The World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen kicked off today (14th of July), with vaulting competitions being the first to get underway.
Running from the 14th to the 23rd of July, the event is steeped in history and dates back to 1898. It has evolved over the years, with organisers taking pride in their innovative approach to event management.
Vaulting classes are set to take place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with James Hocking and horse French Kiss (Thomas Bisgaard, Denmark) set to represent Australia.
Tuesday (18th) will see the showjumpers spring into action, while Wednesday (19th) and Thursday (20th) offer big days of competition that include showjumping, dressage and driving. Boyd Exell is expected to compete for Australia in the four-in-hand driving. Friday (21st) will see the eventers take the spotlight in the dressage and showjumping phases, with Australia’s Nations Cup team (Chris Burton, Emma McNab, Shane Rose and Katja Weimann, as well as individual rider Isabel English) taking centre stage. Driving, dressage and showjumping will also entertain crowds.
Saturday (22nd) features the conclusion of the eventing competition — the cross country phase. Showjumpers, drivers and dressage riders will be in the spotlight again, with the prestigious Grand Prix Freestyle CDI rounding out the evening. On the final day (23rd), big name classes bring the festival to an end: the Grand Prix Dressage of Aachen and the Grand Prix of Aachen (showjumping).
