VideoAll horses, including the five representing the U.S., passed the first horse inspection on Wednesday, Aug. 12, at the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships in Aachen, Germany. This cleared the way for U.S. combinations Will Coleman and Diabolo, Phillip Dutton and Denim, Boyd Martin and Cooley Nutcracker, Caroline Pamukcu and HSH Blake, and Tamie Smith and Lillet 3 to compete over the next four days.
Coleman, Dutton, Martin and Pamukcu will make up the U.S. Eventing Team, led by chef d’equipe and high performance manager Leslie Law, alongside high performance advisor Karyn Shuter and team leader Christina Vaughn. Smith will be vying for an individual medal.
A total of 88 horses representing 27 nations trotted before the ground jury ahead of the eventing competition that will decide the team and individual titles. Sixteen nations will field the team competition, with the remaining combinations vying for individual honors, starting at 9:30 a.m. local time (3:30 a.m. Eastern) tomorrow.
Draw Order Set; Phillip Dutton and Denim Slated as U.S. Pathfinders
Following the jog, officials turned their attention toward the draw. For the team competition, Austria’s Daniel Dunst and Chevalier 97 are set to be the first combination to go down centerline when dressage competition gets underway Thursday.
Clarke Jonhstone (NZL) and Rocket Man are set to go second, with Miroslav Trunda (CZE) and Mellevue van Rechteren as third in the order of go. Dutton and 2015 Holsteiner gelding Denim will be the first U.S. combination to enter the dressage ring as fourth to go, while Pamukcu and 2015 Irish Sport Horse gelding HSH Blake are slotted for 25th in tomorrow’s competition.
Martin and 2014 Irish Sport Horse gelding Cooley Nutcracker, who was Liz Halliday’s former mount and parter for the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the U.S. pathfinders on Friday’s second day of dressage competition, followed by Smith and 2016 Holsteiner mare Lillet 3 then Coleman and 2012 Holsteiner gelding Diabolo.
Home Crowd Has Eyes on Michael Jung
Eager to see another German victory after taking the gold at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, four years ago, the home crowd will have their eyes on Libussa Lübbeke and Caramia FRH, the first combination to enter the dressage arena for Germany, as well as Malin Hansen-Hotopp and Carlitos Quidditch K, during tomorrow’s competition.
Friday’s lineup will see Michael Jung and fischerChipmunk FRH, the anchor combination for Germany’s team and winners of the CCI5*-L at the 2025 Defender Kentucky Three-Day Event, and Great Britain’s Laura Collett and London 52 compete—two pairs that have previously gone head-to-head for the sport’s top honors.
About the 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships
The 2026 FEI Eventing World Championships will be the highlight of international eventing competition on this year’s calendar and will be hosted during the first week of the FEI World Championships Aachen in Germany.
Competition will begin on Thursday, Aug. 13, with the first day of dressage beginning at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2 (3:30 a.m. Eastern), followed by the second day of dressage on Friday, Aug. 14, also beginning at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2 (3:30 a.m. Eastern).
Cross-country will begin at 9:15 a.m. GMT+2 (3:15 a.m. Eastern) on Saturday, Aug. 15, before competition concludes on Sunday, Aug. 16, awarding both team and individual medals following show jumping, which will begin at 12:30 p.m. GMT+2 (6:30 a.m. Eastern).