Bram Chardon (NED) and Idool N at the FEI Driving World Championship 2026 - Aachen (GER), First Horse Inspection. © FEI / Richard Juilliart

19.08.2026

The art of the ‘trot-up’ ramps up several gears when it is time for the four-in-hand horses to have their moment in the spotlight. They sense the atmosphere, they react to the roars from the next stadium, they anticipate what is to come. It made for an enthralling Wednesday morning as the 54 Athletes presented their 269 lithe, keen horses for inspection as ‘fit to compete’ ahead of the FEI Driving World Championship 2026 in Aachen (GER).

The setting was Aachen’s Stadium 2, where so much Driving history has been made, and titles have been won and lost. Many of the horses know the arena and some were calm, although alert to the additional large TV cameras. For others, it was an exhilarating experience and they were spirited in their reactions.

Exell expectations

The first to present his five horses and parade them on the darkened strip cut into the grass was Kees Koops, an individual for the Netherlands. Then came seven-time World champion Boyd Exell of Australia, who carries so much expectation over the next four days.

The nations proceeded in alphabetical order although the five Germans, as hosts, were last to come forward. As is customary, their horses were presented in first-class condition, with the initials of the Athlete as quarter marks.

Germany’s Chef d’Equipe Karl-Heinz Geiger said: “It is an important event for us in the home country. We like being here in Aachen for the World Championship and we hope we can finish on the podium – on top would be nice.

“It is very special to have the families here, especially the Sandmanns. When Christoph Sandmann was on the podium at the World Equestrian Games 20 years ago, a young Anna Sandmann was on the carriage during the prize giving – and now she is here, driving alongside her father on the team.”

By the end of proceedings, five horses were held back for re-inspection on Thursday morning – two from one Czech Athlete, two from the Swiss squad and another from the Romanian Athlete.

Afterwards, Ground Jury President Bert Jambon (BEL) said that it had been a pleasure to work closely alongside the two vets and oversee the inspection.

Driving draw

The action then moved to the draw for the Dressage over the next two days. Technical delegate Jeroen Houterman (NED) adjudicated the meeting, assisted by Jambon, who drew the nations from the bowl to determine their order. The next stage involved each team member’s name being drawn and their slot allocated in one of three separate blocks. Finally, the three blocks for the individual Athletes were filled between the team sections.

German interest will be high early on Thursday as the host nation’s Georg von Stein will be first to enter the arena at 10:30, followed by Ernesto Colman Mena from Uruguay and Wayne van Niekerk from South Africa. For those nations realistically vying for podium places, Australia’s Tor van den Berge and Belgium’s Tom Stokmans will set out their stall as they round off the opening session.

One of Driving’s most decorated Athletes, Koos de Ronde, opens the next session at 12:34 and tries to stake his claim on more medals for the historically dominant Dutch. Soon after, Christoph Sandmann begins the German bid for glory.

For the French, Benjamin Aillaud, who was in the early stages of his career at the 2006 WEG, is their first team member. Taren Lester, who was a groom on Chester Weber’s carriage 20 years ago, opens for the USA.

The final session of the day features some big names, with FEI Driving World Cup™ champion Dries Degrieck going out third from last at 15:44, followed by Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and finally, at 16:06, József Dobrovitz (HUN).

On Friday, Weber goes out at 11:47, while just before the break four big names appear in succession: Switzerland’s Jérôme Voutaz (13:24), reigning champion Exell, Belgium’s Glenn Geerts and the Netherlands’ European champion Bram Chardon (13:57). Then it is the razzmatazz of Saturday’s Marathon and jeopardy of Sunday’s Cones.

For now, the final training touches are being put in place, the strategies consolidated and the speculation is rife – will Exell do it again? Or will there be a new World champion?

The stage is set but the script has not yet been written. We will have to wait until the final act and the curtain falls.

FULL DRAW