In 2024, Richard Vogel (GER) experienced the week of his life at the Soers in Aachen. With four gold rosettes and a further six podium finishes, the 28-year-old notched up a series of results that no other rider has achieved before in the history of the CHIO Aachen. It is thus no wonder that the spectacular rides of the crowd’s favourite flickered over the screen again during the traditional press conference in the run-up to the World Equestrian Festival. Moments for eternity, but also an appetizer for what awaits the world at the CHIO Aachen 2025, which commences on June 27th: Top-class sport, big emotions and a spectacular supporting programme. Together with the organisers, the dressage rider, Katharina Hemmer (GER) and the eventing star, Calvin Böckmann (GER), Richard Vogel was in eager anticipation of the CHIO Aachen 2025 at lunchtime on Tuesday.

He still gets goosebumps when he thinks back to last year, admitted Richard Vogel – and with a smile on his face set himself a new goal for 2025: “Do better in one particular class!” He was talking about the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix on the final Sunday. This year Vogel will once again be relying on his successful partner, United Touch S, whom he finished third with in 2024. “He feels at home in the huge arena – so why not try my luck again this year?” said Vogel. But it certainly won’t be easy: Nine of the top 10 riders in the world are awaited at the Soers, first and foremost the number one in the world rankings, Kent Farrington (USA), the 2024 Olympic gold medallist from Paris, Christian Kukuk (GER), as well as the Olympic team gold medallists, Scott Brash and Ben Maher from Great Britain. They will all be bringing their best horses with them, alongside the two Swiss riders, Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs, who will endeavour to finally add a victory in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen to their impressive list of achievements.

But not only in the Main Stadium, next week world-class sport can also be experienced just a few metres away as the crow flies in the Dressage Stadium. To the particular delight of Stefanie Peters. “It is no secret that I am a dressage fan,” said the President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) , organisers of the event, full of sweet anticipation for the best ten days of the year, when she will drop in to watch the dressage whenever she gets time. And it is definitely going to be worthwhile, because there is a fantastic field of competitors. With the record holder of Aachen victories, Isabell Werth (GER), who is saddling her top horse Wendy de Fontaine for the Soers, the four-time Olympic gold medallist, Jessica von Bredow-Werndl (GER), the double World Champion, Charlotte Fry (GBR) and Dinja van Liere from the Netherlands, the top 4 dressage riders from the Olympic Games in Paris are set to compete in Aachen. But Katharina Hemmer (GER) also wants to have a say in the matter, particularly in the Lindt Prize, the Grand Prix Freestyle. The 30-year-old recently claimed bronze in the Grand Prix Special in Balve with her successful partner, Denoix PCH, which was not only her first medal at the German Championships, she also won a place on the German team for the Lambertz Nations’ Cup for the second time in succession. “My horse is in excellent form. I am really looking forward to Aachen and hope to put in the best possible performance for the crowd,” stated Hemmer, clearly indicating her dream: “To win here once in Aachen – that is what we train for every day.”

Of course, CHIO Aachen’s Head of Sport and ALRV board member, Birgit Rosenberg, is also delighted about the strong field of participants. “It is world class.” Not just in the show jumping and dressage, the best athletes in the world will also be competing in the vaulting, four-in-hand driving and eventing classes too. For example, the British team Olympic gold medallists, Laura Collett and Tom McEwen, the eventing legend Andrew Hoy (AUS) and 2021 winner of Aachen, William Coleman (USA), in the equestrian triathlon, the UBS Cup. Last year’s runner-up Calvin Böckmann (GER) is also on board. And he can hardly wait to set off on the cross-country course. “So many people so close to the track – that really is unique worldwide,” raved the 24-year-old, who will be competing with his 15-year-old Selle Francais mare, Altair de la Cense.

Above all, the CHIO Aachen is and remains to be what has always distinguished it: Ten days of top sport in five disciplines, staged in front of around 350,000 enthusiastic spectators in the most famous equestrian sport arenas in the world. Aachen’s Mayor, Sibylle Keupen, is also looking forward to that and to the many guests from all over the globe that the show attracts to the imperial city. “During the CHIO Aachen the eyes of the world are on our city,” the Mayor commented, adding with regards to the weather forecast: “We are looking forward to a vibrant summer festival!” And precisely this festival commences in exactly three days’ time, initially with the vaulting competitions and the two “Horse & Symphony” concerts. In line with the partner country, Spain, the official Opening Ceremony on July 1^st will bring Mediterranean flair to the Soers in the form of the top star Alvaro Soler and the ensemble of Córdoba Ecuestre that is travelling to Aachen especially from Andalusia. And then at the latest they will be there again, those very special goosebumps that both the participants and the spectators get when they are part of Germany’s biggest sporting event.

Tickets for the CHIO Aachen 2025 are available online from the ticket shop, from the hotline on +49-(0)241-917-1111 and from the offices of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein.