The art of the ‘trot-up’ ramps up several gears when it is time for the four-in-hand horses to have their moment in the spotlight. They sense the atmosphere, they react to the roars from the next stadium, they anticipate what is to come. It made for an enthralling Wednesday morning as the 54 athletes presented their 269 lithe, keen horses for inspection as ‘fit to compete’ ahead of the FEI Driving World Championship 2026 in Aachen.
The setting was Aachen’s Stadium 2, where so much driving history has been made, and titles have been won and lost. Many of the horses know the arena and some were calm, although alert to the additional large TV cameras. For others, it was an exhilarating experience and they were spirited in their reactions.
Australian team through the trot up
The first to present his five horses and parade them on the darkened strip cut into the grass was Kees Koops, an individual for the Netherlands. Then came seven-time World champion Boyd Exell of Australia, who carries so much expectation over the next four days.
Boyd Exell is joined on the Australian team by Tor Van Den Berge, and although they won’t have the luxury of a third drop-score like most other teams at this Championship, they’ve tasted success at the venue before when they claimed the 2025 Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen.
Boyd has also been incredibly successful at FEI World Championships, having won individual gold on no less than seven occasions. Tor is a talented driver on the rise.
Boyd Exell’s team in Aachen includes 19-year-old KWPN gelding Checkmate, 18-year-old gelding Daan 8, 14-year-old KWPN gelding Hero, 13-year-old Oldenburg stallion Mad Max 81, and nine-year-old KWPN stallion Mister Bono Van’t Hooge.
Tor Van Den Berge’s team includes 13-year-old mare Carbery Estate Cato, 14-year-old mare Carbery Estate Chino, 13-year-old KWPN gelding Indiana, 12-year-old KWON gelding Jeebert, and 11-year-old KWPN gelding Kerosine.
All Australian horses passed the trot up.
Australian start times
The action then moved to the draw for the dressage over the next two days. Technical delegate Jeroen Houterman of the Netherlands adjudicated the meeting, assisted by Ground Jury President Bert Jambon, who drew the nations from the bowl to determine their order. The next stage involved each team member’s name being drawn and their slot allocated in one of three separate blocks. Finally, the three blocks for the individual athletes were filled between the team sections.
Thursday, 20 August: Team & Individual Dressage (Part 1)
Tor van den Berge (Horses: Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana, Jeebert and Kerosine / Grooms: Mel van den Berge and Catharina Matschurat): 7.47pm AEST (11.47am local time)
Friday, 21 August: Team & Individual Dressage (Part 2)
Boyd Exell (Horses: Checkmate, Daan 8, Hero, Mister Bono Van’t Hooge / Grooms: Nicole Basieux and Leo Cordes): 9.35pm AEST (1.35pm local time)
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