“She definitely knew what today was, and she could not wait to leave the start flags,” said Phoenix after her round.
EVENTING
August 15, 2026 - Aachen, Germany – Saturday was cross-country day for the Eventing Competition at the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany. Canada’s Jessica Phoenix (Cannington, ON) and Fluorescent Adolescent galloped around clear and with 12-time faults to sit in 36th place with 47.1 penalties going into the final phase on Sunday. ‘Lacey’ is owned by Sharon Hall and Makayla Rydzik and groomed by Katharina Forster. Out of 87 horse and rider combinations to leave the start box today, 67 have qualified to continue on to the third and final show jumping phase tomorrow.
Jessica Phoenix and Lacey. Photo by Cealy Tetley.
“She definitely knew what today was, and she could not wait to leave the start flags,” said Phoenix after her round. “She got into a beautiful, easy gallop and made it feel effortless. I came in thinking she was well-suited to this course; she’s so good on twisty terrain. Any time you don’t have a lot of room to find the distances and see the flags, Lacey is the one you want to be on. She’s quick-thinking, and she really wants to get between the flags. I’m blessed to have her here to compete with; she’s an incredible horse.”
Still going strong at 18, Phoenix credits her longevity to excellent care from her veterinarians, groom and farrier. “She is loved by everyone around her. Her owners, her veterinary care, and especially her groom, Katharina Forster. She knows how loved she is, and anything she needs, she gets.” Phoenix said that she is excited for the show jumping phase tomorrow in the main stadium.
Chef d’Equipe and Technical Advisor Rebecca Howard reflected on what makes Jessica and Lacey such a strong partnership. “Because Lacey has a smaller stride, Jess always has a good plan that works for her, but she also has the instincts and experience to know when to execute that plan and when to adapt. The two of them have built a real confidence and understanding in answering the questions each course presents, and that showed today in a great result. Lacey demonstrated that experience, confidence, and trust are valuable assets at a championship.”
As one might expect at the FEI World Championships, the top of the leaderboard truly reads like a ‘who’s who’ after the cross-country test today. Germany’s Michael Jung currently leads with fischerChipmunk FRH on 23 penalties. Britain’s Ros Canter and Lordship’s Graffalo are less than one point behind on 23.4, followed by fellow Brit Laura Collett and London 52 on 23.6.
The final start times for Sunday’s show jumping will be available at www.aachen2026.com following the horse inspection on Sunday morning, which takes place at 9:30am local time in the grass eventing arena.
That Final Fence Feeling! © Mackenzie Clark
VAULTING
Vaulting’s Individual Freestyle Tests for Men and Women concluded today with the Prize of Sparkasse being awarded to the Vaulting World Champion. In a field of 46 competitors in the Individual Female Competition, Averill Saunders (Sundre, AB), finished fifth with an overall score of 8.246. Saunders’ horse is Bold Statement, a 17-year-old gelding, lunged by Rob de Bruin and groomed by Remi Jérôme Vanlerberghe.
Averill Saunders (Sundre, AB) and Bold Statement. Photo by Cealy Tetley.
“It was very special for me to go in and do a program that maybe wasn’t perfect, but it I felt like it was really, finally something that feels like me,” she said. “To be able to walk out with my horse one last time really means the world to me.
Saunders demonstrated her creativity with a white costume with loose fabric gathered around the shoulders and bodice that incorporated pouches filled with black ink that moved as she moved around around on the horse. “It’s been on my mind for some time now to include not just material but other substances, and that’s where we came to the idea to try and include liquid somehow.”
This has been an emotional week for Saunders, currently ranked 13th in the FEI women’s world rankings for vaulting, as she has said that this will be her last World Championship as an individual vaulter.
“I think the stress gets to you a little bit, it’s a huge environment and it’s such an honour to be competing here. It’s a beautiful place to finish my individual championship career. To be able to go share the Kiss and Cry with one of my best friends in the sport, it’s incredibly special.”
Saunders, who began vaulting at the age of nine, had already represented Canada internationally for seven years when selected for the 2022 senior World Championships. In 2023 she made Canadian history by winning silver in the Individual Female Young Vaulter division at the FEI World Championships in Flyinge — Canada’s first vaulting medal at a World Championship.
She is currently running for election to be the athlete representative on the Vaulting Technical Committee of the FEI, and over the past few years, has become a vaulting judge in Canada and is on the way to becoming an FEI judge as well.
Megan Leeper (Strathmore, AB) with Zorro. Photo by Cealy Tetley
Finishing in 23rdh place, Megan Leeper (Strathmore, AB) scored 7.362 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) placed 38th with 6.558 on Lightning Jack 12, owned and lunged by Thordis Thormahlen and groomed by Verena Chemnitz.
Leeper reflected, “I feel really good about everything I went out and did. It’s my first senior world championships, so even to be in the middle of the pack, I’m really proud. The competition here is insanely difficult, there are so many amazing athletes here. I kept calm, pretty much throughout my time here, but it was very emotional for me to finish my freestyle.” She shared that she previously struggled with anxiety and panic attacks, and now listens to music and focuses on her breathing to regulate her nervous system.
Leeper is also competing in the Pas de Deux with Katherine Van Den Bosch (Olds, AB). They finished ninth out of 14 pairs yesterday following their first of two Freestyles with a score of 7.154. Fellow Canadians Katelyn Foss and Jacinda Row finished eighth with 7.252 in the first round. The Pas de Deux Final will take place Sunday.
Charlotte Axani (Grande Prairie, AB) on Lightning Jack 12. Photo by Cealy Tetley
In the Individual Men’s Freestyle, Talmage Conrad (Lethbridge, AB) scored 8.200 with San Felice Z, a 16-year-old Zangersheide gelding owned by RVV Equus e.V. to finish eighth out of 20 competitors. His lunger is Christina Ender and San Felize Z is groomed by Laura Peters.
Conrad is Canada’s leading male international vaulter and a multiple World Championships competitor. He made history in 2019 as the first Canadian male athlete to compete at the FEI Junior Vaulting World Championships and earned Canada’s first top-10 placing at that championship. He has since represented Canada at senior World Championships in Herning and Bern and entered the Aachen season among the leading athletes in the FEI Vaulting World Cup standings.
Talmage Conrad (Lethbridge, AB) on San Felice Z. Photo by Cealy Tetley
Team Canada What to Watch!
Sunday, August 16
13:00 FEI Eventing World Championship – Team & Individual Jumping (Order following Horse Inspection)
Katelyn Foss (Langley, BC) and Jacynda Row (Edmonton, AB). Photo by Cealy Tetley
VAULTING - Stadium 3
Pas de Deux Finals
09:45 Megan Leeper & Katherine Van Den Bosch | Zorro | Angelique Vick
09:52 Katelyn Foss & Jacynda Row | Gozer | Christine Ender
Owners of Fluorescent Adolescent, Sharon Hall and granddaughter Makayla Rydzik.. Photo by Cealy Tetley Photo
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
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