The FEI European Championships Aachen 2015 kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony in front of 40,000 visitors.
Celebration of equestrian sport
The two-week long championships – which will see Great Britain battle it out for Olympic qualification – was declared officially open by the Prime Minister of the North Rhine-Westphalia Hannelore Kraft.
To celebrate the biggest sporting event in Germany this year, the colourful display took the audience on a tour the city’s 120-year equestrian history.
More than 300 horses and 1000 participants took part in the impressive display showcasing every discipline from side-saddle riding to eventing and remembered the unforgettable victories, defeats and heroes from the showground’s illustrious past.
The famous Aachen stadium in the heart of city centre is a purpose built equestrian facility boasting world-class facilities including 430 permanent stables and three arenas.
Sporting legends
Sporting legends also took to the hallowed turf in the main arena for an appearance which brought the crowd to their feet.
Hans Günter Winkler, Isabell Werth, Paul Schockemöhle, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Michael Freund, Ludger Beerbaum as well as Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa were included in the star-studded line-up.
The world’s top riders and drivers from five disciplines have flocked to the German city for the prestigious competition.
First to go are the dressage riders in a nail-biting competition which will see dressage giants Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro go head-to-head with the legendary Totilas under Matthias Rath for the first time in four years.
Fire, water, earth and air
The show also featured a state quadrille display including celebrity rider Ursula von der Leyen – Germany’s federal defence minister.
The performance was rounded off with a ‘finale furioso’ themed around the four elements fire, water, earth and air.
Air acrobats, fire dancers, water fountain displays, drummers and stunt riders wowed the crowds in the dramatic climax to the show – which took months of planning and preparation.
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