“I was so focused on the Grand Prix and being in the top 30, we haven’t actually practiced the Special (test) very much,” explained Brittany after her test Friday morning.
DRESSAGE
August 14, 2026 - Aachen, Germany – Brittany Fraser Beaulieu (Saint Bruno, QC) and Jaccardo, owned by Jill Irving, was the only Canadian combination in the top 30 who competed in Friday’s Grand Prix Special. Based on veterinary and meteorological advice, the organizers made the decision to adjust the start times for the dressage in the main arena on Friday to start earlier and end later, with a substantial pause in competition at the hottest part of the day.
Brittany Fraser Beaulieu and Jaccardo. Photo by Cealy Tetley
While very much in the upswing of his major international career, Jaccardo is still one of the less experienced horses in the field at the highest end of competition. A few small mistakes in the test itself will keep them from advancing to the Freestyle Saturday night, but this is an exciting pair to watch in the leadup to next year’s Pan American Games and ultimately the LA Olympic Games.
“I was so focused on the Grand Prix and being in the top 30, we haven’t actually practiced the Special (test) very much,” explained Brittany after her test Friday morning. “My horse is still quite green, it's his first year showing at the Grand Prix level. He's only done a few Specials. The whole beginning felt amazing. I felt he was looking for his pattern a little bit, and he got a little bit hot in the flying changes, which was unfortunate. But he has so much to give me. He goes in the ring and he loves it. He's a hot horse, so I have to tell him to wait. He's anticipating the movements. That just takes time.
“(Jaccardo) has a very strong character. He loves getting attention. He's banging at the door, always wanting treats, and he loves his turnout. He goes outside every day. He's always looking for kisses, and he's actually very easy to manage. You can take him anywhere.”
As a mother of two very busy young children (Theo and Chloe, seven, and almost four) Brittany admits training and competing at the top level is a lot to manage. “I always tell the girls when I leave the barn, I'm going to my second job now, the night shift with my kids,” said Brittany. “It's their first time ever coming to Europe, and my family is so supportive. They're all here taking care of them. My mom, my dad and my husband. It takes a support crew to do this. There's no way I could do it alone.”
Team Technical Advisor, Jordi Domingo Coll, was very pleased with their overall performance this week – green moments included.
“Britt is an amazing rider,” he commented. “She has a super talented horse. It's a young combination still, Jaccardo doesn’t have the experience yet, but there is so much to like. Everyone can see that the horse has exceptional quality, especially in the trot passage. His walk is one of the best walks I've seen. This past winter they were focused on the World Cup and the freestyle. The future looks very good for this combination.”
VAULTING
Averill Saunders of Sundre, AB. Photo by Cealy Tetley
Each of our individual competitors completed their technical tests today in the FEI Vaulting World Championship Individual Female Technical Test Prize of Sparkasse.
In a field of 46 competitors, Averill Saunders (Sundre, AB, currently ranked 13th on the FEI women’s world rankings for vaulting,) sits fourth in the Individual Female competition on a score of 8.106 going into Saturday’s Freestyle.
Averill’s horse is Bold Statement, a 17-year-old gelding, lunged by Rob de Bruin and groomed by Remi Jérôme Vanlerberghe.
Yesterday the vaulters did their compulsory test in which all vaulters complete the same level of exercises and components.
“The compulsory test is one that I find really interesting because athletes can't hide their weaknesses,” explained Saunders, 22. “It's a very exposing test, so it's a good way for us to lay out the order going into the rest of the competition. Today we completed the technical test, which is only introduced at the highest levels of the sport, so it's arguably one of the most difficult tests.”
Of her technical test Saunders said: “It was challenging working in true harmony with my horse, we were on different wavelengths today. I was able to prioritize the technical exercises, which is 50% of the score. I’m happy I was able to pull through and demonstrate those five key exercises in a good way. I would have loved to have shown the complexity and difficulty I would normally have in my sequences, but ultimately the technique is the most important from the scoring standpoint. I’m happy I was able to keep my focus there today.”
Saunders’s costume and theme today reflects her deep connection to the sport.
“In vaulting, we have our three categories: individual, pas de deux, and squad. But for me, it's vital that people see how connected the constellation of people around us truly is. It's really a team effort between the lunger, the horse and the athlete, all working together in unison to really demonstrate the true essence of our sport. I try to show that visually through my technical test with a gold line, starting at my lunger, Rob’s heart, extending through his arm to the lunge line, which connects to the horse to the side rein, which comes to the pad, where I can pick it up on my foot and bring it up to my heart.”
In 24th place, Canada’s Megan Leeper (Strathmore, AB) scored 7.008 with Zorro, lunged by Angelique Vick and groomed by Jeanine Van Der Sluijs, who are the horse’s owners. Fellow Canadian Charlotte Axani (Grande Prairie, AB) sits in 31st with a score of 6.757 on Lightning Jack 12, owned and lunged by Thordis Thormahlen and groomed by Verena Chemnitz.
All competitors in the 3* competition will move on to the Freestyle test tomorrow.
Talmage Conrad. Photo by Cealy Tetley
Talmage Conrad, in the Men’s Individual division, performed his Technical Test Friday evening and was solid in hitting each of his required elements, but felt he didn’t tie them all together as well as he could have tonight. He walked us through the requirements move by move, in the order he performs each element in his routine.
“The five required elements are: an elbow stand - it's exactly what it sounds like. It's hand-stand on your elbow. And then in my routine, the next one after that is the backwards needle. It's a flexibility move. Basically, you just try to get one leg above your head as high as you can. You're really looking for that straight line from bottom foot to the top foot. And then after that, I go into the ground jump to shoulder-stand. You have to touch the ground and get back up upside down, all in in about two strides. And then after that is the backward stand, which is just exactly what it sounds like – standing facing backward. They're looking for fluidity in that one. And then it's cartwheel from the neck to the back of the horse. As far as positives go, I did all of those moves today, and I think I did them pretty well. I just wasn't able to connect all five of them together as as well as I know I can, and unfortunately, sometimes that just happens. When you do some high-difficulty moves, that’s a risk you take.”
Still positioned well within the top-ten, Talmage moves on to the Freestyle in 7th place, on a score of 8.100
Katelyn Foss (Langley, BC) and Jacynda Row (Edmonton, AB). Photo by Cealy Tetley
PAS DE DEUX ROUND ONE
The Pas de Deux competition started Friday night and Canada has two teams in the mix. Katelyn Foss (Langley, BC) and Jacynda Row (Edmonton, AB) have only been vaulting as a pair together since January of this year. Here in Aachen they are vaulting on a borrowed horse, with whom they have only practiced a handful of times. A much faster horse than their ‘Stilton’ at home, they admit while borrowing a “pro” horse is completely the norm especially for North American vaulters in Europe, it still comes with a learning curve. On top of that, they have not competed at any European CVI’s together as a pair in the lead-up to the World Championships. Their aim was for a clean round, and they both felt pretty good about their round tonight.
“I thought we nailed it,” expressed Foss following their round. “The judges are looking for us to execute very specific things, including touching different points on the horse, being clean and tidy in our movements, cover all the different height levels, like neck, croup and both sides. They like seeing me fly her or she fly me - both taking roles in both places.”
The judges must have agreed with them, as they are currently sitting in ninth place on a score of 7.252 heading into Sunday’s second round.
Megan Leeper (23) and Katherine (Katie) Van Den Bosch (17, Olds, AB) have been partnered together for two and a half years, and vault with Megan’s individual horse Zorro. They were admittedly more nervous coming into the ring tonight than usual, which they attributed to the incredible atmosphere from the large crowd in the covered arena. They are already mentally working toward their second Freestyle performance on Sunday, identifying breath control for calmness, and fluidity on the horse as key takeaways they will need to perfect. “We have to separate a bit on the horse, we're too clingy to each other on the horse,” remarked Van Den Bosch following their Friday evening performance. “It makes it much more difficult to move in harmony with (Zorro). For Sunday we'll definitely focus on that, on keeping moving throughout the whole freestyle to make it easier for him, and just hope we use our nerves correctly.”
Aachen is their first senior World Championship for them both, and their first Championship as a pair. They currently sit in tenth place on a score of 7.252.
Chef d’Équipe Jessica Bentzen: “After a long, hot day, the team is so impressed with the performances of all our athletes today. The all-female pas de deuxs from Canada made a great first impression today and we look forward to watching them again on Sunday. Our individual technical tests brought highs and lows, but our athletes showed amazing artistry and perseverance in their routines.”
Megan Leeper and Katherine Van Den Bosch. Photo by Cealy Tetley.
Team Canada What to Watch!
Saturday, August 15
Eventing Cross Country: Jessica Phoenix and Fluorescent Adolescent will start at 11:59am
Jessica Phoenix and Fluorescent Adolescent. Photo by Cealy Tetley
VAULTING - Stadium 3
Women’s Individual Freestyle
09:40 Charlotte Axani & Lightning Jack 12 Thordis Thormahlen (Lunger)
10:15 Megan Leeper & Zorro Angelique Vick (Lunger)
12:03 Averill Saunders & Bold Statement Rob de Bruin (Lunger)
Men’s Individual Freestyle
14:20 Talmage Conrad & San Felice Z Christina Ender (Lunger)
Charlotte Axani & Lightning Jack 12. Photo by Cealy Tetley
About the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026
Aachen is continuing its tradition of hosting numerous World and European Championships: Following the FEI World Equestrian Games 2006 and the European Championships 2015, the FEI World Championships Aachen 2026 will once again be one of the biggest equestrian sport events of the coming years.
The World Championships will host six disciplines: Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Para Dressage, Driving and Vaulting.
Participants and horses:
Overall: 879 from just under 70 nations
Participants FEI World Championships: 814 with 814 horses
Participants in the youth competitions: 65 with 65 horses
Additional horses for the Opening Ceremony: 250
Photo by Cealy Tetley
About Equestrian Canada
Equestrian Canada (EC) is the national governing body for equestrian sport and industry in Canada, with a mandate to represent, promote and advance all equine and equestrian interests. With over 15,000 sport licence holders, 7500 horses, 11 provincial/territorial sport organization partners and 10+ national equine affiliate organizations, EC is a significant contributor to the social, physical, emotional and economic wellbeing of the equestrian industry across Canada. EC is a Canadian registered charity as a Registered Charity Amateur Athletic Assocation (RCAAA) and thanks the Government of Canada for their financial support.
Team Canada is supported by Mad Barn, Ecclestone Horse Transport Inc. (EHT), 4CYTE™, the Canadian Olympic Committee, the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Own the Podium, the Government of Canada, Ogilvy Equestrian, LeMieux, Prostock Athletic Supply Ltd, and Talisman Custom Fly Bonnets.
Photos: Cealy Tetley
Source: Equestrian Canada