Pathfinder Marcus Ehning (GER) provided the first answer. Aboard Coolio 42, the German veteran left every fence standing and broke the beam in 74.16 seconds, throwing down the gauntlet for the 144 combinations still to follow and laying the foundations for Germany’s eventual lead in the Team standings.

“The course felt great. It’s not so easy to start first in the speed class because I didn’t see anyone before me, but the way he jumped, I’m more than happy,” said Ehning.

His teammates kept the momentum rolling, with Germany ending the day on top of a tightly packed Team leaderboard. Daniel Deusser (Otello de Guldenboom) was encouraged by Germany’s opening performance but knows the questions will only get tougher.

“Three clear rounds in decent times is absolutely a good start for the Germans,” he said. “Everything is very close together today and there is still a long week to go.”

Deusser expects Rothenberger to turn up the technical pressure from here.

“Tomorrow it’s going to be 1.60m, even 1.65m in the schedule,” he said. “It will be more technical, with the triple combination, and in two days we even have the water jump. I think the next two rounds will be like two Grands Prix.”

Speed and precision

The leaderboard shifted repeatedly throughout the day as challengers came thick and fast, with every turn, stride and fraction of a second counting.

Ultimately, Epaillard could not be caught.

Renowned as one of the fastest Athletes in the sport, the Frenchman lived up to his reputation aboard the 11-year-old Selle Français gelding Fringan de Vesquerie.

Their 70.60-second performance put them 1.36 seconds clear of nearest rival Smolders and gave their Championship campaign an emphatic start.

Epaillard admitted the round had not unfolded entirely to plan, but quick thinking kept the clock on his side.

“I planned to do nine for the wall and eight after, but the oxer before the wall, the five strides was very long, and I decided to change my plan,” he explained. “The rest of the round was good. The turn on the plank was super.”

Epaillard also felt the opening test struck the right balance between speed and preserving horses for the challenges ahead.

“You can win time, but you can also lose time,” he said. “It’s difficult to find the good balance between being in the five best and keeping the horse ready for tomorrow. So, I think it is a good course.”

With qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games also at stake for France, Epaillard’s focus remains firmly on the Team competition.

“We have a super team, young riders and old warriors,” Epaillard added. “Of course, we would like to be on the podium. We will try to give our best, stay focused and hopefully on Friday night we’re still here.”

A debut to remember

Athletes from seven nations made their FEI Jumping World Championship debut in Aachen today, including Maria Gabriela Brugal Gasso, the first Jumping Athlete to represent the Dominican Republic at this level.

Brugal Gasso and J’adore Flamenco finished the opening competition with two fences down, but the moment stretched far beyond the scoreboard.

“It’s always an honour to carry the flag,” she said. “I’m proudly representing a little piece of a small island in the Caribbean at the biggest equestrian event in the world.”

Her journey is made even more special by J’adore Flamenco, her partner of six years, whom she has taken from a green eight-year-old to the World Championship stage.

“He’s so special. He’s the best thing in the world,” she said. “Him and I have done all of our firsts together.”

After everything it took to reach Aachen, two rails could do little to diminish their moment in the Soers spotlight.