Chester Weber (USA) FEI Driving World Championship 2026 - Aachen (GER), Four-in-Hand – Team & Individual Dressage Day 2. © FEI / Wilco van Driessen

21.08.2026

Chester Weber (USA) drove the Dressage test of his life on Friday morning at the FEI World Championship in Aachen to smash his own record and win the opening phase on 30.40. Through the 22 movements, his slick, bay team of Dutch warmbloods epitomised what the judges were looking for – relaxation, harmony, poise, flair, accuracy and trot extensions that floated across the arena. 

Repeating his Aachen WEG win of 20 years ago, a delighted Weber stated: “I said this morning it could be a record. It’s my fantastic team of people and my fantastic team of horses – it’s humbling to sit behind them. I had a lot of faith in them and those last extensions felt so correct – not running, just fantastic!”

Weber set the record at the World Championship two years ago in Hungary when he led after the Dressage on 31.06 and was also elated that day. But the celebrations this time were even more profound for a man who says: “There’s no such thing as luck. I’m very strategic, and there’s no artistic allowance. I rely on careful training, and understand when my horses are peaking because I can’t expect this from them all the time. So they get plenty of downtime too.” 

Exell on course for another title 

Defending World Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) entered the arena in the next session with a score to settle. Known for his ability to perform under pressure, from the first highly marked movement it looked like he might match Weber, and he nearly did, to go second on 31.86. With panache and power, his experienced horses rose to the occasion and relished the Aachen atmosphere in an arena where they have triumphed numerous times over the years.

Continuing the high calibre of competition, Exell was followed by the equally focussed Bram Chardon (NED) who has stated he won’t be happy unless he leaves Aachen with double gold. Having experimented with his horse combinations during the season, and swapping some with his father, he has settled on a team that ticked the boxes and produced a smooth, athletic test with cadence and impressive collected trot sections.

“We knew the pressure was on with some very good scores already produced today. I had a 40.05 and the goal was to go under 40, and I came super close with by far my best score of the season. So it was the right moment to shine, and both individually and for the team, we’ve put ourselves in a good position. There’s everything to fight for,” Bram said as he left the arena. 

Overnight leader Dries Degrieck (BEL) had to watch from the sidelines on Friday, but his title hopes remain alive as he sits in third on 38.19. Home crowd favourite Anna Sandmann (GER) went better than her father late in the day for fourth on 38.32, and appreciated the cheers from her fans as she finished, saying: “I had a long wait and felt the pressure so was nervous, but I’m really proud of my horses. Tomorrow I hope that we find good routes and that everything will be good.”  

Germany’s other leading lady Anna Mareike Meier was in Friday’s opening session and delighted the audience with a poised test that would have yielded better marks but for two breaks of pace in later movements. Although she couldn’t maintain the sub-40 score anticipation, she ended the day in sixth on 40.99.  

Fredrik Persson (SWE), a former Team gold medallist, produced an elegant test to score 41.45 for seventh, ahead of Franck Grimonprez (FRA) who grinned broadly throughout his test, delighted with his graceful horses and score of 43.52. Legends Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and Christoph Sandmann (GER) are joint ninth on their identical 44.78.

Tight Team event

It’s close to call in the nations competition with Germany continuing their Team success at these championships for a lead on 79.31. Australia are just behind in second on 81.17, the USA are third on 81.84, ahead of Belgium on 84.24 and the Netherlands on 84.83.

With Marathon specialists on the Belgian and Dutch teams, it will be nip and tuck between them for dominance through the eight obstacles in the Soers park, the same setting as the Eventing cross country a week ago, where some of the jumps are integrated into the Alexander Flocke (GER) designed course. It’s hoped that whatever the weather may bring in Aachen, there will be equally deep crowds enjoying the Driving on Saturday.

FULL RESULTS