Aachen, Germany – The U.S. will be represented by a team of two this week in the CAIO4*-H4 division of CHIO Aachen. Allison Stroud and Chester Weber will compose the team and Ed Young will serve as Chef d'Equipe. Wednesday afternoon the competitors performed dressage tests before the ground jury that enabled the teams to warm up for the competition and become familiar with the arena. Competition officially gets underway with the dressage phase on Thursday. The teams will contest the marathon course on Saturday and conclude competition with the cones phase on Sunday.

“I thought the horses looked terrific today,” said Young. “I am expecting a good weekend and I think tomorrow’s dressage will be better; I am expecting winning dressage performances.”

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) had a dominant start to 2016 as he brought along a team with some new, less-experienced horses. He won his 13th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship title at Live Oak International and won the CAI2*-H4 divisions at Little Everglades and Kingdom of the Sun. Weber headed to Europe in the spring, finishing fifth in the Royal Windsor Horse Show’s CAIO4*-H4 World Cup qualifying division. He comes to CHIO Aachen having won the CAI3*-H4 World Cup qualifying division at CAI Drebkau, winning the dressage phase and finishing second and third in the marathon and cones phases, respectively. Weber hopes to have another winning performance at CHIO Aachen, as he did in 2014, with his and Jane Clark’s team of KWPN geldings: Amadeus, Boris W, Boy W, Splash, and Uniek. Weber will perform his dressage test at 12:05 p.m. local time.

Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) had a solid winter season in the U.S. with Willow Star LLC’s team of KWPN geldings, earning the USEF Four-in-Hand Driving Reserve National Champion honors at Live Oak International and finishing second in the CAI2*-H4 divisions at Little Everglades and Kingdom of the Sun. Stroud headed to Europe in the spring to train and compete abroad. At CAI Drebkau, Stroud finished 14th overall in the CAI3*-H4 World Cup qualifying division in a performance highlighted by an impressive fifth place in the dressage phase amongst a strong international field. Stroud will make her CHIO Aachen debut with Willow Star LLC’s team of KWPN geldings: Anesco 4, Antonio, Enzo, Olando, and Ulco. Stroud will perform her dressage at 1:25 p.m. local time.

For livestream information, visit www.chioaachen.de/chio-aachen-on-tv. 

Start lists and results

Further information on driving at CHIO Aachen

The U.S. will also be represented at CHIO Aachen in dressage, eventing, and show jumping.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.