Newsletter Editorial, World Championships in Aachen, August 20: German Show Jumpers on Track for Gold, Heidemarie Dresing Crowned World Champion, A Night in the World Championships Stables

Sometimes Goethe is just the right choice to kick off a newsletter (#educationalmission). “Flow, flow, a long way, so that the water may flow and pour into the bath with a rich, full surge.” That old sorcerer’s apprentice has to serve as an example today, since I already ranted about the rain yesterday. Unfortunately, on this morning—when the Nations Cup kicks off at nine o’clock—there’s no getting around this topic—watch out for the pun, or what my kids call a “dad joke.”

The heavens opened up; fortunately, the torrential downpour—and that’s no exaggeration—didn’t start until after the time trials were over. But when it did, it really came down. The rain pounded so loudly on the roof of the tent housing food and drinks for riders, grooms, staff, officials, and even journalists that people had to shout to be heard. “How are you?” “What?” “I said, how are you?” “Excuse me?” “I just meant to ask how you’re doing.” “I’m John—who are you?”

🧐

Germany is in the lead, the stir-fry vegetables are steaming on the plate, the rain is pattering down, and people are shouting all around—after ten days in Aachen, those covering all the events are taking it all in stride. With an “L” at the front—L for cabin fever.

It was surprising that United Touch S, of all horses, would make a jumping error. “I already have an answer: poor riding,” says Richard Vogel himself. To be honest, I wouldn’t have dared to write that. “I did way too much, and that’s how I ended up with six gallop strides when I should have had only five.” To draw inspiration from Goethe a second time:

Vogel got too close,

and then it just didn’t work out.

But the team result looks good so far. Unlike, for example, the Swiss, who are “left in the dust” after the first round. And “we” have Sophie Hinners to thank for that—she’s riding a horse that the Swede Peder Fredricson recklessly sold to Germany when it was still a youngster. Dominique Wehrmann has, in my opinion, written a truly captivating story about the sensational show-jumper Iron Dames Singclair (and uncovered that it looked as if Peder were biting him in the ear over the jump—that his breeder, whom she met, was an Olympic rider—and much more—one of our favorite FEATURES).

I had an interesting conversation with one of the “night stewards” who works in the stable area. His shift starts at 9 p.m. and ends at 6 a.m. The lights are turned off at 11 p.m.—a job perfect for anyone who’s always wanted to be a hostel manager or youth group leader. The rules are strict. The stables are checked hourly, and the lights stay off. If something needs to be examined more closely, infrared lighting is used so as not to disturb the other horses.

For example, a horse that was part of a gold-medal-winning team caught his attention because it was pawing the ground. A document lists who to contact in an emergency. No sooner said than done. The horse was led around for a good hour that night, and then everything was fine again. You’re not allowed to give medication; otherwise, the horse would be considered doped. It wasn’t necessary, either,

The steward is just as ruthless in kicking out of bed anyone whose horses have run out of water. The groom or groomess, in turn, is responsible for ensuring there’s enough water in the buckets to last the entire night. You’re not allowed to reach for the bucket yourself—if the horse were to test positive for doping, it could be blamed on the steward.

At some point in the morning, the garbage truck comes by. And this job is highly sought after. Since everyone in the barn carelessly tosses their returnable bottles into the trash, the garbage collectors diligently sort them out again. “That’s easily 100 bottles a night.” Multiply that by 25 cents—a decent little side income.

On the way back from the refreshment tent, with only light rain falling—Note: Einstein—everything is relative—I ended up making a “Chakaria ”: an unintentional slip by the water. Several times. And here’s how it happened: I wanted to run quickly to the press office so I wouldn’t get too wet. The gravel areas in Aachen are lined with plastic mats on the paths. They’re water-permeable. But when I took my first energetic jogging step, water splashed up on me—all the way to my knee.

Fortunately, I soon met a friendly “patron”—Julius Laschet, press spokesperson for the CHIO Aachen. I told him he could now put his expertise in press relations to the test. With a broad grin, he offered me a spot under his umbrella, “But of course, Mr. President.” (Background: The day before yesterday, elections were held for the board of the International Equestrian Journalists’ Association—it’s like a parent-teacher association. If you don’t look away fast enough, you get elected. I’ll now serve another four years as chair.) The way he said it and acted so charmingly, I spontaneously thought that if being a press spokesperson isn’t enough for him anymore, he could also go into politics …

Back to sports: The Paras—who, by the way, leave the area in front of their boxes the cleanest and tidiest every evening, as the night porter told me—had their first match. Gold for Germany. The architect Heidemarie Dresing, one of the oldest competitors at these World Championships, made it to Grade II with Poesie. The Westphalian rider, who has multiple sclerosis, struggled with a loud bang during the warm-up—which, according to well-informed sources, sounded something like a wheel loader. When, due to MS, you simply can’t engage all the parts of your body that provide stability, that’s more than a challenge. And it’s wonderful that there are horses like Poesie who, even in such a situation, quickly rein themselves in and pay attention to their rider. What amazing creatures!

So, put on your rubber boots and head out to check out the course. Details to follow on EQUI PAGES. Also: The new podcast episode with wehorse is online. We had a female guest: Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann stopped by briefly before joining ARD commentator Carsten Sostmeier.

With that in mind—see you tomorrow!

Jan Tönjes

jan.toenjes@equi-pages.de

This is the EQUI PAGES newsletter—published daily from Aachen during the World Equestrian Games

This text was first published on August 20, 2026.

EQUI PAGES Newsletter: Just one click for the weekly update on Mondays