Legendary Aachen has it all–pomp, an incredible sense of the occasion, an educated audience (45,000 were in the stands for the show jumping Nations Cup) that knows when to cheer and when to groan. But most important, of course, is the wide array of equestrian competition it offers–dressage, show jumping, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting.
With the World Equestrian Games no longer on the global schedule, the German production more than fills the gap. In fact, Aachen hosted the most successful WEG in 2006, a standard to which its successors aspired but never quite were able to match.
The opening ceremonies on Tuesday served notice of the splendor that would follow, with all manner of pageantry. Each year, Aachen picks a partner nation to salute, and this year it was Britain. That meant a visit from Princess Anne and the Household Cavalry (our cover photo), as well as racing Shetland ponies. The theme song for the evening was the Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love.”
The setting of the main arena is a true landscape in the city, complete with hedges and a lake. The big names in every discipline wouldn’t miss Aachen. The dressage Grand Prix and the show jumping Mercedes Benz Nations Cup today involved a face-off of the biggest in those disciplines.
Buoyed by double-clears from 2012 Olympic gold medalist Steve Guerdat (Venard de Cerisy) and former European Champion Marcus Fuchs (Commissar Pezi), the Swiss took the show jumping title for the first time since 2002. The class, worth 1 million Euros, was touch and go until the end. When Martin went clear, it clinched the title for his country.
Martin Fuchs proclaims victory for Switzerland after a clear round that clinched the Cup for his homeland.
Switzerland had only 4 penalties after the two rounds. Great Britain and Belgium were tied on 8, but the British got the nod for second place because they were faster in the second round.
The U.S. was fourth of eight teams on 12 penalties. McLain Ward went double clear on Callas. All eyes will be on him Sunday as he tries to win the final leg of the Rolex Grand Slam, after taking the first two segments in Geneva and the Netherlands. His performance today qualified him to compete in the grand prix this weekend.
Second-best for the U.S. was McLain’s 2018 WEG gold medal teammate, Devin Ryan of Long Valley, N.J., who had one rail in the first round and was clean in the second on Eddie Blue. It was a triumphant return to Aachen for Devin, who missed major classes with Eddie for a long time after the horse suffered a bone bruise.
Team newcomer Natalie Dean had a rail in each round with Acota M, while Laura Kraut logged two rails in the first round and one in the second with her 2021 Olympic team silver medal mount, Baloutinue.
“We always aim for the podium, and we just barely missed it in fourth, against eight of the top teams in the world. So not disappointed,” said U.S. Coach Robert Ridland.
“McLain of course did his normal double-clean in the anchor spot. The energy and excitement here at the sold-out stadium at Aachen is, as always, the epitome of the sport, the Wimbledon of show jumping. The atmosphere actually was a bit much for Baloutinue, and he ended up being quite an uncharacteristic handful for Laura.
McLain Ward on the field at Aachen with Callas. (Photo courtesy USEF)
“Natalie in her first big-time Nations Cup was very impressive and it was great to have Devin and Eddie Blue back on our team after his absence due to injury following the world championships in 2018…also a very impressive performance.”
Devin Ryan and Eddie Blue. (Photo courtesy of USEF)
In the dressage Grand Prix, Germany’s Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl, world number one and two-time World Cup winner, with TSF Dalera BB; Britain’s Charlotte Dujardin on Imhotep, a son of Everdale, a stallion who was being ridden at Aachen by another famous Brit, World Champion Lottie Fry (she won the world title on Glamourdale; like Everdale, by the stallion Lord Leatherdale).
Germany’s Jessica von Bredow-Werndl
Two-time Olympic gold medalist Charlotte is back after having baby Isabella Rose. Jessica was absent from the world championships last year after she gave birth. It’s nice to see these women aren’t missing a beat once their babies have arrived.
Jessica, Charlotte and Lottie finished 1,2,3, with only Jessica breaking 80 percent, which she did after a slow start that she left behind with her usual verve and a strong finish to earn 82.304 percent. She got a 10 for her final halt.
In the beginning of her test, she explained In the first salute, the mare was slightly restless and lifted her left hind leg.
“That is an energy thing,” Jessica explained.“She can hardly wait for us to start.”
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and her fabulous mare. (Photo courtesy CHIO Aachen.)
Germany topped the competition with a score of 235.413, while Denmark finished second (228.608). Britain came oh-so-close behind on 228.565.
Charlotte, who warmed up Wednesday in the Prix St. Georges with a victory on her “ballerina,,” Times Kismet, earned a score of 79.782 on Imhotep in the team competition. That’s remarkable, considering her relatively brief competitive partnership with “Pete,” as the Dutchbred stallion is known. Lottie’s mark was 78.913.
Charlotte noted, “My goal was to compete here, and here I am, I came second and am absolutely delighted with Imhotep. How he coped so well with the atmosphere here, at the biggest, best equestrian show in the world. He is an inexperienced horse, he hasn’t done many Grand Prix tests yet, he is 10 years old and it is such fun riding him! He is so full of energy and has so many highlights. He is the horse with the best piaffe I have ever sat on.”
And that’s saying something. Remember, she rode the great Valegro to her Olympic gold medals.
Lottie was enthused with her finish.
“I know what Everdale is capable of. But for everything to go right on day X and in the arena in Aachen, that is something different. So I couldn’t have been happier today. I was actually a bit emotional after the test because he felt so super and I am looking forward to the next class.”
That is Saturday’s Grand Prix Special, which will determine the final team placings.
The U.S. wound up eighth of eight teams in the Grand Prix on 213.638. Anna Buffini on FRH Davinia la Douce was last to go in the class, but led the way for America in 17th place with a score of 72.804, backed up by Alice Tarjan, 23d on the petite Serenade MF (71.087). Susie Dutta (69.739) 30th on Don Design DC also figured in the total, with Sarah Tubman 31st on First Apple having the drop score, 69.67.
Anna Buffini and Davinia La Douce. (Photo courtesy USEF)
As the anchor rider, Anna was ready to handle the pressure of her second Aachen experience.
Although her mare “was the most difficult she’s been beforehand,” Anna and trainer Guenter Seidel were “really soft with her and just waiting for her to get her legs under her again and feel good again after the travel. She had the fire in her eyes. She was excited to go.”
Driving dressage was running at the same time as ridden dressage, with the USA’s Chester Weber taking the lead on 38.85 penalties, just ahead of world number one Boyd Exell of Australia on 38.92, far past third-place Bram Chardon (48.38) from the Netherlands. Bram is ranked world number two, and Chester is world number 16.
At half-time of the show jumping,16-year-old DSP Alice was retired to the refrain of “One Moment in Time.” She was German rider Simone Blum’s partner in taking the show jumping world championships at the 2018 WEG in North Carolina. The mare wore a sheet that bore the words, “Thank you, Alice.”
Said Simone, “I wouldn’t be where I am now without Alice. She has always been my soulmate. Because she is so unique, we have a very special connection.”
Simone Blum and DSP Alice.
Check back for another update. In the meantime, get individual dressage results at this link. Find team dressage results here.
To see jumping results, click here.
