August 11, 2026 
Frederic Wandres threw down a 75.960% to seize the overnight individual lead, igniting the home crowd as the FEI World Championships Aachen kicked off with a first day of team qualifiers. The German powerhouse, riding his longtime partner Bluetooth OLD, now sits atop the leaderboard ahead of Great Britain’s Becky Moody (73.820%) and compatriot Raphael Netz (73.338%).
Aachen’s storied hauptstadion needs no introduction. Its electric atmosphere doesn’t diminish based on the headcount—those in the stands know exactly what is happening and gasp at wobbly one-tempi changes. Throw in the weight of a World Championship, and the tension is palpable.
Yet, the horse-and-rider combinations who presented their tests for judgement on Tuesday delivered a masterclass in mental fortitude and trusted partnership.
Finland’s Ville Vaurio set the early benchmark aboard the 13-year-old Dante NL, posting a 68.509%. The score lands in their top-five best performances of the 2025–2026 season. “That was some of the best work we have produced together,” he remarked.
Portugal’s João Miguel Torrão left the stadium in tears after his Lusitano stallion Lirio MVL earned a 71.398%—their second-best score of 2026. The emotional ride keeps Portugal sitting in sixth place overnight, with two combinations still to go before tomorrow’s team qualifier concludes.
As the first German rider to contest the home World Championships, Raphael Netz felt the weight of expectation.
“Of course, I was very aware of the responsibility,” he admitted. “But I tried not to think about it too much—to keep it at arm’s length. I really just focused on riding our Grand Prix and being as fit and focused as possible for my horse.”
His 73.338% was met with thunderous whoops and applause, propelling him into the lead—a position he held until the final session.
That final session brought out the heavy hitters, including Becky Moody of Great Britain and Germany’s Frederic Wandres.
The stadium produced both personal best and bubbling over moments for Moody. Her 73.820% currently sits in second, but the ride was a rollercoaster.
“Some of it was the best we’ve done, and some of it was really bad,” she laughed. “We didn’t get off the best start in the world—he was just a little too excited and distracted when we went in there. We didn’t have a very good first halt and we had a break in our first extension because I didn’t have the balance where I needed it. But we pulled it back. We still got some really good bits—he came back to me!”
The only pair to surpass Moody: Wandres’ and Bluetooth OLD with a 75.960%. As the second to last rider of the day and the second German rider, cheers properly echoed as he left the stadium.
A spook at the video scoreboards before entering the dressage court briefly tested the 10-year partnership.
“That’s my rock—it fell off!” Wandres quipped (translated from German). “Honestly, I was done with my nerves by the time I got there, simply because there is so much pressure on my shoulders again. We know everything from Paris, but it’s always a new race and we have to prove ourselves and for the team, of course.”
The atmosphere though? “It was mega right from the start. The audience has so many professionals and experts—they know exactly how much applause to give. Now we have to go down, so they’re not overdoing it and are fully involved from the first to the last second.”
Looking ahead: Day two’s team qualifier finale will feature dressage royalty. Keep your eyes on Germany’s Isabell Werth, Great Britain’s Carl Hester, rising U.S. star Christian Simonson, and FEI World Cup Final third-place finisher Sandra Sysojeva of Poland.
The FEI World Championships Aachen is streaming live on ClipMyHorse TV.
