World Championships Aachen 2026: An Unforgettable Summer Fairytale for Ronnie and Tamara

For our students Ronnie and Tamara, a very special dream came true last weekend: At the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen, they had the honour of representing South Africa on the biggest stage in international equestrian sport. It was their very own summer fairytale of 2026, a goal they had worked towards for a long time and an experience that will undoubtedly stay with them forever. A World Championship in Aachen is something truly extraordinary. The iconic grounds of the Aachen Soers, a sold-out main stadium filled with around 40,000 spectators, the very best of international show jumping and the unique atmosphere created a setting that is anything but ordinary, even for experienced riders. For Ronnie and Tamara, it was their first appearance at a championship of this magnitude, making it a very special milestone both in their sporting careers and on a personal level.

But it was not only what happened in the arena that made these days so memorable. Numerous family members, friends and supporters had travelled all the way from South Africa to Aachen to cheer Ronnie and Tamara on, and their incredible support could be felt throughout the entire event. Every round was followed with great enthusiasm and rewarded with tremendous applause.

With their horses Cornets Mandarino and Callaho Liantos, the two riders took on the demanding World Championship courses. The height, technical challenges, distances and dimensions presented a completely new sporting challenge for both of them. In Aachen, they competed against the very best horse-and-rider combinations in the world and faced courses of a level of difficulty far beyond anything they had previously experienced at international shows.

It was therefore all the more impressive to see how confidently they mastered the demanding championship courses. It was not only about the results, but above all about proving themselves at this level, gaining valuable experience and proudly representing their country. Performing in front of the impressive Aachen crowd is anything but ordinary, yet Ronnie and Tamara embraced this exceptional challenge together with their horses and showed that the intensive preparation of the past months had truly paid off. For Ronnie and Tamara, these were days filled with new impressions and unforgettable moments: preparing their horses in the stables, warming up alongside the best riders in the world, entering the magnificent Aachen stadium and finally taking on the demanding courses under World Championship conditions. These are experiences that can hardly be replicated in training and will be especially valuable for their future sporting careers. Both riders and their horses can be extremely proud of what they achieved in Aachen. Representing their country at a World Championship, competing alongside the world’s best and taking on this challenge with their own horses is a very special achievement and an experience to treasure.

Ronnie and Tamara had been based at our stables with their horses for several months, training together with our team and competing at numerous international shows across Europe as part of their preparation for Aachen. Step by step, they worked towards this major goal, with their participation in the World Championships marking the highlight of this journey together.

We are incredibly proud of them both and grateful to have been able to accompany them on their journey towards this major goal. Their days in Aachen were the result of many months of dedicated work, training, competitions and preparation, which made it all the more special to finally see them ride into this iconic stadium. A true goosebumps moment for our entire team. Competing at a World Championship in Aachen is something you do not experience every day – and for Ronnie and Tamara, it was without doubt a true once-in-a-lifetime experience and a major sporting milestone they will remember for many years to come.