Experts also call it the "Wimbledon of equestrian sport": The "Concours Hippique International Officiel" in Aachen, or CHIO for short, is the largest and best attended equestrian tournament in the world. Every summer, more than 350,000 visitors come to the imperial city for the World Equestrian Festival. Around 300 riders, drivers and vaulters from 30 nations take part in the competitions and tests.
The tournament consists of the classic equestrian disciplines of show jumping, dressage, driving, eventing and vaulting. In all disciplines, a winner is determined in the individual and team competitions. The annual highlight is the Sunday's main jumping competition, the "Grand Prix of Aachen".
Soers Sunday
The competition program of the CHIO Aachen usually lasts from Friday to Sunday of the following week. In addition to the main competitions, the extensive supporting program always proves to be a magnet for visitors: This includes the "Soers Sunday", the unofficial opening day at the CHIO Aachen, on which tens of thousands of guests flock to the show grounds to experience a colourful show program with free admission.
The show program "Horse and Symphony", accompanied by live music from the Aachen Symphony Orchestra, is also an integral part of the supporting programme. Finally, the CHIO celebrates its annual finale with the "Farewell of the Nations".
