June 30, 2023 
“After the first round I got kicked in the butt, which was exactly what I needed. From your father, and from my father!” said a smiling Edouard Schmitz to Martin Fuchs.
For 21 years, the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup at CHIO Aachen evaded the Swiss. The two decade drought finally ended on Thursday in the reins of a dream team comprised of Steve Guerdat, Niklaus Schurtenberger, Edouard Schmitz and Martin Fuchs. Yet for the Swiss, well known perfectionists, it didn’t start out on the most promising of strides.
In the first round, Schurtenberger collected four faults over the lofty Frank Rothenburg (GER) designed course with 12-year-old mare C-Steffra. Schmitz doubled score with 12-year-old gelding Gamin Van’t Naastveldhof, leaving the ring with 8-faults and a “talking to” from both his father and his trainer Markus Fuchs. For Schmitz, who placed second with Gamin in Wednesday’s Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe, it was nothing short of an expectation to carry his success into Nations Cup day.
Serving as the drop score in the first round, there was still chance for redemption. With some words of wisdom and the desire to rise to the occasion, Schmitz put together a foot perfect second round. Guerdat masterfully repeated his zero fault effort with 14-year-old gelding Venard De Cerisy, but this time it was Schurtenberger who couldn’t find the right rhythm. He racked up a 23 fault drop score.
In the end, it came down to Fuchs and 10-year-old gelding Commissar Pezi, which would make for an iconic finish. The last time Switzerland won the Nations Cup in Aachen it was his uncle Markus Fuchs riding Tinka’s Boy who anchored the team. The next generation Fuchs brought the win back with a clear, and the full crowd erupted.
Though perhaps nobody was happier than Michel Sorg, the Swiss chef d’equipe, who described the result as dreamlike.
“It is a dream come true winning the Nations’ Cup here in Aachen. It is the dream of all fans of this sport. I had the chance to come here as a spectator many times but to be standing in the middle of the stadium winning was an honor I’ve not realized yet,” said Sorg.
For Schmitz, his redemption arc meant all the more considering it was his Aachen maiden.
“I was very pleased with how Gamin has been jumping, we had a great second round. I was very happy with the outcome of today, it was a great team performance. For my debut in Aachen to be a win is something which means a lot to me,” said Schmitz.
Even the most seasoned team members didn’t expect a top result would come easy. Guerdat was keenly aware that the expansive grass field which fielded seven competitive nations would present the challenges to match.
“The Nations Cup in Aachen is always a very tough course and very big…We saw some horses struggling in the second round and some coming back even better. I was very happy with Venard, he’s been in great shape. I’m so lucky to have a horse like him.” said Guerdat
When the pressure to seal the win ultimately fell on the shoulders of Fuchs, he held his composure until the very end. Or, almost.
“I had a really good feeling. [Commissar] jumped super in the first round. Steve helped me warm up before the second round and he said just do everything the same as before, so I entered the ring with lots of confidence. But I was a little bit nervous on the last line…” admitted Fuchs.
Switzerland finished the class on just four faults, followed by Great Britain who tallied eight. Belgium rounded out the podium with a slightly slower eight faults. The United States finished just outside of the awards on a score of 12.
