The unique Aachen arena and its tens of thousands of cheering fans

For many people, the answer is a resounding YES! CHIO Aachen, which this week presents the fifth leg of the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI series, is a spectacular festival of horse activity with a long tradition of excellence, and the German town is already buzzing as the 2008 event has once more attracted huge crowds.

The history of the show dates back to 1898 when the Laurensberger Rennverein e.V organisation was founded by Arnold Deden, Gustav Rensing and Hubert Wienen together with some local farmers and merchants. In 1923 the name was changed to Aachen Laurensberger Rennverein e.V, and the following year the first flat and hurdle races were staged. In 1925 there was a big tournament to celebrate the 1,000th year of the Rhineland when a total of 213 horses took part in riding, jumping and driving competitions watched by 20,000 spectators.

INTERNATIONAL

The show first became international in 1927 when eight nations participated, and two years later this had expanded to include 19 countries, but at the outbreak of the Second World War the facilities were turned over to the Red Cross. Heavy bombing led to extensive damage, but a reconstruction programme began in 1945 and it didn't take long for the popular fixture to become re-established and go from strength to strength. At the 1947 fixture just six nations lined out, but such was the growing prestige of the venue that it was only eight years later when the World Championships were staged there before a crowd of 55,000, while spectator numbers continued to increase rapidly with 175,000 people attending the show in 1957.

The scale of improvements to the showground was spectacular and the 60th Anniversary show in 1997 attracted 216,000 spectators to the stadium and 35,000 more to the forest of Aachen while equestrian sport's growing popularity provided over 37 hours of television transmission in Germany and more than 131 hours internationally in 111 countries.

However few could ever have anticipated the enormous success of the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games when almost 800 athletes and their horses battled it out for 16 gold medals in seven disciplines watched by 576,000 spectators in the packed stadiums, and by 1.6 billion television viewers worldwide. Germany led the medal table with six gold, one silver and four bronze medals followed by the USA and The Netherlands. It was a masterpiece of organisation, and in the aftermath it was agreed that equestrian sport had moved onto a whole new level.

BIG WINNERS

The Aachen Nations Cup and Grand Prix titles have long been the most coveted in the sport of international show jumping and of course the home side has ensured that, in the majority of cases, the honours have remained at home.

In the 78-year history of the Nations Cup class, Germany has won 23 times, while next in line in terms of successes is the once-powerful force of Italy with a tally of 10. The Italians are also runners-up on the Grand Prix winners list which is led again by Germany with a total of 32 victories, but the last of the 10 Italian victories was recorded Major Piero d'Inzeo and Bally Black who shared the winners podium with Argentina's Dr Miguel Arrambide way back in 1965.

Amongst the six Americans who have taken the Aachen Grand Prix title is George Morris, current team manager of the US side that will line out in the Samsung Super League with FEI leg on Thursday night, and his comfort-zone may be all the better for the fact that amongst his squad are two former Aachen Grand Prix champions - Anne Kursinski who came out on top with Starman in 1991 and last year's winner Beezie Madden who headed the line-up with Authentic.

MUCH TO DO AND SEE

Visitors to the "CHIO" (pronounced ‘cheeo’), as it is known locally, can take some time out to visit the Museum at the offices of the Aachen-laurensberger Rennverein e.V which includes archives and personal souvenirs of many equestrian athletes. Medals, historical documents, books and photographs along with stone from the old Judges House that was demolished in 2004 have all been saved for posterity, and you can take a virtual look at film sequences from the past or call up key data on computer.

A horse auction, now in its second year, will take place on Friday night and you may notice a particularly "Russian" feel to the Aachen experience this year because Russia is the official partner of the CHIO in 2008 and the town has already begun celebrating. On Monday evening 110 Russian riders, musicians and dancers arrived in Aachen's Market Square led by the Russian President's mounted Guard of Honour who have never before been seen outside their home country. The Dzhigits, a stunt troop, and a group of Cossack riders also joined in the spectacular display that enthralled bystanders and the Russian visitors also took centre stage during Tuesday's Opening Ceremony which was attended by German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

For tourists, the Aachen Cathedral and Treasury, The Town Hall, the historic Old Town, The Elisa Fountain, the Couven Museum and the Carolus Baths are just some of the most popular sites, but you are never far away from horses with a sculpture by Bonifatius Btirnberg at the main train station and the Smiling Stallion by Gerhard Marcks greeting you near the city theatre.

HORSE SPORT IN GERMANY

Statistics show that 1.24 million men and women ride regularly in Germany while the horse population in the country is in excess of 1 million. In 2006 it was calculated that riding and driving clubs had a membership of 762,432 and that about 70% of German Federation members, which then totalled 555,776, were women. Equestrian sport is the second favourite sport for females aged between 15 and 18 years and more than half of the Federation's members are under 26 years of age.

Between them, Germany's Young Riders (up to 21 years), Juniors (up to 18 years) and Pony Riders (up to 16 years) have won 477 medals, including 212 gold, 149 silver and 116 bronze European Championship medals. At Championships Germany has claimed 552 medals including 234 gold and at Olympic Games - between 1912 and 2004 - dressage, show jumping and eventing riders have secured 75 medals including 34 gold. The results speak for themselves. No wonder horse sport in Germany is thriving and that this country is such a powerful force.....

STRENGTH

As the 2008 Samsung Super League with FEI comes to Aachen, Germany lies in second place. A win at Rotterdam two weeks ago left them just 1.5 points behind The Netherlands at the top of the table after four of the eight legs.

The Dutch suffered some disappointment this week when it was confirmed that Olympic gold medallist and 2001 Aachen Grand Prix winner Jeroen Dubbeldam will not be lining out for them. Jeroen suffered a badly-broken leg when kicked by a young horse earlier this year and it has been a slow and painful recovery for him, but he had hoped to make a return to the team this week. Deeply disappointed he said on Monday that although the leg feels a lot better "unfortunately I established that I have indeed lost a lot of strength in my broken leg - I am afraid it is too early for me to be able to compete at the CHIO Aachen," he pointed out. Dutch team manager Rob Ehrens is still prepared to give his rider a chance to make it to the Olympic Games in Hong Kong in August - "he will compete at the CSI Twente in Geesteren next week and will try to take advantage of his small chance at gaining a ticket for the Olympics," Rob explained.

The Netherlands team however will still be strong as the Samsung Super League with FEI competition gets underway under floodlights on Thursday night and the atmosphere is bound to be electric as the home supporters, who so love their show jumping, will be right behind their team in the all-important battle for supremacy in the series which, just like Aachen itself, stirs such passion and pride in the pursuit of sporting excellence.


By Louise Parkes