This week is a bit quieter on the international calendar – but it’s the calm before the storm, as the countdown to CHIO Aachen has begun! Last year, André Thieme won the Rolex Grand Prix there with his DSP Chakaria (Chap I x Askari). “Winning that Grand Prix was the most memorable achievement I’ve had with Chakaria – maybe even more than the gold medal at the 2021 European Championships,” the German rider laughs. “I still remember how emotional that week was…”
“Last year, I lost my Olympic spot during CHIO Aachen. I had one rail down in the Nations Cup. Then to go on and win the Rolex Grand Prix – it was like a ray of light breaking through dark clouds…”
DSP Chakaria is an incredible horse – what would you say are her greatest strengths, and why do you think she performed so well in the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen last year?
Her experience really played a key role. She had already competed in major classes in Aachen, as well as at other top shows like Piazza di Siena in Rome and the Falsterbo Horse Show – all on large grass arenas – so she was well prepared for the Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen.
What makes Chakaria truly special is that she’s the full package. She’s a championship horse – whether it’s on sand or grass, it doesn’t matter to her. She delivers when it counts. She has hardly any weaknesses. She has a huge heart and is the kind of horse that rises to the occasion in the sport’s biggest moments, like the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen.
Are you planning to ride DSP Chakaria again in the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen this year? Will you be bringing any other horses?
I would absolutely love to ride Chakaria again in the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen this year, but unfortunately, she picked up a minor injury towards the end of last year. We had to give her time off, and although she’s almost ready to compete again, she’s not quite far enough along to make the trip to Aachen. That’s really disappointing, because having a horse with a real chance of winning the Rolex Grand Prix or representing your country in the Nations Cup is something very rare.
However, the FEI World Championships will be held in Aachen next year, and that’s our big goal. So we’re taking our time now to give her the best possible shot there.
Luckily, I have a great second horse – my up-and-coming Grand Prix horse, Paule S. He already performed well in Aachen last year and was impressive in the young horse classes in 2023. He loves the big grass arena there. He also competed in the Nations Cup at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, where the German team won. We’ve already had some great results this year – just last week, we won the Hamburg Derby. I’m already pre-qualified for the Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen this year, and Paule S will be the horse I ride. I really hope we can do well together.
How have you structured your training and competition schedule leading up to CHIO Aachen?
After a short break, I prepared Paule S for the Hamburg Derby. Then I’m taking him to the CSIO4* in Sopot, Poland. After that, we’ll have a few quiet weeks consisting of light training and keeping him fit. Now we’re ready for Aachen next week.
There’s nothing particularly special about our approach. Paule S has already been to Aachen twice and feels very comfortable in the big grass arena. He’s already jumped in plenty of big classes this year, so now it’s just a matter of keeping him fresh and ready.
How do you think the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping has elevated the sport and increased its global visibility?
The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors bring together the best combinations in our sport. These are the competitions every top rider dreams of winning. The Rolex Grand Slam carries enormous prestige, and each of the four events – The Dutch Masters, CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament, and CHI Geneva – is unique, which makes the entire series incredibly special.
