denim was second.
by Nancy Jaffer | Aug 2, 2026
As the Neustädter Pferdesommer dressage show in Germany came to a close on Sunday, three-time Olympian Adrienne Lyle had to take a back seat again to one of her students.
Quinn Iverson scored a personal best in the 4-star Grand Prix Special with Billie Davidson’s Gremlin 41, an Oldenburg gelding by Grey Flanell. That combination was marked at 70.745 percent for the win, while Adrienne — winner of the Grand Prix in the division on Thursday — was second with Helix on 70.383 percent. The other American in the competition, Meagan Davis, finished fifth on 67.894 percent with Toronto Lightfoot.
Although there is a large U.S. dressage contingent set to compete in Aachen, Germany, for this month’s world championships, Adrienne is not on the team, since she didn’t apply to be considered. She was the winner in May at the World Equestrian Center’s 3-star competition in Florida with Helix, a 14-year-old KWPN gelded son of Apache.
Another of Adrienne’s students, Katie Duerrhammer on Kylee Lourie’s Rosebank VH, was victorious Friday in the 1-Star Prix St. Georges on a personal best of 73.775 percent. Adrienne had to settle for second on Hussman’s Top Gun with 71.765 percent.
On Saturday, in the 1-star Intermediare I, it was the same story. Katie had another personal best in first place on Rosebank with a score of 74.559 for the 8-year-old Swedish warmblood stallion., Adrienne was second on Top Gun (72.794), who, like Helix, is owned by Zen Elite. Her biggest loss of points with the evolving son of Totilas was in the flying changes every three strides, where she received two marks of 4, two of 5 and one of 6.
On Sunday, Katie Duerrhammer won the Intermediare I with Liam Neeson, 72.939. She was the only U.S. rider in the class.
click here for results in the Grand Prix. Click here for results in the Prix St. Georges. Click here for results in the I-1. Click here for results in the Special
