Fun, show and top equestrian sport – the Aachen Youngstars at the CHIO showgrounds

Nadine Capellmann had certainly never imagined that she would get nervous before a lead-rein class again. As a dressage rider she won Olympic gold, claimed the World and European Championship titles. As a mother she will be routing for her daughter, who will be competing in the lead-rein class at the “Aachen Youngstars”. “Yes, of course I am a bit nervous,” she grinned. Sport with top young talents awaits the visitors at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds over the next two weekends, but also show and entertainment galore all-inclusive and what’s more there is free admission for everyone.

The top aspiring international dressage riders will be kicking the event off from Thursday to Sunday at the “Aachen Dressage Youngstars”. “We are looking forward to 64 riders from 14 nations,” explained Birgit Rosenberg, Director of the Sports Department of the organisers, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). They will be competing in the three age groups Ponies, Juniors and Young Riders. Lisa Prummenbaum from Simmerath is also taking part. She is extremely looking forward to it, even if the German Youth Championships at the Aachen Soers didn’t run too smoothly for her just a few weeks ago: “I was very flustered and that made my horse nervous and that was it,” she recalled. She is hoping that both of them manage to stay calmer at the Dressage Youngstars. And who knows “perhaps we will even succeed in qualifying for the freestyle.” The concluding freestyle is the Final for the twelve best competitors”. For the Advisory Board member, Stefanie Peters, the fact that the ALRV is organising a dressage competetion for talented young riders is a consequent move: “We have been extending our commitment in the youth sector for years, the Dressage Youngstars fits in perfectly here.”

Then, from November 30^th onwards (up until December 3^rd) it is the turn of the show jumpers – at the “Aachen Jumping Youngstars – Salut-Festival”. The ALRV has been co-organiser of this show that was founded 27 years ago by Willibert Mehlkopf for years. Here, the young jumping stars compete in four age groups – the group Children (aged up to 14, on big horses) is new to the list. The event is also worth a visit for people, who are not specifically interested in equestrian sport: On Saturday afternoon, not only CHIO Aachen mascot Karli and Santa are expected to drop by, further fun is guaranteed in the form of a dog race and the lead-rein class – with Nadine Capellmann personally leading one of the ponies.

It already became quite clear during the press event yesterday that we will not only be able to look forward to fantastic sport at the Aachen Dressage Youngstars next weekend. A touch of “Horse and Symphony” blew through the Albert-Vahle Arena at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds too, because two charming young ladies from the Dance Workshop Carla Brettschneider also posed for the photo. Together with 14 colleagues and four horses they are going to be part of the spectacular “Late Night”, an entertaining show evening focusing on dressage. Tristan Tucker will prove that this sport can also be really amusing. The Australian will not only hold a brief training session, but also send his alter ego “Brett Kidding” into the ring. The latter will perform dressage exercises following his very own personal style. “It is going to be great fun,” promised Stefanie Peters. The national dressage coach Monica Theodorescu is also taking part in the “Late Night” – together with the aspiring young dressage riders Jill de Ridder and Julia Hamm she will explain dressage exercises in detail. The “Aachen Youngstars Late Night” begins at 8.00 p.m. this Saturday in the Albert-Vahle Arena at the CHIO Aachen showgrounds. Admission is free and ample parking spaces are available.