Lusitanos applauded at Aachen's Opening Ceremony

As the riders of the traditional Portuguese School let their temperamental lusitanos demonstrate their wonderful passage in spite of the wet ground, the Aachen crowd could no longer contain themselves: The spectators on the market square applauded enthusiastically and even called for the riders to show them a Levade. “We are delighted to welcome Portugal as our partner country,” said the President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein, Klaus Pavel, in his welcome speech to the guests of the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen.

The country of the Iberian Peninsula is the sixth partner country to enchant the Aachen Soers with their national specialities. Whereby it was a premiere for the Portuguese School of Riding, the Escola Portuguesa de Arte Equestre:

Namely they demonstrated their skills for the first time on German soil. The parade on the market square was led by the Aachener Stadtreiter, followed by riders, who carrying national flags, symbolised the 23 nations represented at the CHIO. Croatia and the Czech Republic, who have sent two vaulters to Aachen, are participating at the Soers for the first time this year.