GERMANY IN THE LEAD, EPAILLARD OUTPACES THE REST - FEI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS AACHEN 2026
The first day of showjumping at the FEI World Championships in Aachen proved to be a long one with 145 starters and all the excitement you could imagine - from beautiful clear rounds to unlucky eliminations. One horse from Team Hungary had to leave the showgrounds in the horse transporter after being diagnosed with a soft tissue injury; he is being monitored and remains under veterinary care by the Team’s veterinarian. Overall, I witnessed good sport. The tight time allowed proved too much for a few horse and rider combinations.
HOME COUNTRY GERMANY IN THE LEAD
Marcus Ehning started for Germany with his 13-year-old Holsteiner-bred Coolio 42 (Casalito – Anka VIII x Quidam de Revel, breeder: Martina Wirtz) with a beautiful clear. He set the tone right away for the rest of the riders. Sophie Hinners pulled in a beautiful second clear for Germany with her SWB-bred 11-year-old gelding Iron Dames Singclair (Singular LS la Silla – Curious Friday x Cardento, breeder: J. Ab Wannius). Singular LS la Silla competed at the highest level with three different riders, among them Maria Gretzer, who still has a weak spot for him, and Marcus Ehning. The 12-year-old BWP-bred Otello de Guldenboom (Tobago Z – Caretina x Caretino, breeder: Hugo Versnick) had the third clear round for Germany under the saddle of Daniel Deusser. He says about Otello de Guldenboom: “He’s already been feeling very good over the last few months. He did a few lower-level shows in the last couple of weeks. It’s always difficult to tell how he really is over smaller jumps, because he doesn’t give the same effort over the small jumps as he does over the big ones. So it’s really good that he gave me this feeling after the first round. I’m really happy we finished in fifth place out of the 145 starters.”
Richard Vogel - the favourite of many riders, journalists and spectators alike, with his magnificent 14-year-old Westphalian-bred stallion United Touch S (Untouched – Touch of Class x Lux Z, breeder: Julius Peter Sinnack) - had an unlucky rail. He reflected: “United Touch S was incredible; in the first part of the course he was really with me. He was jumping fantastically. I’m quite disappointed with myself - my mistake didn’t give him a fair chance to jump the vertical well. My teammates performed brilliantly today.”
THE CLASS WAS FULL OF SURPRISES
Besides the rail down by Vogel and United Touch S, Peder Fredricson also had a very unlucky rail down with the 16-year-old SF-bred gelding Alcapone des Carmille (Diamant de Semilly – Remember M x Heartbreaker, breeder: Carole Levallois). It turned out that Alcapone des Carmille had lost two shoes. Several other riders also had horses that lost a shoe.
Ten riders were eliminated and four retired. The time was tight - for example, Marlon Modolo Zanotelli, riding Dorette OLD (Dollar du Murier – Foxy Brown x Fighting Alpha, breeder: S. Leue) for Brazil, was eliminated on time, and Erynn Ballard from Canada fell off Fave d’Authuit (Cornet Obolensky – Queen Authuit x Kannan, breeder: S.C.E.A. Ecurie D’Authuit).
THREE CLEAR ROUNDS WITH HORSES BRED BY THE SAME BREEDER
Ibrahim Hani Bisharat for Jordan had a clear round with his KWPN-bred stallion Lesther (Glenfiddich VDL – Blisther x Farmer, breeder: family Moerings). Bas Moerings for the Netherlands had an outstanding clear with the 13-year-old KWPN-bred Ipsthar (Denzel vt Meulenhof – Vestha x Farmer). Both Lesther and Ipsthar were bred by G.J.A. Moerings from the Netherlands. They both trace back to the mare Esther by Zevenster. The third horse bred by Moerings, Fasther (Vigo d’Arsouilles, out of the same mother as Lesther), also jumped clear for the USA under the saddle of Lillie Keenan. Paul Schockemöhle had 11 horses in this class; his breeding operation produces around 1,500 foals a year, three of which jumped clear in this class.
STRONG SHOWINGS FROM MIDDLE EASTERN RIDERS
The Middle Eastern contingent delivered strong performances in general throughout the day, underscoring the region’s expanding footprint in elite showjumping. Beyond Bisharat’s impressive clear for Jordan, riders representing Middle Eastern nations consistently demonstrated spot on technique against the unforgiving time allowed. Egyptian Olympian Nayel Nassar, a seasoned championship contender, brought his signature precision and tactical sharpness to the arena with ESI Ali, while Saudi’s Olympic medallist Ramzy Al Duhami, was nothing less of short with Untouchable 32.
THE WINNER OF THE DAY
Julien Epaillard won today’s class in a manner we’ve come to expect from him. It looked effortless. The 11-year-old SF-bred gelding Fringan de Vesquerie (Mylord Carthago – Ulane de Vesquerie x Diamant de Semilly, breeder: G.A.E.C. de la Vesquerie) finished the course in really good style!
With Germany currently holding the lead, extraordinary performances from standout breeders, and remarkable individual displays like Epaillard's victory, the opening round set an exceptionally high standard for the rest of the competition. As the teams and individual riders prepare for the upcoming stages, the tight time limits and demanding courses promise even more thrilling action ahead. HT
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Photo by Louise Dahlstrom
FEI Jumping World Championship First Competition – Individual results here
FEI Jumping World Championship First Competition – Team results here