Old West Theme

"Old West Theme" for 1999 Aachen CHIO
by Bonnie Rombach

Hi Ky,

I have arrived and am being run off my feet by my ex and various family members. This is the first chance that I have had to get to my e-mail. Yes there are Americans showing in Aachen, in all disciplines. I will get the full details today and try to get a proper report off to you this evening.
In three days I have only been able to be with Helen for about an hour and to give her a hug and a kiss goodnight. She came in last night at 11:30 and was gone again this morning at 7:00.

The jumping started this morning and I will be heading out to the show grounds in about an hour. The church service in the new dressage stadium on Sunday morning was very nice but not quite as
exciting as last year's with the horns and the hounds. This year they had mares and foals (12 mini mares with tiny foals by foot and three big draft mares with their huge foals by foot - quite a contrast). About 30,000 visitors came to wander around the show grounds and the church service was packed. The stadium is bright and airy.

Nadine Capellman was supposed to do a freestyle demonstration but her mother had died just a few days before and Alexeandra Simmons di Ridder rode a Pas de Deux with another local rider as a replacement on two young stallions that were brothers. It was pleasing enough for the normal spectator, but as could be expected on such short notice (three days) a bit rough around the edges for a critic.

This year's theme is "The Old West" and there were little wandering groups of musicians playing and singing cowboy music. They had a couple of mechanical bulls on the grounds for people to try their hand at riding and free pony rides for the kids.

On Monday I went along with Franz (my ex) to pick up a girl who came over from the Carolina's. Through you and DUL and Helen she made arrangements to take a lesson while here in Aachen. Her name is Amber Heintzberger and she is also here as a freelance reporter for the Chronicle. I think that she enjoyed the workout and I look forward to spending some time with her while reporting on the show.

Today Franz is off to pick up an acquaintance from Canada who is over here looking for horses. Franz has been driving all over Germany looking at possible prospects for him, so I hope that he finds what he is looking for.

Helen seems to be holding up under the stress (her first year taking the major burden alone due to the retirement of Frau Hageman last year), but she will certainly need some time off after the show is over. Those who have never helped behind the scenes at a show have no idea how much work is involved, and especially here at the CHIO in Aachen which wants to maintain its status as the "World's Best Outdoor Tournament" as elected by the world's elite riders and drivers.

More to come

Bonnie a.k.a. Lorbas (Lorbas the stallion is fine now but almost died about two weeks ago when someone, who meant well and fed for Franz when he was out of town, gave him some dry schnitzle pellets that blew up and blocked his esophagus. Fortunately the vet and Franz were able to get back
to him on time to force the blockage through.)

Aachen CHIO | Dressage un Ltd | Join / Renew Dressage un Ltd |
Visit Aachen CHIO website

Disclaimer - To our knowledge, all graphics used at this site are public domain or used with the author's permission. If you spot any artwork that is not properly credited, please contact kyrabeth@dressageunltd.com.

Germany un Ltd
Aachen CHIO June 15 - 20, 1999