Competing in the Aachen Challenge has been a goal for many young Australian riders since its inception in 1995. This year, a revised format and fresh support from six-time Olympian Mary Hanna and husband Rob means the prestigious class is still helping young riders achieve their dreams more than 25 years later.
“Our young riders were
really at a disadvantage. “
When you walk through the gates of CHIO Aachen, you step into another world; a concentrated equestrian mecca where elite sport meets entertainment as the world’s best riders strive for glory in front of adoring crowds. An event steeped in history and tradition, there is something very special about ‘Chee-oh’. For young Australians with big dreams, experiencing such an event first-hand gives a taste of what the big-time sport looks like. It’s sure to inspire.
More than 25 years ago, FEI 5* dressage judge Susie Hoevenaars was adjudicating at a derby event in Germany when she was struck by the idea of running a similar event for young Australian riders. “German international judge, Uwe Spenlen, was at the show judging and he helped me to organise the format,” explains Susie. “I wanted to give our young riders the opportunity we never had, to travel overseas and see for themselves the world’s elite riders at both Small and Big Tour level,” she continues, explaining how the concept came about to provide an overseas trip to the young winner of the planned new event.
“The biggest show in the world is CHIO Aachen – also known as the World Equestrian Festival – and I asked the director, Frank Kemperman, for his support, which he was only too willing to give.” Frank has been at the helm of the show since 1993, and this year’s show is due to be his last as retirement beckons later this year.
“For young dressage enthusiasts, CHIO Aachen is such a prestigious event on the international equestrian calendar that it draws the best competitors, competing with their up-and-coming young horses as well as those more established at Grand Prix level.
“At that time (of the Aachen Challenge’s inauguration), there were not many training videos, and to actually be among the riders and trainers and see them working in real life is a very different feel to seeing them in a video,” explain Susie. “Our young riders were – and still are – really at a disadvantage. It is not possible, given our distance from Europe, to hop in a car and drive over the border to see the best; Australia is thousands of miles from the centre of our sport. It makes such a difference if a young rider is able to see the world’s top combinations in reality, not just video. It is a real stimulus. A flight to Europe is expensive and not everyone can afford this, so we wanted to give them this opportunity.”
The inaugural Aachen Challenge took place in 1995 at what was then called the Diana Ferrari Dressage Festival in Victoria; Susie was the event director at the time. This then become P.S.I. Dressage & Jumping with the Stars, and the Aachen Challenge has remained part of the program ever since. The class is open to riders from the beginning of the calendar year in which they turn 16 to the end of the calendar year in which they turn 25, and to qualify, the combination must have competed at FEI Young Rider or Prix St Georges level in the 12 months prior. The horse does not need to be owned by the rider and can be borrowed for the competition, however, a horse and rider combination that has previously won the Aachen Challenge is ineligible to enter again.
The class is loved by spectators and has become a dream and goal for many young dressage riders to take part. Susie explains that the original derby concept, whereby the top three riders from the first round swap horses in the final, was intended as a “true test of horsemanship”.
“It is now all about
the quality of the training.”
CHANGING FORMATS
Just like any other event, the Aachen Challenge has evolved with the times and this year the class will see a format change with a greater focus on rider ability.
The competition still consists of two rounds, with riders completing the FEI Young Rider Preliminary Competition test initially. “The top three riders then go through to a second round,” explains Susie. “In past years, the riders rode each other’s horses in the second round, but now they ride their own with the focus much more on rider ability. There are two assessments, one for technical and the other for assessing the quality of the rider, looking at the rider’s position and seat, the effectiveness of their aids, the precision and general impression. As we have progressed as a sport, we are now even more aware of the welfare of horses; previously, with each horse being ridden by each rider it could be fairly demanding, and so that is why we have changed the format.
“With the permission of the FEI we are using the Regional Games Individual Competition test in the second round, together with a second ‘Quality of Riding’ assessment. One judge sits at C, judging the dressage test as they would normally, while two other judges sit on the side together, assessing the quality of riding,” says Susie of the new format.
“The quality sheet is divided into four sections, and focuses on the rider’s seat and position, together with the effectiveness of the aids. It is a real test as to the rider’s ability to correctly influence their horse and demonstrate the correct training at that level and to be able to show the correctness of the paces and basic training in harmony with their horse. To do this effectively and correctly demonstrates a high degree of riding ability, and the quality of the horse only has a minimal impact.” The percentage from the ‘quality judges’ will then be averaged with the score from the judge at C to give the final scores.
“This is our sport’s future.”
A NEW SUPPORTER
This year’s Aachen Challenge not only involves a revised format, but also new support in six-time Olympian Mary Hanna and her husband, Rob, who are sponsoring the event.
“Mary and I care for the future of our sport and we want to nurture and encourage our talented young riders,” declares Susie. “Mary knows from her own success how important access to international training and competition is, and also how important it is for the understanding of the development of collection, lightness and ease, and most of all the correct way of going. It is all about training correctly and well from the beginning.”
Susie is also well aware of the importance of having access to international training and competition herself; after all, she’s judged the world’s best many times having adjudicated at multiple World Championships (previously the World Equestrian Games), European Championships, Dressage World Breeding Championships for Young Horses and World Cup Finals, as well as more recently the Tokyo Olympics.
“It is vital for the future of our young riders that they develop good basics. It is not enough anymore to just ‘do the tricks’. It is now all about the quality of the training. To develop into future Grand Prix riders, they need opportunities like the Aachen Challenge.
“This is our sport’s future, and many of our young riders dream of emulating Mary’s achievements, and have the Olympics as their ultimate goal. But dreams have to start somewhere and if Australian young riders are to have any chance they need to have very good basics, see first-hand what they need to be doing, and then they need to be given the opportunity to achieve this.
“They are our stars of the future and hopefully the Aachen Challenge puts them on the pathway to successful riding careers and fulfilling their dreams to represent Australia internationally.” EQ
This year’s Aachen Challenge, supported by Mary and Rob Hanna, will take place at Dressage & Jumping with the Stars (24-26 March) at Werribee Park National Equestrian Centre. Round one is on Friday, 25 March, and the final will be held on Saturday, 26 March. For further information and tickets, visit djwts.org.au.
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