It’s time for New Zealand’s eventing team to kick into gear at the 2026 FEI World Eventing Championships in Aachen, Germany. With all of the Kiwi combinations safely through the first horse inspection attention now turns to two days of dressage.

First out on Thursday for New Zealand will be team rider Clarke Johnstone aboard Rocket Man who are second to go at 7.37pm (NZ time), followed by fellow team rider Jonelle Price aboard Senor Crocodillo, mid-field at 10.38pm (NZ time). Individual rider Samantha Lissington and Lucas Stone round out the day at 2.26am (NZ time).

On day two of the dressage sees team riders Monica Spencer and Artist are set to go at 8.19pm (NZ time) and Tim Price with Falco at 1.05am (NZ time).

 

While riders are chasing both individual and team podium finishes, hopes are high New Zealand will also qualify a team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. The seven highest-ranked teams – excluding host country the United States – will qualify.

World No.1 Tim Price, who won an individual bronze at the 2022 World Champs, says the team brings together the perfect balance of talent and personalities. “It’s an exciting team,” he said. “We’ve all come in here in good shape. We’ve all been together before so know how each of us operates and what sort of personalities we are. It comes down to the right balance of individual performance but also coming together to have a great team result which is the main priority.”

New Zealand won a team bronze at the 2022 World Champs. Equestrian Sports New Zealand high performance general manager Jock Paget says the focus is on one day at a time. “It is about nailing each moment, each day and our riders doing the absolute best they can,” he said. “There is a real championship buzz around the grounds and I am confident our riders have all they can to prepare.”

 

There are 88 combinations from 27 countries vying for top honours, with 16 chasing team honours. Seventy of the horses and 37 riders are competing at their first World Championships.

It’s a given competition will be fierce. The very best of eventing are in Aachen, but the Kiwis are also very much in the mix, individually and as a team. Expect strong showings from the defending champs and hosts, the Germans, the Brits, Irish and Americans. Individually, it is expected to be a battle royale between European champ Laura Collett (GBR) aboard London 52, Michael Jung (GER) on fischerChipmunk, and Ros Canter with the ever-consistent Lordships Graffalo, with a handful of others also in the picture.

First up will be two days of dressage, followed by the Giuseppe Della Chiesa-designed cross country and finally the jumping test on Sunday.

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By Diana Dobson – HP Media Liaison
Photos by Libby Law/ESNZ