There’s plenty of time left to get to know the field of competitors at this week’s CHIO Aachen CCIO4*-S, part of the World Equestrian Festival held each summer in Germany. It’s a spectacle to put on your bucket list, if there ever was one, giving off Championship vibes and featuring competition from the best horses and riders in the world.
Eventing is just one sport featured at Aachen each year, and we’ll have full stories from the action – which for us kicks off on Friday, with dressage and show jumping, followed by Saturday’s cross country action. You can follow along live on Clip My Horse TV all weekend — click here if you missed our Live Stream Guide.
We’ve done some digging on the competitors you’ll see this week, so without further ado take a deep dive into our Form Guide. Enjoy, and Go Eventing!
EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.
CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
AUSTRALIA
Team:
- Rebecca Braitling and Caravaggio II
Twelve-year-old British Sport Horse gelding (Vangelis-S – Courtesan, by Handstreich). Owned by Arnell Sporthorses. - Bill Levett and Sligo Candy Cane
Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Sligo Candy Boy – Castlemly Lass, by Visa Aldatus Z). Owned by Rider and Elizabeth Murdoch. - Shenae Lowings and Bold Venture
Thirteen-year-old Thoroughbred gelding (Devaraja – Royal Zam, by Zamoff). Owned by Rider, Leanne, and Mark Lowings.
[Jump & Drive]
- Andrew Hoy and Cadet de Beliard – Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding), owned by Odaria and Shane Finemore
Bec Braitling and Caravaggio II. Photo by Shannon Brinkman Photography.
With Olympic qualification secured at Millstreet earlier this month, Australia can take a bit of a breath now and focus on cultivating its to-be-named squad for Paris around this time next year.
One rider who had a hand in earning that qualification berth is Shenae Lowings, who also won the Millstreet CCIO3*-L qualifier division individually with her World Championships partner Bold Venture (fun fact: Bold Venture is a former racehorse who raced under the name Hell On Wheels and who Shenae first found in a Facebook ad – as if you needed any further excuse to keep window-shopping OTTBs, you didn’t hear it from us). She’ll come in to Aachen with a strong chance to finish well individually.
Accompanying Shenae are Australian team veteran Bill Levett and the 10-year-old Sligo Candy Cane, currently in his second year of 4* competition. This pair did have some uncharacteristic trouble at Bramham this year, but will be looking to rebound nicely and make a solid bid for Australia’s first Aachen podium since 2019.
Making her Australian squad debut is California-based Rebecca “Bec” Braitling with Arnell Sporthorses’ Caravaggio II. This pair received word of their call-up on fairly short notice, but Bec is nothing short of #superwoman and together with her clan was able to get “Ernie” on a flight to Germany, basing with dressage wizard Joann Hinneman in the lead-up to this week. Word on the street is she’s also got secret weapon/good friend Tamie Smith helping her out on the flat, which would be the phase Ernie would prefer to discard if given the option.
This mix of veteran and up-and-coming experience, both on the part of horse and of rider, represents a positive-looking future for the Australians, who stand to have some depth to choose from in a year’s time.
BELGIUM
- Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Ducati d’Arville
Thirteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Diarado – Pricilla, by Perpignon). Owned by BG Five Star Eventers sprl u.de Liedekerke. - Jarno Verwimp and Mahalia
Eleven-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Elvis ter Putte – Cohiba, by Condrieu xx). Owned by Rider.
[Jump & Drive]
- Lara de Liedekerke-Meier and Pumpin de la Liniere
Eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding (Gemini xx – Litchi de la liniere, by Filou de Muze). Owned by Joris de Brabander, Five Star Eventers SPRL, Jeroen Lissens.
Belgium’s Lara de Liedekerke-Meier gives Ducati d’Arville a kiss. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Aachen is one event to pick up an MER for individual Paris qualification, and Belgium will be looking to bolster both the strength of its individual riders as well as that of its teams – it currently holds the lead in FEI Nations Cup competition, and will qualify for a team berth if they can manage to hang on to that through five more legs. Belgium sent individual riders to the last Olympics in Tokyo (2021).
Lara de Liedekerke-Meier was one representative of Belgium present at the last Olympics, and she also competed at World Championships in Italy last fall. She’s aiming for another Championship berth this year, with Europeans looming in August. This weekend, she’s got the 13-year-old Ducati d’Arville, who was 13th at Aachen last year, ready to go for an impression with another year of experience under his belt. She’s also brought her younger horse, 8-year-old Pumpkin de la Liniere, for a shot at the popular night class, the Jump & Drive.
Also looking to make a stamp for the Europeans selectors is 23-year-old Jarno Verwimp, who’s making a bid for his first Senior Europeans squad with the Belgian mare Mahalia (though you could say they just skipped over that bump en route to repping Belgium at Pratoni last year). If they can make a strong bid this week on the notoriously championship-caliber Aachen track, the result will be a nice complement to the competitive results this pair has collected so far.
FRANCE
Team:
- Luc Chateau and Cocorico de L’Ebat
Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Propriano de L’ebat – Nela des Bruyeres). Owned by Rider and Caroline Queval. - Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de la Loge
Thirteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Quppydam des Horts – Image de la Loge, by Dollar du Murier). Owned by Augustin and Frederique Grand. - Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin
Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Kannan – Orchidee de Mai, by Flipper d’Elle). Owned by S.C. SOIXANTE SEIZE ET COMPAGNIE, Gilles Saiagh, Celine Frontreau. - Benjamin Massie and Edition Fonroy
Nine-year-old Selle Francais mare (L’Arc de Triomphe – Starlette Fonroy, by Quick Star). Owned by Rider and Jean-Luc van Hoenacker.
Individual:
- Arthur Marx and Church’lle
Eleven-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Birkhof’s Grafenstolz – Ile D’ohe, Apache d’Adriers). Owned by Philippe Marx.
Maxime Livio and Carouzo Bois Marotin. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The French riders will be looking to repeat or improve on their third-place finish here at Aachen in 2022, all while sharpening their tools for the Europeans and, on the horizon, an Olympics on their home soil.
Luc Chateau, who also runs the riding school at Haras des Chateaux and breeds horses alongside his wife, Caroline, brings forward the 11-year-old Cocorico de L’ebat, who’s already shown himself to have the prowess for the Long format events and who can also be handy at these twistier Short formats.
Also appearing on the French team is Gireg le Coz and Aisprit de le Loge, who’s impressed with two top-20 finishes at Badminton. This pair didn’t have a great trip to Aachen on their last trip here in 2021, parting ways on cross country, but two more seasons of experience together will have solidified their preparedness for the task ahead.
Sixth at Kentucky, Maxime Livio and the 11-year-old Carouzo Bois Marotin have already been long-listed for Paris (along with their other teammates this weekend) and will join Benjamin Massie and the 9-year-old Edition Fonroy to round out the French team. Edition Fonroy would be the greenest on paper at the 4* level of the bunch, but has some impressive results in two 4* starts, finishing cross country clear and inside the time at both.
GREAT BRITAIN
Team:
- Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI
Fourteen-year-old Anglo-European mare (Calvaro – India Summer). Owned by Carole Summers, John Johnston, Kate Ward. - Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir
Twelve-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Nouma D’Auzay – Gerboise du Cochet, by Livarot). Owned by The Sue Davies Fund. - Tom McEwen and JL Dublin
Twelve-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Diarado – Zarinna, by Cantano). Owned by Mr & Mrs J Lambert and Mrs D Johnston. - Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley
Eleven-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (CSF Mr Kroon – Castlefield Ruby, by OBOS Quality). Owned by Pru Dawes.
Individual:
- Hector Payne and Dynasty
Fifteen-year-old KWPN gelding (Whitesnake – Cleopatra, by Calvados). Owned by Jeremy & Judith Skinner,David & Margie Hall.
A super-speedy Gemma Stevens and Flash Cooley. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Defending Aachen winners twice over, Great Britain fields a very experienced team well-capable of topping the podium this weekend. The Brits will also have Europeans on the mind, with three the just-named long list riders (Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir, Tom McEwen and JL Dublin) competing in Germany aiming to make the final squad.
Two of the aforementioned riders are also reigning medalists – Tom McEwen earned team gold and individual silver in Tokyo, and most will know Yasmin Ingham as the current World Champion as determined in Italy last fall. Yasmin will ride her Pratoni partner, Banzai du Loir, while Tom will pilot Kentucky runner-up, JL Dublin.
British Senior team veteran Gemma Stevens – who also just came 12th overall in the prestigious Al’Shira’aa Hickstead Derby over the last weekend, which I have to say has to be excellent prep for Aachen – will ride the 11-year-old Flash Cooley, who was second in the 4*-L at Millstreet at the start of June (and who also was formerly campaigned by U.S. rider Liz Halliday-Sharp). Rounding out the squad will be Kirsty Chabert and Classic VI, who also delivered a strong performance at Millstreet, finishing second individually in the 4*-S.
The team will be joined by individual rider Hector Payne and Dynasty, an experienced pair making their first start at Aachen.
GERMANY
- Nicolai Aldinger and Timmo
Thirteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Timolino – Windgold, by Carlos DZ). Owned by Judith and Michael Spethmann. - Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz
Fourteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Diamant de Semilly – Heralina, by Voltigeur le Malin). Owned by Nikolaus Prinz von Croy. - Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K
Eleven-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Quiwi Dream – Amsterdam, by San Patrignano Cassini). Owned by Bodel Ipsen. - Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH
Fifteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Contendro I – Havanna, by Heraldik). Owned by DOKR, Klaus and Sabine Fischer, Hilmer Meyer-Kulenkampff. - Christoph Mahler and Carjatan S
Fourteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Clearway – Kajenna, by Galant Vert). Owned by Rider and Lena Thoenies. - Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense
Thirteen-year-old Selle Francais mare (Jenny de la Cense – Ninja, by Harlem). Owned by Jason, Liam, and Simone Bockmann. - Rebecca-Juana Green and TSF Solara
Ten-year-old Trakehner mare (Windfall II – Sexta Z, by Birkhof’s Graefenstolz). Owned by Christof Zimmermann. - Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia 34
Thirteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Comte – Floretta, by Fabriano). Owned by Annelie & Dr. Martin Lübbeke. - Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale
Sixteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Nobre xx – Heraldik’s Amelie, by Heraldik). Owned by Prof. Dr. Volker Steinkraus.
[Jump & Drive]
- Calvin Böckmann and Crunchip M
Fourteen-year-old Rheinlander mare (Cassini Boy Junior – Finess M, by Feiner Stern). Owned by Liam and Simone Bockmann. - Anna Siemer and Pirate Smile
Seven-year-old Hanoverian mare (Cicero Z Van Paemel – Pialotta, by Heraldik). Owned by Detlev Elgeti.
Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K (GER). Photo by Tilly Berendt.
As host nation, the Germans receive the most slots in the CCIO4*-S SAP Cup. Germany will be eyeballing its next Senior Europeans squad, and fields several likely members or, at least, heavy contenders this week.
Notable among the German roster is 2022 Kentucky winner Michael Jung with fischerChipmunk FRH, who’s been kept quiet this season and saved for a run at the Europeans and, ultimately, Paris next year. Last year’s Aachen winners and Kentucky fourth-place finishers Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz will also represent on the team. Malin Hansen-Hotopp and the exciting 11-year-old, Carlitos Quidditch K (great name) have also been named to the squad and will look to improve on a 12th place finish at Aachen in 2021. Also on the team are podium threats Christoph Wahler and Carjatan S, coming off a 4*-S win in Poland at the beginning of May.
Germany will also send a full roster of individual riders to Aachen, including 2022 Strzegom 4*-L winners Calvin Böckmann and Altair de la Cense, Rebecca Juana-Gerken and the Windfall mare TSF Solara, Libussa Lübekke and Caramia 34, and Anna Siemer and FRH Butt’s Avondale.
IRELAND
Team:
- Susie Berry and Kilcandra Capitol
Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Orestus VDL – Beavers Bugsy Malone, by Hallodri). Owned by TruckEast Limited. - Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua
Sixteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Jack of Diamonds – Highland Destiny, by Flagmount King). Owned by Frank and Margaret Kinsella. - Sarah Ennis and Action Lady M
Nine-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Plot Blue – Action G, by Acorado). Owned by Andrew Cox. - Joseph Murphy and Calmaro
Twelve-year-old DSP gelding (Carpalano – Elster W, by Elsurimo xx). Owned by Richard and Tanya Ames, Claire and Charlie Mayne, Annette O’Callaghan.
[Jump & Drive]
- Joseph Murphy and Belline Fighting Spirit
Nine-year-old Anglo-European gelding (Freeman VDL – Zominga, by Lupicor). Owned by The Kindred Spirits Syndicate.
Cathal Daniels and Rioghan Rua. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Ireland will send a team of exciting horses for the future and seasoned campaigners to Aachen this week. We’ll see familiar faces such as longtime veterans Cathal Daniels and #supermare Rioghan Rua, who helped Ireland to a third-place team finish in 2021 and finished 13th here in 2022. Susie Berry will compete the 10-year-old Kilcandra Capitol, with whom she finished fifth in the Blair Castle 4*-L last year. Sarah Ennis will also compete a up-and-coming future star in the 9-year-old Action Lady M, facing a step up in intensity at Aachen but nonetheless campaigned well with some tougher tests under her belt such as a sixth place finish in the 8- and 9-year-old CCI4*-S at Blenheim last year. Joseph Murphy rounds out the Irish squad with the experienced Calmaro, third in Millstreet’s 4*-S Nations Cup leg at the start of June, fourth here at Aachen in 2022, and fifth at Kentucky earlier that year.
This is a well-balanced enough squad that will also field a drop score with four members, so you wouldn’t want to count them out as potential podium finishers in the SAP Cup team competition this weekend.
NEW ZEALAND
Team:
- Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park
Thirteen-year-old British Sport Horse gelding (Berlin – Faerie Queen, by Rock King). Owned by Rider, Jean, and Rob Johnstone. - Caroline Powell and Greenacres Special Cavalier
Ten-year-old Irish Sport Horse mare (Cavalier Royale – Greenacres Touch, by Touchdown). Owned by Chris Mann. - Jonelle Price and Mcclaren
Sixteen-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Clarimo – Toni I, by Landjungle). Owned by David & Katherine Thomson. - Tim Price and Falco
Fourteen-year-old Hanoverian gelding (Cardenio 2 – Witta, by Weinberg). Owned by Rider and Sue Benson.
Individual:
- Samantha Lissington and Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ
Twelve-year-old Holsteiner/Thoroughbred gelding (Caretino – Quantum Flash, by Tristaking). Owned by Rider and Pip McCarroll.
Jonelle Price and McClaren. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
The Kiwis will this weekend call up the world #1 and #3 riders, Tim and Jonelle Price, to anchor their squad on two horses that should put in competitive runs this weekend.
McClaren, former Mark Todd ride and current World Championships partner of Jonelle Price, should be ready to make a strong bid for some competitive finishes this season with another year of partnership-building gone. At 16, McClaren is quite light on mileage and joined the Price clan on a trip to Spain for some Sunshine Tour show jumping this winter, which should make him even more well-rounded as this year progresses. Stablemate Falco was third individually for the Kiwis at World Championships last fall (also contributing to the gutsy team bronze medal won by the New Zealand contingent that weekend) and has finished as good as sixth at Aachen in the past. It’s be a solid thought to think he could surpass that finish this weekend.
Olympic rider Caroline Powell also joins the Kiwi squad with the 10-year-old Greenacres Special Cavalier, who was fifth in her 5* debut at Pau last fall. Clarke Johnstone and Menlo Park round out the team; this pair is coming off a fifth place finish at Millstreet earlier this month, and were also members of the bronze medal World Championships team in Italy last fall.
Competing as an individual for New Zealand will be Samantha Lissington and her recent Mallow (IRL) 4*-L winner, Ricker Ridge Sooty GNZ. After starting her career in New Zealand, Samantha moved to base in the UK, and she’s built herself a nice string of upper-level horses in the intervening years. Ricker Ridge Sooty has some impressive results on both continents, and at just 12 years old could be a real consideration for the Paris squad or future World Championships.
SWEDEN
- Frida Anderson and Box Leo
Thirteen-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Jaguar Mail – Box Qutie, by Quite Easy). Owned by Therese Örup.
Sweden’s Frida Andersen and Box Leo. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Sweden will be represented by a sole rider this weekend in Olympic rider Frida Anderson and her World Championships partner, Box Leo. It’s a pretty impressive accomplishment to take the ride over on a horse (Ludwig Svennerstal rode Box Leo up until 2021) and then take it to a World Championship little more than a year later. But that’s what Frida has done with Box Leo, and she didn’t just “get around” – she finished in the top 20 on a tough and testing weekend.
Sweden is another country that secured Olympic qualification at Pratoni, and Frida will have that goal looming in her mind if she can make a statement and a good result at the next big milestone: this summer’s European Championships.
SWITZERLAND
Team:
- Robin Godel and Grandeur de Lully CH
Fifteen-year-old Cheval Suisse gelding (Greco de Lully CH – Miola, by Apartos). Owned by Jean-Jacques Fuenfschilling. - Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire
Sixteen-year-old Selle Francais gelding (Mr Blue – La Guna de Rueire). Owned by Peter Thuerler and Heinz-Günter Wickenhäuser. - Nadja Minder and Tolberone
Sixteen-year-old Swiss Warmblood gelding (Yarlands Summer Song – Medelyne). Owned by Nicole Basieux. - Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty
Fifteen-year-old Hanoverian mare (Fidertanz 2 – Meerfuerstin, by Friedensfuerst 1). Owned by Angela Häberli.
Melody Johner’s Toubleu de Rueire, representing Switzerland, shows the photographers what he thinks of them. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Switzerland is represented by an experienced team that includes two Olympians and World Championships experience across the board. While the Swiss wouldn’t have the largest number of up-and-coming horses and riders, those they do have are certainly capable of strong performances in this team competition.
Individual competitive performances could come from the likes of Roben Godel, whose partnership with Grandeur de Lully CH includes multiple 4*-S wins and a World Championship completion (2018). This pair also knows each other quite well, having been together since the Swiss-bred gelding was young. It’s safe to say that this zippy, technical track should suit this pair quite well on Saturday.
Also on the Swiss team this week are Tokyo Olympians and Pratoni top-10 individual finishers Melody Johner and Toubleu de Rueire, who capped off their spring season with a top-five finish in the Strzegom 4*-L at the end of April. Nadja Minder and her Junior Europeans partner Tolberone are another pair that will know each other quite well, which will come in handy during this week’s mental challenge. Patrick Rüegg and Fifty Fifty, who represented Switzerland in the 2021 Europeans, round out the Aachen team.
UNITED STATES
Team:
- Will Coleman and Off the Record
Fourteen-year-old Irish Sport Horse gelding (Arkansas – Drumagoland Bay, by ARD Ohio). Owned by The Off the Record Syndicate. - Phillip Dutton and Z
Fifteen-year-old Zangersheide gelding (Asca Z – Bellabouche, by Babouche VH Gehucht Z). Owned by Evie Dutton, Ann Jones, Suzanne Lacy, Caroline Moran, Tom Tierney, David and Patricia Vos. - Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C
Eleven-year-old Swedish Warmblood gelding (Mighty Magic – Qui Luma CBF, by Flying Quite Easy). Owned by Ocala Horse Properties, Deborah Palmer. - Tamie Smith and Mai Baum
Seventeen-year-old DSP gelding (Loredano 2 – Ramira, by Rike). Owned by Ellen and Alex Ahearn, Eric Markell.
Individual:
- Dan Kreitl and Carmango
Ten-year-old Westphalian gelding (Chirivell – Taramanga, by Templer GL xx). Owned by Kay Dixon.
Tamie Smith and Mai Baum. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
Half of the silver medal-winning U.S. team at last year’s FEI World Championships at Pratoni del Vivaro will reunite this weekend in Aachen. The pairs absent from the original Pratoni team would be Boyd Martin and Tsetserleg, who just wrapped up a trip around Luhmühlen’s CCI5* earlier in June, and Lauren Nicholson and Vermiculus.
The team members are joined this time by Kentucky podium finishers Liz Halliday-Sharp and Miks Master C, owned by Ocala Horse Properties and Deborah Palmer, who’ve been on an impressive streak this season so far. It’s certainly exciting to see the increasing amount of depth on the U.S. team, and hopes are high for a strong squad to send to both this fall’s Pan American Games as well as next year’s Olympics.
Bolstered by Kentucky winners Tamie Smith and Mai Baum as well as 2021 Aachen individual winners Will Coleman and Off the Record, as well as the experience of Phillip Dutton and Z, Team USA could be a real threat to top the podium or at least finish on it this weekend. One thing to remember is that the U.S. won’t be concerned with European Championships implications, so where some pairs may choose to save some energy for the bigger goal, the U.S. will likely be under instructions to go for the gold.
Also representing the Stars & Stripes this weekend as individuals are Dan Kreitl and Carmango, making their first overseas trip (for both of them!) thanks to the support of a Dutta. Corp flight won at the USEF National 4*-L Championships in 2022. This pair picked up the first cross country penalties of their partnership at Luhmühlen’s 4*-S earlier this month and will be looking to shake that off as learning experience as they focus now on this new challenge.
EN’s Coverage of CHIO Aachen is brought to you with support from Kentucky Performance Products and Ocala Horse Properties.
CHIO Aachen: [Website] [Entries] [Schedule] [Timing & Scoring] [Live Stream] [EN’s Coverage]
