May 17, 2026 
Ask Andre Thieme what the most memorable achievement of his partnership with the extraordinary DSP Chakaria has been and he’ll tell you in one word: Aachen.
In 2024, the German and his German-bred mare (Chap 47 x Askari173) captured arguably the most coveted gem of the Rolex Grand Slam in front of a home crowd with a throttle-down, elbow-flapping gallop to the last.
It’s a triumph that Thieme rates even above their European gold medal in 2021 and that was supposed to be defended in 2025. But a minor injury sidelined the mare, denying them a shot at back-to-back wins in the world’s most iconic show jumping arena.
Next week, they’re getting a second chance—and every indication suggests that they’re up for the challenge.
Chakaria’s return to top sport in 2026 has been one of spectacular consistency. The haven’t finished outside the top six in a Grand Prix this year (Jumpr stats). In March, they help Germany win the 5* Longines League of Nations in Ocala. They were second in the 3* Grand Prix Hagen am Teutoburger Wald (April). On Saturday, he and the 16-year-old chestnut stormed to victory in the 5* Longines Grand Prix of Hamburg.
“This horse,” Thieme routinely points out, “is incredible.”
The 51-year-old admitted that lingering memories of Chakaria’s long layoff—“she was injured for over a year, which is something you still have in the back of your mind”—combined with rain-slicked conditions and a cautionary word from Germany’s national coach made for a tense afternoon on Saturday.
“Our national coach was here and said: ‘Don’t do anything crazy.’ There were a lot of things that made me unsure about how much I really wanted to risk,” Thieme explained. “I didn’t win this competition with speed. I think I won it with two extremely tight turns.
“I just turned very, very short. And then to the last jump, then I took the risk because I was still in it and I felt that. And she is very, very fast and very experienced. So, and I can trust her 1000%.”
The emotion of the moment was not lost on a rider who has been knocking at the door of this particular trophy.
“Every win with her feels emotional. Every win in general feels emotional, but I was here a few years ago, third in the Grand Prix, then I was second with her in the Grand Prix, so it was time to win it once. I’m just really, really happy.”
That happiness, however, is quickly giving way to focus. Next week’s Aachen Grand Prix looms as the real test of whether Thieme and Chakaria can reclaim their crown—and with the World Championships on the horizon this summer, the stakes could not be higher.
“That wasn’t easy at all,” Thieme said of the Hamburg win. “Next week is Aachen and everyone knows how important Aachen is, especially with the World Championships in mind.”
But if Hamburg was any indication, he’s riding his best shot. Thieme, after all, has a way of repeating wins. He’s a four-time winner of the Hamburg Derby and of the HITS Million.
For now, he’ll savor the Hamburg win—briefly. Then it’s on to the Soers, where history awaits.
