Fantastic atmosphere in the traditional market square of Aachen: The Household Cavalry, traditional bagpipe music and plenty of ponies and carriages as an appetiser for the CHIO Aachen 2023 and this year’s partner country Great Britain.

The “Öcher” (people of Aachen) were amazed as the mounted soldiers of the Household Cavalry, one otherwise only sees in the magnificent parades on London’s streets, strutted over the cobblestones in the heart of the old imperial city. The impressive guards of the British royal family were part of the convoy that paraded from the showgrounds of the CHIO Aachen to the traditional reception in front of the wonderful setting of the historic Town Hall. And crowds of people from Aachen flooded into the marketplace on Monday evening to take part in the celebrations. Even before the horses and the participants arrived at the market square at 6 p.m., the CHIO mascot Karli and his companion Paddington, both in best spirits, got everyone in the mood for the open air festival and from the heights of the Town Hall balcony Aachen’s mayoress, Sibylle Keupen, greeted her “Öcher”.

This year’s World Equestrian Festival is something very special for the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV): “It has been our heart’s desire to have Great Britain as our partner country for a long-time,” the President of the ALRV, Stefanie Peters, stated. “We can all look forward to a CHIO Aachen that is going to be steeped in British charm.” And the atmosphere was characterised by precisely this charm already on Monday evening on Aachen’s traditional marketplace. Not only the Household Cavalry, but also historical carriages, loads of Shetland ponies and traditional bagpipe players offered a magnificent reception and a foretaste of what is to come over the coming days at the Soers. “It is fantastic that we are celebrating this festival together,” said Nick Russell, the General Consul of Great Britain, who is also immensely looking forward to the CHIO Aachen 2023.

All of the participants of today’s parade will be taking part in tomorrow’s Opening Ceremony – and many more. Remaining tickets for the Opening Ceremony are available online from the ticket shop of the CHIO Aachen and from the hotline on +49-(0)241-917-1111.