CHIO Aachen: a Beacon of Equestrian Tradition and Excellence

CHIO Aachen returns to the famous Aachen Soers showground for 10 days, from 23 June–2 July, attracting the world’s leading horse and rider combinations across five international disciplines

Having originated in the late 19th century, CHIO Aachen in its modern-day form has been a globally renowned event, steeped in history, prestige and tradition for almost a century and is often referred to as the Wimbledon of the equestrian world. The 2023 edition celebrates the 10-year anniversary of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, the sport’s ultimate challenge, which rewards the rider who wins three consecutive Majors at four of the world’s most historic shows, namely The Dutch Masters, the CHIO Aachen, the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament and the CHI Geneva.

Rolex has been a Main Sponsor of CHIO Aachen since 1999, as part of a broader partnership with equestrianism dating back more than 60 years. Since 1957, when pioneering British show jumper Pat Smythe became the sport’s first Testimonee, the bond between Rolex and equestrianism has evolved to support the finest riders, competitions and institutions, fostering continuous improvement, reflecting Rolex’s own pursuit of perpetual excellence.

Rolex has an affinity with human achievement that dates back to the origins of the company and supports equestrianism in its quest to unite and inspire. The focal point of CHIO Aachen, the Rolex Grand Prix, requires the highest levels of precision, athleticism and courage from the horse and rider partnerships to conquer the challenge presented in the iconic main arena. Seven Rolex Testimonees have triumphed in this historic Major, most recently Germany’s Daniel Deusser, who claimed victory in front of his home crowd in 2021.

Looking ahead to CHIO Aachen 2023, which will once again open its gates to welcome some 360,000 visitors across the duration of the show, Daniel Deusser stated: “The organization and the history behind the show, it makes it incredibly special. The facilities are unbelievable for the horses, riders and grooms, it’s just a great event, one of the best in the world. The Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen is a class that I always dreamed of winning, being my home Major. It is still surreal to see my name on the big board at the entrance of the main arena, which features the Hall of Fame of all past winners.”

Rolex’s contribution to excellence in equestrianism encourages modernization while respecting the tradition and elegance of the sport. At the pinnacle of this ideal is the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Rolex Testimonee Rodrigo Pessoa notes: “The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Majors are a main focus for all riders. We plan our year around these Majors and you always want to perform your best at these outstanding shows. Winning the Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen was always something that I wanted to achieve. The crowd and history really add to the atmosphere of the show. There are no words that truly describe the feeling of Aachen.”

Great Britain’s Scott Brash made history in 2015 when he became the first and only rider to date to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. He completed this feat on one horse, Hello Sanctos, making his success even more remarkable. Scott Brash commented: “Aachen has always been very special event to me as growing up I always felt as though it was the one to win. There are three rounds of jumping at Aachen, it is one of the biggest tests of the year, so we really build up the horse’s stamina and fitness level in preparation for this challenge.”

With over a century of knowledge and expertise in watchmaking, Rolex is driven by tradition and craftsmanship, along with innovation and a passion for perfection. These values are intrinsically reflected in the brand’s support of equestrianism, with CHIO Aachen a natural fit within this.

Niki McEwen press release

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