Aachen 2025: For these young talents, it’s already ‘Showtime’ on Hallowed Ground

The Aachen CHIO is known to many riders as the most prestigious five-star competition in the world. The atmosphere, the audience, the impressive stadium - for many it is the ultimate show jumping arena. But Aachen is not just for established names. The official list of participants for the CSIO five-star Aachen 2025 has as many as 59 horses from 8 to 10-years-old.

For their breeders, it’s a great honour: having a young horse compete on Aachen’s hallowed ground is something truly special. And history shows it’s not impossible for a young talent to win the Grand Prix. Legendary names like LB Convall, Sam, Nolte’s Küchengirl, and even Big Star all claimed eternal glory in Aachen at a young age.

In the bottom of this article we list all 8- to 10-year-old CSIO5* horses from the official Aachen 2025 entry list. But first we turn our attention to some notable contenders.

Rising stars ready to make their mark

Not all of the younger horses in Aachen are there just “for the experience.” Some of the youngest CSIO5* participants, stand out with striking records as well as a high Hippomundo Rating, an indication of international performance and constant form.

Based on their scores and recent results, these young talents seem most capable of making a real impact in Aachen:

• Levi Noesar - Age: 9 - HR102p

In early June, this Zirocco Blue son jumped to a Top 10 finish in the Grand Prix of La Baule – a prestigious five-star event held, like Aachen, on grass. This young talent also gained valuable experience earlier in the season in Wellington's international Grand Prix ring. With a 75% placement rate at 1.60m level, he is without a doubt one of the most eye-catching nine-year-olds in the field. Whether German top rider Richard Vogel will actually field him in the Aachen Grand Prix remains to be seen. His other mount, United Touch S, seems more likely to be used as a final test ahead of the European Championships.

• Myla - Age: 10 - HR104

This Holsteiner mare already proved her class at the age of nine with an impressive second-place finish in the five-star Grand Prix of Paris, part of the Global Champions Tour. Under American rider Kent Farrington, she has shown herself to be reliable and competitive at the highest level. Still, she’s unlikely to get her chance in Aachen’s Grand Prix just yet—Toulayna currently appears to be Farrington’s stronger contender..

• Tabasco de Toxandria Z - Age: 10 - HR103

Will the young Irishman Tom Wachman choose this Belgian-bred talent? Together they already built a impressive palmares. For Wachman, who is making his Aachen debut, Tabasco looks to be his strongest card. Last year, the gelding already made a mark on this hallowed ground under Stephex rider Kendra Claricia Brinkop, delivering a double clear in the Nations Cup and placing in the Grand Prix – all at just nine years old.

• Iron Dames Singclair - Age: 10 - HR102

Recently, the talented German rider Sophie Hinners chose the Swedish gelding in the five-star Grand Prix of Rotterdam. At 1.60m level, the duo achieved a placing percentage of 58%.

• Corbie V.V. Z - Age: 10 - HR94 and Kapitaal L - Age: 10 - HR94p

Daniel Bluman seems to be heading to Aachen with two young Grand Prix prospects, both offspring of Cornet Obolensky. With the Belgian-bred mare Corbie V.V., Bluman recently prepared on the grass arena of Spruce Meadows (CAN), competed in two five-star Grand Prix classes this June. Will Aachen be the ultimate test before heading to the European Championships later this month? Or will he spare her and use the KWPN gelding Kapitaal L for the big work in Aachen?

• Dourkhan Hero Z - Age: 10 - HR93 or Untouched LB - Age: 9 - HR92p ?

Is it time for Germany's Christian Ahlmann to shine in the Grand Prix of Aachen? And will he do so with one of his two young prospects? The Zangersheide stallion Dourkhan Hero Z certainly looks ready for the bog stage. He recently claimed victory in the five-star Grand Prix of Hamburg - also held on grass, a surface he clearly favors. That was already evident with a fourth-place finish in the GCT/GCL Grand Prix of Mexico City. The one-year younger stallion Untouched LB has less experience, but proved his potential with a strong performance in the five-star Paris GP earlier this season.

Can a young horse win the Aachen Grand Prix?

Historically, it's a rare exception, but not impossible. The last time a young horse won the Aachen Grand Prix was in 2016, when the Holsteiner stallion L.B. Convall with Philipp Weishaupt (GER) won the prestigious Aachen Grand Prix at the age of 9.

Historical young winners of the Aachen Grand Prix (since 1985)

Could 2025 once again be the year of a young breakthrough?

Curious to know which young talents will be taking on Aachen's hallowed turf this year? Below is the full list of all CSIO5* horses aged 8 to 10 years, as entered in the official line-up for the 2025 edition.

Comme Il Faut and Cornet Obolensky top the list as the most popular sires of the youngest CSIO horses in Aachen 2025. Both stallions are responsible for as many as six offspring between 8- and 10-year-olds who will compete in the prestigious five-star competition in Aachen.

Their dominant presence among this young generation not only demonstrates their genetic value, but also confirms their lasting influence on modern jumper breeding. Besides them, names such as Kannan, Emerald, Toulon, Etoulon VDL and Golden Hawk also pop up on several occasions.

Follow here all results from CSIO5* Aachen.