By Jennifer Bryant
All 91 of the horses presented for inspection (aka “the jog”) at the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) Dressage World Championships Aachen 2026 this morning were accepted into the competition, meaning that the FEI veterinary delegates determined them to be fit to compete.
Dressage World Championships competition gets underway Tuesday morning, August 11, in the famed stadium at Aachen, Germany, with the first of two consecutive days of Grand Prix competition. Nineteen national teams, including those from the USA, are vying for team medals, which will be awarded after Grand Prix competition concludes on August 12. Of the 91 horse/rider combinations, 17 are competing as individuals.
The top 30 individual combinations from the Grand Prix will advance to the Grand Prix Special for an opportunity to win the first of two sets of individual medals.
Riding on Grand Prix day 1 for Team USA will be Meagan Davis on Toronto Lightfoot (ride time 12:00 p.m. local time) and the last rider of the day, Kasey Perry-Glass on Heartbeat W.P. (ride time 5:50 p.m. local time). Both are reserve combinations. Perry-Glass, the first reserve, was named to the team after Jordan LaPlaca on Gold Play withdrew; later, Davis earned her slot after Genay Vaughn on Gino withdrew.
With stiff competition expected from such top combinations as Paris 2024 Olympic team gold medalists Isabell Werth of Germany on Wendy de Fontaine and recent Belgian sensations Justin Verboomen on Zonik Plus, Aachen 2026 promises to offer an exciting week of world-class dressage.
On day 2, Christian Simonson on Fleau de Baian will be the first to go for the US, at 12:40 p.m. local time. Ashley Holzer on Hawtins San Floriana will bookend the entire Grand Prix competition, riding last at 5:50 p.m. local time.
