With all horses settled into their stables in Aachen (GER) and the first familiarisation sessions completed, everything is ready for the start of the FEI Dressage World Championship Aachen 2026.

Photo – Justin Verboomen (BEL) with Zonik Plus and groom Clarisse Verboomen during the Horse Inspection at the FEI Dressage World Championship 2026 in Aachen on Monday. (© FEI / Liz Gregg)

Today’s Horse Inspection saw all horses receiving the welcome verdict of ‘accepted’. Meanwhile, Brazil were drawn to compete first when the Grand Prix begins on Tuesday, with Manuel Rodrigues Tavares de Almeida Neto and Hermes the first combination to enter the arena at 08:20. The Grand Prix will decide the team medals, with the top 30 combinations qualifying for Friday’s Grand Prix Special.

The first horses lined up for the Horse Inspection early this morning at 08:30. Each horse took a few steps in walk before trotting away, turning and trotting back, all under the watchful eyes of the panel members, officials, representatives from the participating nations, trainers and the press. A sizeable crowd had already gathered to watch the horses go through the inspection.

A total of 91 horses trotted up, varying greatly in colour, age, conformation and temperament. Ultimately, they were all given the green light and declared fit to compete.

The Grand Prix draw

The draw took place in the press conference room early in the afternoon, with delegates from all nations present. The individual combinations not competing as part of a team were drawn first.

This part of the draw was conducted in reverse order of the World Ranking. The highest-ranked combinations drew for positions on the second day of the Grand Prix, while the lower-ranked combinations drew for positions on the first day.

The first name pulled from the bowl by former German Olympic Athlete Heike Kemmer was that of Julio Mendoza Loor (ECU) and Jewel’s Goldstrike. A representative from each nation then drew a number. Mendoza Loor will start 38th on the opening day.

19 countries in two days

Once all the individual combinations had drawn a starting position, it was the teams’ turn. They were also drawn in reverse order of the World Ranking, in groups of five nations. This means that the five highest-ranked nations will occupy the final starting positions.

The first nation drawn from the bowl by Kemmer was Ireland. An Irish delegate then drew the team’s position, which will see them become the second team to start.

All team coaches had submitted envelopes specifying the starting order of the combinations within their teams. These were then incorporated into the full start list.

There are 19 national teams in total. The final group will feature the Netherlands, Great Britain, Belgium, Germany and the USA, starting in that order.

The 91 combinations will be split over Tuesday and Wednesday, with the team medals decided at the conclusion of the Grand Prix on Wednesday. Individually, the top 30 combinations will progress to Friday’s Grand Prix Special.

Defending champions and home favourites

Defending team champions Denmark will send Nadja Aaboe Sloth and Favour Gersdorf into the arena first, followed by Carina Cassøe Krüth and Heiline’s Danciera as their second combination. Daniel Bachmann Andersen and Flash Gordon will compete on the second day, as will World No.1 Cathrine Laudrup-Dufour with Mount St. John Freestyle, who will be among the medal favourites.

Germany will compete for a medal on home soil and are considered among the favourites for the podium. Raphael Netz and Great Escape Camelot will be the first combination to enter the arena for the host nation.

German National Coach Monica Theodorescu makes no secret of the fact that gold is their goal.

“We are very ambitious and eager to win gold,” she said. “That is our goal. But there are several strong teams and everything will depend on the form on the day. We expect strong competition from Great Britain, but Denmark and perhaps the underdogs, Belgium, should not be ruled out as potential medal contenders either.”

After Netz, Theodorescu has placed Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD second in the German team order. Katharina Hemmer and Isabell Werth will enter the arena on Wednesday.

“This choice is based on how the combinations have developed and performed throughout the past season, not only during the selection events. In the end, they all simply have to ride well,” Theodorescu added.

Belgium target LA qualification

In recent years, Germany, Great Britain and Denmark have largely contested the medals, but another nation now appears ready to join the battle. Belgium was also named by Theodorescu as a potential medal contender.

Belgian Team Manager Jeroen van Lent responded with a modest smile: “I am very flattered that she says that. Our main goal for Belgium is team qualification for the LA28 Olympic Games. Anything beyond that would be the icing on the cake. It is going to be a great competition.”

However, Van Lent does not want to focus too much on the possibility of a medal.

“We are not changing our objectives,” he said. “Do we have a chance of a medal? Perhaps, but that will depend on whether we can produce personal bests. It is impossible to predict. We do not want to burden the riders with the pressure of that expectation.”

“We have experienced combinations in the team. Securing direct Olympic qualification would already make history for Belgium, and we would be very disappointed if we did not manage that.”

The Grand Prix at the FEI Dressage World Championship Aachen 2026 will be contested over two days. It starts at 08:20 on both Tuesday and Wednesday, with 45 combinations competing on Tuesday and 46 on Wednesday.

FULL DRAW