Monica Theodorescu, Luciana Diniz and Katharina Hemmer at the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS

The range of courses and training sessions at the CHIO Aachen has been deliberately chosen so that it primarily appeals to young talents and amateur riders from all disciplines, show-jumpers and eventers, dressage and para-dressage riders. The following highlights are planned for 2026:

CHIO Aachen CAMPUS course with Luciana Diniz

Germany-based Brazilian rider Luciana Diniz is one of the most successful show jumpers in the world. She has competed four times at the Olympic Games alone, some of them under the Portuguese flag. And yet the 55-year-old does things differently to her colleagues. Her horses are usually ridden with simple bits, usually without nosebands. You practically never see her using auxiliary reins either. The pictures of her riding her successful mare Fit For Fun into the jump-off for the Grand Prix of Aachen are also unforgettable – where others come cantering into the arena in a collected manner and back up once again to check permeability and obedience, she came into the arena at a walk on the reins. She and her mare seemed to be completely focused on themselves, oblivious to the tension of 45,000 people in the Soers. And then suddenly the reins were picked up, “Fitty” was wide awake, her ears pricked up and the whole horse was one big surge of energy that sent her flying over the jump-off course. In the end, the pair finished second, and not just once.

For Luciana Diniz, riding is not just riding, it is the connection to the horse. The mental aspect is just as important as physical fitness and riding skills. Passing on all her knowledge and experience is a matter close to the Brazilian’s heart, and this is exactly what she will be doing as part of a course at the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS from May 26th to 28th.

Diniz: “I have a holistic approach that sees performance not only in sporting terms, but also as a personal development process. These three days in Aachen will be wonderful and an unforgettable experience, if only because Aachen is my second home.”

All information about the procedure, costs etc. can be found here.

Dressage course with national coach Monica Theodorescu

From July 6 to 8, dressage riders will have the unique opportunity to get tips from national coach Monica Theodorescu. The multiple Olympic, World and European team champion’s own successes in the saddle are only surpassed by those she has achieved as a trainer. Since she became national coach of the German dressage riders in 2012, Germany has been unbeaten at the Olympic Games and has won gold at – almost – every European and World Championships.

The 62-year-old is now passing on her wealth of knowledge and experience as part of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS course in July. In addition to lessons with horses, there will also be a seat analysis and training on the riding simulator as well as training with a fitness coach. All information can be found here.

Full-service training day with Katharina Hemmer

Dressage is also on the program at the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS on May 9th – but not only. Team European Champion Katharina Hemmer, the individual bronze medallist at the European Championships in Crozet, who, according to Monica Theodorescu, gave her one of the “horse moments” of the year with her performance in the Grand Prix Special, will take over the equestrian training part on this day.

However, the equestrian part is only a small part of the program on this day. It is also about individual advice on managing your own horse, your own fitness and the topic of mental strength.

Katharina Hemmer is already looking forward to meeting her students and says: “I want to give everyone good individual tips to help them progress personally and with their horse.”

Info and registration.

Eventing course with Chris Bartle

Chris Bartle is nothing less than a legend in eventing, today above all as a trainer. For 16 years he accompanied the German bush riders from success to success, then his compatriots wanted to benefit from the British rider’s expertise again.

The tips for good cross-country riding, which have helped Germany to win countless medals, will be passed on by Chris Bartle this year at the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS from March 6th to 8th. Bartle promises: “The weekend is an opportunity to exchange ideas with enthusiastic riders in an environment dedicated to learning, excellence and horsemanship. I look forward to welcoming participants who are equally passionate about correct training, horse welfare and the art of riding.”

Training will take place on the cross-country course at the CHIO Aachen, among others. But there will also be theory lessons and individual feed advice, all with one goal: the partnership between rider and horse, which is vital in the cross-country, and “an effective partnership involves shared responsibility and clear communication,” says Bartle. The course participants learn how to achieve such a partnership.

You can find all further information here.

Bonding work with animal trainer Anne Krüger-Degener

Aachen fans know Anne Krüger-Degener and her daughter Carla Degener and their animals from their performances at Pferd & Sinfonie. The way horses, dogs, sheep, goats and ducks work together perfectly as a team seems almost like magic. But it is not. It is the result of what animal trainer Krüger-Degener calls “bonding work”. You can learn it like a language, for example on May 22nd at the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS.

On this day, mother and daughter Degener train individually with the two- and four-legged course participants and show how a successful partnership can be built on the basis of trust, resilience and connection. The aim is to learn to read the horse’s body language and to get your own under control in order to enable the clearest possible communication with the horse.

All information about the course can be found here.

Strengthening para-sport

The CHIO Aachen CAMPUS is not only used for training, but also for competitions. From now on, the tests for the para-dressage riders will also be held internationally. Riders from 15 nations have announced their attendance. Birgit Rosenberg, Member of the Board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV), says: “We want to give the Para sport even greater visibility and offer many more top athletes the chance to compete at the Aachen Soers.”

The CAMPUS on Tour project, in which national coach Silke Fütterer-Sommer travels to riding clubs throughout Germany to provide training impulses, is another way of supporting para-dressage sport.

However, she is not the only one. For show jumpers, Lars Meyer zu Bexten and the CAMPUS on Tour team come directly to his students’ home riding facilities.

All information about the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS can be found here.