VideoSpeed, surprises and significant firsts marked the opening day of the FEI Jumping World Championship in Aachen, Germany, as combinations representing 50 nations took to the main stadium for Wednesday’s team and individual qualifier against the clock.
France’s Julien Epaillard and Fringan de Vesquerie stopped the clock in a blistering 70.60 seconds to head the individual standings. Harrie Smolders (the Netherlands) and Mr. Tac came closest in 71.96 seconds, while Scott Brash (Great Britain) and Hello Mango completed the top three in 72.19 seconds.
With scores converted into penalty points, Germany seized the team lead on 3.48 penalties, holding a slender advantage over Belgium on 3.69. The Icon Global U.S. Jumping Team is behind them in third with 4.85 penalties, while Great Britain sits fourth, France in fifth, and the Netherlands in sixth. Just 1.6 penalties separate the leading six nations heading into Thursday’s competition.
“We are within striking distance of a team medal, even in this early stage of the game, which was the plan,” said chef d’equipe Robert Ridland. “This is a major championship—and Aachen on top of that. For us, it’s very important. We always aim to be on the podium, and we are going to give it our best shot.”
See team and individual results here.
Opening Challenge
Course designer Frank Rothenberger (Germany) set a sprawling track across the vast grass arena featuring 13 obstacles and 16 jumping efforts. Sweeping lines and strategic combinations offered opportunities to make up time but demanded precision from the first fence to the last.
The questions caught out some of the sport’s most experienced combinations, while several FEI World Championship debutants rose to the occasion and gained valuable experience for the rounds still to come.
Pathfinder Marcus Ehning, of Germany, provided the first answer. Aboard Coolio 42, the veteran left every fence standing and finished in 74.16 seconds, throwing down the gauntlet for the 144 combinations still to follow and laying the foundation for Germany’s eventual lead in the team standings.
“The course felt great. It’s not so easy to start first in the speed class because I didn’t see anyone before me, but the way he jumped, I’m more than happy,” Ehning said.
His teammates kept the momentum rolling, with Germany ending the day atop a tightly packed team leaderboard. Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) was encouraged by Germany’s opening performance but knows the questions will only get tougher.
“Three clear rounds in decent times is absolutely a good start for the Germans,” he said. “Everything is very close together today, and there is still a long week to go.”
Deusser expects Rothenberger to turn up the technical pressure from here. “Tomorrow it’s going to be 1.60 meters, even 1.65 meters, in the schedule,” he said. “It will be more technical, with the triple combination, and in two days we even have the water jump. I think the next two rounds will be like two grands prix.”
Speed and Precision
The leaderboard shifted repeatedly throughout the day as challengers came thick and fast, with every turn, stride and fraction of a second counting. Ultimately, Epaillard could not be caught.
Renowned as one of the fastest riders in the sport, the Frenchman lived up to his reputation aboard the 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Fringan de Vesquerie. Their 70.60-second performance put them 1.36 seconds clear of nearest rival Smolders and gave their championship campaign an emphatic start.
Epaillard admitted the round had not unfolded entirely to plan but quick thinking kept the clock on his side. “I planned to do nine [strides] for the wall and eight after, but the oxer before the wall, the five strides was very long, and I decided to change my plan,” he said. “The rest of the round was good. The turn on the plank was super.”
Epaillard also felt the opening test struck the right balance between speed and preserving horses for the challenges ahead. “You can win time, but you can also lose time,” he said. “It’s difficult to find the good balance between being in the five best and keeping the horse ready for tomorrow. So, I think it is a good course.”
Strong Start for the US
Clear rounds from Laura Kraut riding Baloutinue and Lillie Keenan on Fasther in the Table C speed competition, where faults are converted into time penalties, kept both pairs less than two points away from the lead and anchored the team on an overnight score of 4.85 penalties.
Kraut returns to Aachen in her fourth FEI world Championship appearance after competing at the venue in the 2006 edition, where she helped the U.S. Jumping Team earn silver. Twenty years later, and this time aboard her Olympic mount Baloutinue—owned by St. Bride’s Farm Inc. and cared for by Alex Tyler-Morris—Kraut jumped clear in 72.72 seconds to finish 11th on 1.06 converted penalties.
“I am absolutely thrilled. He could not have been better,” said Kraut. “Today was definitely a very open galloping course, which I wouldn’t say is normally my horse’s forte. He’s really quick at turning, but he handled it great. He has taken me places I’ve only dreamt of, and not only got me there, but arrived in style and pulled off beautiful rounds. Today, I’m just so proud of him.”
Keenan and Fasther, owned by Chansonette Farm LLC, and cared for by Anna Halász, ended the day sitting 14th overall after a clear round over jumps was converted to 1.17 penalties.
One rail fell late in the course for six-time Olympian McLain Ward and High Star Hero, owned by Michael Smith and cared for by Caroline Holmberg, to leave them sitting 33rd on a score of 2.62.
Katie Dinan and Out of the Blue SCF, owned by Grant Road Partners LLC and cared for by Lou Beudin, were the final pair to take to the stadium for the team. Two rails fell for a final score 10.91.
A Debut to Remember
Riders from seven nations made their FEI Jumping World Championship debut in Aachen Wednesday, including Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso, the first jumping athlete to represent the Dominican Republic at this level.
Brugal Gasso and J’adore Flamenco finished the opening competition with two rails down, but the moment stretched far beyond the scoreboard. “It’s always an honor to carry the flag,” she said. “I’m proudly representing a little piece of a small island in the Caribbean at the biggest equestrian event in the world.”
Her journey is made even more special by J’adore Flamenco, her partner of six years, whom she has taken from a green 8-year-old to this stage. “He’s so special. He’s the best thing in the world,” she said. “Him and I have done all of our firsts together.”
Nothing Decided Yet
The first points are on the board, but the championship remains wide open. Wednesday’s converted scores will carry forward, with three more phases still to come.
Thursday’s second competition—the team final and second individual qualifier—will see riders return in reverse order, with individual competitors first, followed by the teams. Competition returns at 9 a.m. local time (3 a.m. Eastern) on Thursday.
For More:
- See results, orders of go, and more.
- Read more of our coverage from the 2026 FEI World Championships held in Aachen, Germany, from Aug. 11–23, here.