The echoing thrum of thousands of equine enthusiasts reverberates, softened by verdant grass, bronze equine statues and water features honouring 125 years of history. This is CHIO Aachen, the greatest horse show in the world. A place of champions.
Welcome to CHIO Aachen, where the goosebumps hit you the moment you arrive. The main stadium is engraved with the champions of the sport, a running list of excellence in jumping, dressage, eventing, four-in-hand driving and vaulting.
On the opening day of the dressage, the sun hid behind the clouds for most of the time, defying this northern summer. Yet the breezy event goers sipped on their sunny orange pop of Aperol spritz to set the summery scene. Despite the overcast sky, the hedge-trimmed avenue leading to the Deutsche Bank Stadium – the home of dressage at Aachen – was flushed with pink roses in bloom, resolute in a declaration of the European season.
If the towering stadiums, immaculate gardens and bronze horse statues dotted throughout the grounds don’t insist that you are somewhere iconic, the first combination spotted in the warm-up ring removes any doubt. Current world champion, Lottie Fry, upon the Glamourdale gelding Kashmir, is quietly being overseen by Anne Van Olst, just 10 metres away.
Inside the famed Deutsch Bank Stadium, it is surprisingly intimate. Bright purple flowers dress the arena, gently swaying in the breeze, a prelude to the dancing that is to take place here on this illustrious ground. Every sound resonates throughout – the creaking of leather tack, the rhythmical breathing of the horses, the cadence of every step these world-class equines take in the five days of dressage scheduled here.
DAY ONE
Charlotte Dujardin is back with a bang in the CDI1* FEI Prix St Georges
The start list for the Prix St Georges was heavily peppered with big names, a dressage boulevard of stars. But it is Charlotte Dujardin in her first ride back at Aachen since 2019 who steals the show!
The three-time Olympic gold medallist entered the arena on the eight-year-old KWPN bay mare, Times Kismet, by Ampere x Lord Leatherdale, to ride a mistake-free test. The pair were the epitome of class, and the mare, whom Charlotte describes as green, defied her inexperience and appeared every bit the consummate competitor under Charlotte’s masterful guidance.
During the prize-giving ceremony – with Charlotte’s husband Dean blowing raspberries on their baby daughter, Isabella – the mare stood surprisingly calm and poised in her first major tournament away from home, highlighting the trust between horse and rider.
The CHIO Aachen 2023 event partnership with Great Britain was echoed in the prize-giving. Germany’s Frederic Wandres was in second place on the British bred Hanoverian stallion, Duke of Britain, with a score of 73.883%. Switzerland’s Andina Suter took third place on the Westphalian gelding Briatore NRW by Bellisimo on 72.794%.
Charlotte Fry keeps the crowd on edge in the CDI4*
The star-studded combinations in the Four-Star Grand Prix ensured spectators didn’t look away and had the crowd on the edge of their seats till the last. The hometown fans were ecstatic when Frederic Wandres, the eighth combination to start, took and maintained the lead with a score of 76.945%. With Lottie Fry last to go on the chestnut Negro son, Lars van de Honderheide, the pair looked to steal the lead right down to the final halt. The German-strong crowd, holding their breath, erupted as the British combination had to concede and finish in second place on a score of 75.196%.
Our Aussie, Will Matthew, makes a grand entrance in the CDI4*
The small contingent of Aussies puffed their chests as the fourth rider, William Matthew, and the 10-year-old Oldenburg bay gelding, Mysterious Star, powered their way down the centreline for a solid entry. “It’s that first moment when you ride into that stadium that you realise how big it is (and) I think it’s important to not let that first moment throw your focus,” said Will.
The pair’s first extended trot delivered solid 7s to 7.5s from the judges and these scores were prevalent throughout the test, proving our Will was indeed focused. However, it was the canter tour that cost the duo.
“Mysterious Star did his best; I made the mistake of misjudging how warm it was and warmed up for too long. Sadly he was completely out of steam by the time we got to the canter tour and then had a lot of expensive mistakes. It was a huge learning curve; just a shame we had to have it at this amazing show!” Will said he was proud of Mysterious Star at the final halt and there is no doubt his Aussie followers are of the same sentiment.
DAY TWO
The dazzle of Dalera
A gloomy sky dangled overhead and a layer of humidity draped the air, but it wasn’t enough to supress the excitement of the promise of world-class brilliance from today’s starters. The big names were out again for the scheduled FEI Grand Prix CDIO5* in the Lamberts Nations’ Cup.
Isabell Werth entered as the sixth rider and the crowd were animated when her final halt drew straight eights from the judges. Her test of 76.02%, however, was not enough for the epic showdown from the formidable talent still to come. The Brits, with Charlotte Fry on the black Van Olst stallion Everdale and Charlotte Dujardin on his son Imhotep, looked set to take first and second places. But once again it was Germany who claimed victory.
You could have heard a pin drop as Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and the Trakehner mare, TSF Dalera BB, entered the stadium in Jessica’s first appearance at Aachen in three years. An air of excitement rippled through the stadium as the Olympic gold medal combination cantered around the arena, the cadence of Dalera’s canter resounding as they waited for the bell. Her halt had the mare looking a little unsettled as she lifted her hind leg (in a quirk that continued for all her subsequent tests of the competition). The halt was soon forgotten, with the pair notching up 10s for the piaffe. The seasoned campaigners went on to seal the first above-80% score of the tournament and secure the win on 81.021%.
DAY THREE
Britain’s future looks bright with a win in the Young Riders
It was a day of brilliant sunshine that shone as bright as the talent in the CDIY Individual Test. A list of 12 riders battled it out in a close competition that proved Annabella Pidgley is the current radiant star. The 18-year-old Brit was fifth to start on Espe, the nine-year-old mare by Escolar. She took and maintained the lead in a convincing demonstration of why she is seventh on the Young Riders world ranking list with a winning score of 74.441%. Annabella said she had such a magical experience through the whole test and was so proud of the mare. Sweden’s Hedda Thunberg was second with 71.059% and Erin Nichols from the USA came in third with 71.029%.
Double delight for Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain
Again, the start list glittered with big names in the CDI4*, and as the day heated up so did the competition in the Grand Prix Special. In a show of consistency, the German and British theme continued yet again as Frederic Wandres and Lottie Fry battled it out for their place in the sun.
The two were back-to-back with Lottie staking her claim first with a score of 75.128% on the striking chestnut Lars van de Honderheide. With Frederic riding directly after Lottie on Duke of Britain, the pair chased their tail the whole test to claim victory with a winning score of 75.894%. The exuberant home crowd couldn’t contain themselves and it was a concert-like stomping crowd and a grinning Wandres for the lap of honour.
DAY FOUR
Rain did not dampen the hundreds of thousands of spectators flowing into CHIO Aachen on the Saturday and it was elbow-to-elbow throughout the whole venue. The champagne flowed at the Taittinger Tent and the beer tents offered standing room only in the trade village of over 200 vendors.
British genius in the Intermediate I
Charlotte Dujardin continued to ensure all knew she is well and truly back in the Intermediate. The judges were unanimous in their agreement! With the rain falling upon her and Times Kismet under the stadium lights, it delivered an ethereal scene as the pair danced their way to a solid win on 78.294%.
As always, Charlotte’s genius was on display and the eight-year-old Ampere mare truly floated around the arena. A minor hiccup in the rein-back when the mare grounded was the only moment the crowd became concerned. Yet it was not enough to jeopardise her win over last year’s winner, Germany’s Frederic Wandres, who finished in second place on 75.441% riding Quizmaster. Sweden’s Therese Nilshagen, on the striking dark chestnut stallion La Vie, rode a 73.441% for third.
A fitting final farewell in the Freestyle
In the CDI4* Freestyle to Music, Isabell Werth gave an emotional ride for her final performance on Emilio. The rain poured down as Italian Opera reverberated throughout the stadium, creating an emotional scene for all. With the reins in one hand, she rode the final centreline passage into the halt and the crowd went crazy. It was a fitting end for the pair and their 55th victory with 84.590%.
DAY FIVE
A dance of love in the CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle to Music
The Grand Prix Freestyle is the final hurrah for the dressage at Aachen for 2023 and it was a packed Deutsche Bank Stadium of near on 6,300 spectators that were treated to dressage dancing delight.
It was the six-time Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth who had the crowd on their feet for the first standing ovation of the day. Together with the Quaterback bay stallion DSP Quantaz as the 10th rider, she performed her 80s-themed freestyle that put her in the lead.
In a field of fabulous competition, however, it was fleeting, as next in was Lottie Fry and Everdale. The pair lived up to their musical composition to “shine bright like a diamond” as they enchanted their way in front with a score of 87.515%.
“Jessica threw her arms
around the mare’s neck
after the final halt.”
In next was Charlotte Dujardin on Imhotep and the entertainment continued as she and the 10-year-old gelding pipped her teammate by less than 1%, taking the lead with a final score of 88.415%.
Charlotte Fry and Everdale may have shone bright like a diamond, but it was Jessica von Bredlow-Werndl and TSF Dalera BB that brought the love in a French-inspired musical composition that one can’t help but think is a nod towards Paris 2024.
The Whole of Paris Dreams of Love was the name of the song and it was nothing but love for the pair as they sashayed and swayed their way in an emotional dance that had the crowd mesmerised. Dalera again displayed her enthusiasm to get started with a restless halt, before completing a flawless test. The connection between horse and rider was tangible. Beautiful music and a beautiful test that culminated with a score of 90.820%. Jessica threw her arms around the mare’s neck after the final halt and was wiping the tears from her eyes as the stand erupted with whistles, cheers and a standing ovation.
Nanna Skodberg Merrald wrapped up the competition in a nail-biting finish that nudged the two Charlottes down the ladder. It was a thrilling finish and the Danish team World Champion scored a personal best and second place on Blue Hors Zepter with 88.730%.
With the results tabled, the stadium emptied and the arena was once again silent. The brilliance of the performances delivered the most memorable of dressage entertainment and made history here in 2023. They leave behind a distinct feeling their footfall will continue to echo throughout the Deutsche Bank Stadium for years to come. EQ
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