Wednesday, 12 August 2026
Day two of the FEI Dressage World Championships certainly lived up to its billing, with some super performances and competition as hot as the August German temperatures. As the day unfolded, it was a clear battle between hosts Germany, the plucky Brits and the determined Danes. It all went down to the wire, but it was Germany who came out on top, while incredible tests from Great Britain’s Carl Hester and Charlotte Fry made it closer than many thought possible for silver.
In addition to the podium nations, all-important LA28 Olympic qualification places went to Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden and Portugal.
The third rider rotation in a championship is when the pressure really starts to build, so who better to take on the role than Carl Hester. Experience, talent, composure, skill – the Sark rider has it all in spades. Today, however, he would really need to channel his four decades of championship nouse into producing something special with his equine partner Fame, owned by teammate Fiona Bigwood, Mette Dahl and himself, if Britain was to stay in the reckoning for a podium place.
Carl and Fame are now at their fourth championship together, so the expectation to deliver is nothing new. The Dutch combination in before them ended to an eruption of cheering from the crowd, which almost served to motivate Fame as he grew in stature while trotting around the arena. Silence fell as he and Carl cantered up the centre line to a square halt, then set off with a spritely rhythm into the first extension. The half-passes flowed and the bright bay stallion was in his zone, relaxed yet on the aids. As the test progressed, confidence grew and Carl could ask more.
The canter work is always a highlight for Fame and, today, he was at his brilliant best. The two-time tempi changes were regular and straight, followed by a bold extended canter and into a secure canter zig-zag across the centre line. An effortless line of one-time temps followed, before the turn down the centre line for their trademark pirouettes. They were delivered beautifully, with an average mark of 8.5 from the seven judges for the right and 8.2 for the left – the overall marks were climbing as the end neared.
A final extended trot, well-presented line of passage and piaffe with good transitions and a square halt brought the test to an end, with plenty in the audience shedding a tear for what they’d watched. In an interesting addition for the spectators, some of the grooms wore heartrate monitors while they watched their rider and horse go through the test. Lucy Scudamore, who turned out Fame to a tee today, was fairly even throughout but, as the test progressed, her heartrate climbed and, by the final halt, she registered 160 beats per minute!
It was the performance that Britain needed and, of course, the maestro had delivered. The final percentage of 77.314% wasn’t quite a personal best, but it was certainly an accomplished performance when it mattered most. At that stage, it put Britain into the lead, but the third German rider was yet to come.
“We just needed a good score and, over the past few days, I've been sat watching my best tests I've ever done to prepare, all the time thinking ‘nail this, nail this, watch this’. It really worked for me in my head but, more to the point, I think I'm so much more able to direct my sight to the horse, and the horse reacted absolutely beautifully. We’ve watched him over the years get calmer and calmer, and today was possibly one of the calmest tests he’s ever done,” beamed Carl.
“He really didn't bat an eyelid, but it actually gave me a lift going in there. I suddenly felt confident because he didn't react negatively at all to any of the noise, so off I went and enjoyed my test,” said a relieved Carl, who admitted the last few weeks of build-up had been stressful.
The third-round rider for Germany Katharina Hemmer went shortly after and delivered a harmonious performance for 79.224%, which regained the lead for the hosts with the final rotation to come.
Reigning world individual and freestyle champions Charlotte ‘Lottie’ Fry and the black stallion Glamourdale, owned by Van Olst Horse and his 30-year-old rider, were the anchor combination for Great Britain. Of course, it was high-pressure, but this duo is born to perform. Danish rider Catherine Laudrup-Dufour and Mount St John Freestyle, favourites for individual honours, had smashed out a stellar 82.376% to really put pressure on for the team medals. As many had predicted, it would come down to a three-way battle between the Brits, the Danes and the home side of Germany.
The calculators came out and Lottie needed a little over 78% to secure at least the silver for Great Britain – could the pair deliver as they so often have before?
The crowd’s anticipation was reaching fever pitch as the last few riders approached, but this is the sort of atmosphere Glamourdale relishes – he simply loves to perform. As they cantered around the arena, a hush fell over the crowd, the bell rang and the Yorkshire rider made for the centre line, with the stallion’s dark coat gleaming (thanks to groom Richard Hauwaerts) in the unusual early evening light, due to the approaching solar eclipse. A super start with a square halt and a spectacular first extended trot across the diagonal showed they meant business.
The half passes had super elevation, reach and energy – ‘Glammy’ was relaxed and focused on his rider. The first transition into piaffe wasn’t quite as crisp as it could be, but it was a minor blip and they recovered well. The free walk was relaxed and the transition to passage was instant. This time, the piaffe was spot-on and showed good rhythm. It was then into canter and the marks began to climb, with Glamourdale’s party pieces to come. The line of two-time changes was expressive and straight, the extended canter was spectacular with an audible gasp from the crowd – an average mark from the judges flashed up as 9.6 out of 10 – and the zig-zag was mistake-free.
An effortless line of one-time flying changes followed, then the pirouettes were a picture of controlled athleticism, so the marks flowed. The final centre line, which has occasionally caught the duo out, was absolutely nailed, with a super rhythm and textbook passage to halt. The crowd erupted and Lottie gave her horse a huge hug of gratitude. She knew it was a good test, but was it what they needed for silver? The score was announced as 80.311% – they’d guaranteed at least the second step on the podium. It was then a case of waiting for the final German rider, none other than the Queen of Aachen herself, Isabell Werth.
She has so often delivered the goods for her nation and, in Wendy de Fontaine, she had the equine partner to do it once again. The performance wasn’t quite their best, but it was more than enough to clinch the gold and give the home crowd the result they wanted. It was a silver for Britain to match the one they won four years ago in the World Championships in Herning, while Denmark took the bronze.
“I'm feeling amazing!” exclaimed Lottie. “Glamourdale was just incredible. That was the most amazing feeling I've ever had in the ring. We had a small misunderstanding and I just kind of threw him into that first piaffe, which was a shame because the rest of them were really good – the one on the centre line was just incredible. The whole test was just the best feeling.
“He absolutely loves Aachen and he always goes well here, I’ve never have a bad ride here, touch wood, and he was just insane in that arena. He loved every second of it and he loved the crowd at the end – he wanted to go right up to them. It was so cool. I'm excited to bring that back into [the arena for] the Special, because not much else can be better. He was just amazing,” she said.
So, some 20 years after winning team gold in Aachen last time, it was a repeat performance for Germany, to the delight of the home crowd at the FEI Dressage World Championship 2026.
The hosts finished on a team total of 235.063%, which was 3.618 points clear of Great Britain in silver on a sixth straight medal winning championship run, and it was bronze for the defending champions Denmark.
The top 30 combinations go forward to Friday’s Grand Prix Special but, sadly, Fiona Bigwood and her charming mare Donna Bella miss out, having finished 37th overall. The three other British combinations go through and will certainly by in the mix for individual medal honours.
In the FEI Eventing World Championship, today was the first horse inspection, which featured 88 horses from 27 nations under the watchful gaze of the Ground Jury, consisting of Anne-Mette Binder (DEN), Peter Gray (CAN) and Joanne Jarden (IRL).
Britain’s five combinations were all accepted without issue, with all the horses looking a picture thanks to the work of the grooms – Sarah Charnley (Lordships Graffalo), Tilly Hughes (London 52), Nellie Smith (D. Day), Adam Short (JL Dublin) and Georgie Driver (Flash Cooley).
After the inspection, Performance Manager Richard Waygood announced the team running order – Gemma Stevens as pathfinder, Tom McEwen, Laura Collett and anchor Ros Canter. Caroline Harris will be the individual.
Gemma and Flash Cooley get the dressage phase underway at 11:11 (10:11 BST), while Tom and JL Dublin go at 15:57 (14:57 BST). Friday’s times are 12:24 (11:24 BST) for Laura and London 52, individual duo Caroline and D. Day go at 12:52 (11:52 BST), then Britain’s final rider down the centreline will be Ros with Lordships Graffalo at 16:46 (15:46 BST).
Britain’s Ursula Levett gets her female individual campaign underway tomorrow at 11:00 (10:00 BST) in the compulsory test. With her horse Shannondale Jedi, she had her first chance to experience the atmosphere in Stadium 3, which normally plays host to the dressage at Aachen. For the championships, they’ve added a temporary roof because vaulting requires indoor conditions.
The session with lunger and coach Pauline Riedl was a success, and the duo is looking forward to getting underway.
Find out everything you need to know about Aachen and the championships via our online hub and follow British Equestrian on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok for full digital of the competition.
You can watch all the action live on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, with a subscription. All the start lists and results are available via Longines Timing or on the Aachen 2026 app.
The funding that the British Equestrian World Class Programme receives from the National Lottery and UK Sport is pivotal in preparing our teams for senior championships and supporting them on the ground.
British Equestrian is also extremely grateful for the support we enjoy from our partners – Agria, Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, NAF, SEIB and Toggi – and team suppliers – Equi-Trek, Jaecoo and Lotus Romeo.
Find out everything you need to know about Aachen and the championships via our online hub and follow British Equestrian on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok for full digital of the competition.
You can watch all the action live on FEI.TV, powered by ClipMyHorse.TV, with a subscription. All the start lists and results are available via Longines Timing or on the Aachen 2026 app.
The funding that the British Equestrian World Class Programme receives from the National Lottery and UK Sport is pivotal in preparing our teams for senior championships and supporting them on the ground.
British Equestrian is also extremely grateful for the support we enjoy from our partners – Agria, Bates Saddles, Dodson & Horrell, NAF, SEIB and Toggi – and team suppliers – Equi-Trek, Jaecoo and Lotus Romeo.