The Aachen Soers held its breath. An athletic, bay mare galloped through the packed stadium. Almost silently, she mastered the massive obstacles – one after another – with an ease that seemed almost playful. No murmurs rippled through the stands; no clicking sounds were heard. Just tense silence. And the sheer pleasure of watching this 13-year-old Selle Français mare complete her extraordinary round. In the saddle: a master of style. A versed rider with a storybook career, who only lacked one title until today – World Champion. And without a doubt, there was no one in the vast arena, who did not wholeheartedly wish the 44-year-old this victory. The final fence in this thrilling five-round competition – and the pair cleared it immaculately, too. What followed was a wave of euphoria: A standing ovation, thunderous applause, waving flags, and cheers surging through the legendary Main Stadium. And Steve Guerdat? First of all, he brought his horse to a halt, covered his face with his hands in disbelief – and the very next moment signalled who deserved the credit for this magical moment: his Dynamix de Belheme. “You don’t just automatically encounter such an extraordinary horse as this one every four years – let alone one you get to compete in a World Championship with,” said a visibly moved Steve Guerdat shortly afterwards. At the same time, the Swiss rider admitted that he had been unusually nervous the days before. “I always said I didn’t want to end my career without having won in Aachen,” he explained. “The fact that this dream has now come true – and then at a World Championship of all events – is something truly special and simply indescribable.” With this triumph, Steve Guerdat’s impressive collection of titles is now complete: he is a European Champion, an Olympic Champion and – from today onwards – a World Champion. “My life is different now; I have achieved everything I ever dreamt of.”

Steve Guerdat’s score of 0.86 penalties proved to be an unbeatable benchmark for his fellow competitors. However, the battle for the remaining podium positions could hardly have been more exciting. Ultimately, the silver medal went to a rider, who had improved his performance with each round of the championship: The just 25-year-old Thibeau Spits. He already won the European Championship title with the team in 2025, and just the day before yesterday, he won World Championship Silver with the Belgian team. Now, his 11-year-old stallion, Impress-K van’t Kattenheye Z, helped him secure his first individual medal on a total score of 5.60 penalties. “My career is just beginning and things could hardly be better than they are right now,” said the young Belgian, who had nothing but praise for his horse: “It will be hard to ever repay him for what he does for me. He is simply incredible.”

The story of the third man on the podium is no less emotional. Britain’s Harry Charles experienced a real rollercoaster of emotions in Aachen. Riding the grey mare, LT Holst Freda, the 27-year-old got off to a rocky start in the championship: He picked up eight jumping faults and his disappointment was clearly visible. “I was very unhappy that I wasn’t able to present this mare the way she deserved,” the British show-jumper recounted. At one point, he had even considered not competing in the Final at all, given his score of 7.17 penalty points. What finally changed his mind? “I asked ChatGPT if I still had a chance at a top finish,” he explained with a mischievous smile. The answer was: “Unlikely, but not impossible!” And indeed, everything came together during the last two rounds on the day of the Final – the extraordinary ability of his twelve-year-old equine partner and his own expertise as a rider. With two immaculate rounds, Harry Charles made the unlikely a reality: Leaping from 23^rd place to take the bronze medal.