Kiwis Aiming High at World Champs

New Zealand equestrians are chasing more than medals at the 2026 FEI World Championships Aachen, Germany, next week. As well as hunting down top honours, hopes are high they’ll also qualify for the 2028 Olympic Games. Equestrian Sports New Zealand High Performance general manager Jock Paget says the World Championships represent an important opportunity for the nation as it begins its campaign towards the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

“The focus for all disciplines will be on delivering the best performance we’re capable of throughout the championship,” says Paget. “The standard of competition will be exceptionally high, so our attention is on executing well, making good decisions, and giving ourselves the best opportunity to perform when it matters most. If we can achieve that, it will be a great outcome and the results will reflect that.”

He felt the combinations selected in eventing, jumping and dressage had demonstrated the consistency and quality required to put forward strong performances. “We’re proud of the group selected. They’ve earned their place through consistent performances over a long period and have shown they can compete at the highest level. Now it’s about giving them the environment and support they need to perform when it counts.”

Aachen is a venue that all equestrians aspire to compete at, making its hosting of the World Championship a very special occasion for all. Hundreds of riders from all over the world will compete in eventing, jumping, dressage, driving, vaulting and para dressage.

New Zealand has teams in eventing and jumping, and an individual in the dressage.

Eventing is the only sport to have won medals at the championships for New Zealand. The nation has previously twice won the team gold (1990 and 1998) and bronze (2010 and 2022). Individually, golds have been won by Blyth Tait (1990 and 1998) and Vaughn Jefferis (1994), with silvers to Sir Mark Todd (1998) and Trudy Boyce (1986) and bronzes to Andrew Nicholson (2010) and Tim Price (2022).

World No.1 Tim Price again leads the charge for the Kiwis, this time aboard his well-performed Falco, with whom he was successful at the 2022 champs. Joining him are fellow Olympians Jonelle Price aboard Senor Crocodillo and Clarke Johnstone with Rocket Man, Monica Spencer with her off-the-track New Zealand Thoroughbred Artist, and Samantha Lissington on Lucas Stone. Jonelle, Clarke, Monica and Tim were on the bronze medal-winning team in 2022.

Olympians Katie Laurie (nee McVean) and Uma O’Neill spearhead the jumping team aboard their mounts Django II and Luigi d’Eclipse respectively. They are joined by Luke Dee aboard Gangster WW and Sophie Scott with Normandy GHP. Katie recently made New Zealand history as the first Kiwi to win a CSI5* 1.60m Grand Prix. Luke has been in solid form too, making the podium at CSI4* and 5*.

Wendi Williamson and Don Vito MH are New Zealand’s only representatives in the dressage.

The championships run over 13 days, with dressage first up between August 11-15, followed by the eventing from August 13-16, and the jumping from August 18-23.
As well as a huge organising crew, the championships have attracted 1000 volunteers from around the globe who will help ensure the event runs smoothly.

In all, 59 gold, silver and bronze medals will be handed out across the disciplines. Aachen last played host to the champs in 2006 and has been very open of its desire to host an Olympic Games in the future.

THE NEW ZEALAND TEAM

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison