The story of combined driving at CHIO Aachen is closely tied to the history of the event itself, which has grown into one of the most prestigious competitions in the world. Today, four-in-hand driving stands alongside jumping, dressage, para dressage, eventing, and vaulting as one of the disciplines that makes up the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany.
The roots of driving at Aachen can be traced back to the early twentieth century. The organization behind the event, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, began as a horse-racing society in 1898. Originally, the focus was on connecting to the popularity of horse racing at the time. As equestrian sport expanded in Germany, the organizers sought new ways to showcase horsemanship. In 1924, the first “riding and driving tournament” was held at the Soers grounds in Aachen, marking a pivotal moment in the development of the modern event. The event was filled with over 20,000 spectators, confirming the public’s fascination with both ridden and driven equestrian competitions.
The competition quickly grew in size and in reputation. The first international competition took place in 1927, and two years later the inaugural Nations Cup was introduced. These developments elevated Aachen into an international equestrian dream. Driving competitions became a regular part of the program, reflecting the importance of driving in European horse culture.
As the decades progressed, driving evolved from a demonstration of carriage skills into the specialized sport known today as combined driving. Teams of four horses navigate three phases: dressage, marathon, and cones. The dressage phase tests harmony, precision, and presentation. The marathon phase showcases speed and endurance as competitors maneuver through hazards at a timed pace. The cones phase examines technical accuracy, requiring drivers to guide their horses through tight gates without knocking down balls positioned atop cones. These elements make driving one of the most demanding and unique disciplines in equestrian sport. Aachen is renowned for it’s challenging courses that test the world’s best competitors while providing thrilling entertainment for spectators.
By the second half of the twentieth century, the driving competition at Aachen had established itself as one of the sport’s most anticipated annual events. Success in Aachen became a career-defining achievement for athletes all over the world, and the atmosphere created by thousands of passionate fans contributed to the event’s reputation. Athletes often describe competing in Aachen as unlike anywhere else in the world because of the size of the crowds and the enthusiasm of the audience.
A major milestone came in the early 2000s when Aachen underwent extensive redevelopment in preparation for hosting the 2006 FEI World
Equestrian Games. The venue expanded and modernized its facilities to accommodate multiple disciplines at the highest level, bringing in over 500,000 spectators. Driving played a prominent role in the championships, reinforcing Aachen’s status as a world center for the sport. The successful staging of the Games demonstrated the venue’s ability to host major international championships and elevated the level of competition for driving competition even further.
Now, this year driving is back on world stage at CHIO Aachen, but this time for the 2026 FEI World Championships. The 2026 FEI Driving World Championships for Four-in-Hand Horses will be hosted during the second week of competition and will begin on Thursday, August 20, with the first day of dressage beginning at 11:00 a.m. GMT+2/5:00 a.m. ET, followed by the second day of dressage on Friday, August 21, also beginning at 11:00 a.m. GMT+2/5:00 a.m. ET. Marathon will begin at 11:00 a.m. GMT+2/5:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, August 22, before competition concludes on August 23, awarding both team and individual medals following the cones phase, which will begin at 9:30 a.m. GMT+2/3:30 a.m. ET.
James Fairclough (Newton, N.J.), Taren Lester (Citra, Fla.), and Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) will all be competing for the Defender U.S Driving Team with the team being led by Chef d’Equipe Marcie Quist and Team Leader Steven Morrissey.