Shock at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen. After an accident while cross-country at the CHIO eventing test, British World Champion Rosalind Canter’s horse “Allstar” was put to sleep on the advice of the veterinarians. It was with a heavy heart that Canter and co-owner Caroline Moore agreed to the move.
“I have no words to describe the respect and love I have for Alby. He played a huge role in building my career and will now be missed by many,” said the 36-year-old Canter. With “Allstar” she became, among other things, double world champion in Tryon in 2018.
The 17-year-old stallion was badly hit with one leg at obstacle 16, refused to make a follow-up jump and then spread his left front leg out in pain. The scene of horror was immediately covered by marshals with tarpaulins, and Allstar was immediately taken to a veterinary clinic – but nobody there could help.
“This is a heavy blow to the cavalry. Something like this hasn’t happened in Aachen for a long time. But it was an accident that can always happen,” said tournament director Frank Kempermann on WDR.
After the drama of the accident, another moment of shock at the Meggle Prize in dressage: superstar Isabell Werth, who was on course for the title with the German team in the Nations Cup, was announced by the judges in the middle of her presentation in the Grand Prix Special. There was blood on the muzzle of her 12-year-old stallion, Quantaz. According to the rules, Werth had to stop her ride and was disqualified.
The cause was harmless, but had serious consequences: Quantaz bit her tongue, said the seven-time Olympic dressage champion. “Shit happens. If you haven’t experienced everything, you haven’t been there long enough. Now I’ve had this experience,” said the 52-year-old from Rheinberg. “It was the first time and hopefully the last time. Quantaz is fine.”
Due to the disqualification, the German team missed the chance to win the national ranking. Denmark secured this with Cathrine Dufour at the top. The 30-year-old won with Vamos Amigos ahead of Frederic Wandres from Hagen am Teutoburger Wald on Duke of Britain.
The CHIO is approaching its finale this Sunday. Even without the million-dollar premium, a victory in the Grand Prix of Aachen is a must-have in a successful career for a top show jumper. “Winning here once is something you want to achieve in your life. It’s something very, very special. That applies not only to me, but to all riders,” said Christian Ahlmann. The 47-year-old from Marl has already experienced the triumph in the riding stadium in the Soers with a capacity of 40,000 people: in 2014 he won on Codex One.
From 2.30 p.m., Ahlmann will try with Dominator in the 1.5 million euro show-jumping. With the victory on his second horse Solid Gold in the Allianz Prize, he was able to get in the right mood on Saturday. “For me it’s the day of the days of the year,” he said of the highlight on Sunday.
At the Corona edition in September 2021, Daniel Deußer immortalized himself on the famous winner’s board on the CHIO site with his success on Killer Queen. The Hessian, who lives in Belgium, is also present with the mare at this year’s edition.
Deußer, like the Swiss Martin Fuchs, can count on a further prize money in addition to the prize money of 500,000 euros. The Aachen Grand Prix is part of the Grand Slam series. These also include the Grand Prix in Spruce Meadows, Canada, in s’Hertogenbosch, Netherlands, and in Geneva.
If they triumph in a Grand Slam tournament, riders can look forward to bonuses of up to one million euros if they have previously been successful in one or more of the other three competitions. Deußer had won with Tobago in s’Hertogenbosch in March, the chestnut won in Geneva in December.
A total of 40 couples – including twelve from Germany – qualified for the Grand Prix on Sunday. The decision will be made after two rounds and a jump-off.
