2006 World Equestrian Games

Your intrepid reporter calming these loose horses just outside the railway station. (In the rain).

Apparently Aachen is the wettest city in Germany. Another rainy street scene.

Kaiser Frederick of Germany. As you can imagine there are quite a few equestrian statues around the town

This is the Aachen Winners board. Jumping began in 1927 and Dressage in 1955.

We have been rather surprised that the food is so good and not so expensive. However getting good coffee is difficult. This is a view of a cafe at the Aachen railway station.

Not very horsey, but we all want to look out best. Some visitors being made up for the day in one of the Trade Stands selling make up.

Practice day for the Showjumpers. Here Australian Team Member, Edwina Alexander jumps the sensational 'Isovlas Pialotta'.

Rod Brown and the sentimental favourite, 'Mr Burns' during their practice session in the huge main arena.

Jamie Kermond's 'Stylish King' looked to be dwarfed by some of the huge Warmbloods, but he certainly jumped up to their size in the practice session.

Peter McMahon and 'Kolora Stud Genoa' in their characteristic stylish pose.

The Australain Team reserve combination, David Robertson and his 'Sharpe Seal' looked good in the warm up competition.

Traditional Aachen rain wear.

Australian visitor, Debbie Higgs catches up with the latest Stallions at Stud edition of Horse Deals.

A view of the Aachen Cathedral, part of which dates back to the reign of Charlamagne around 800AD.

As can be imagined, there is no shortage of wonderful clothes to be bought, at a price.

Would you believe a curtain and material Stand?

And plenty of hand bags.

There is a marquee with all the various German Warmblood Breeding areas. This photograph shows the German map divided into these regions.

Everything for the Dog and Cat, even a little bed.

We are not quite sure what this stand is all about, but it certainly looks good.

Jewellery galore.

It would not be a horse show over here without Hermes.

All around the Showgrounds there are wonderful sculptures.

The Australian Team wait their turn in the main arena. There are about six warm up areas, both sand and grass.

The Vaulting Stadium is being prepared for the arrival of the Reiners tomorrow.

The showjumpers have arrived and so have the fancy trucks. This one belongs to Danish rider, Thomas Velin

Karli's Restaurant for riders, grooms, workers and yes, media.

A reasonable collection of bits.

Chris and Helen Chugg do a bit of bit shopping.

The stallion parade was sold out with 8000 people attending. However it was a little disappointing for English speakers, as there was no English translation provided, and as many of the horses failed to wear their numbers, it was often difficult to identify which horse was which. Pictured here is Fleurop a 16 year old stallion by Florestan I.

The Stallion presentation. The 11 year old Forsyth by dual gold medallist "For Pleasure".

The 13 year old stallion, Rockwell by Rocket Star.

A group of American Quarter Horse Stallions put on a good display. Here this cutting stallion is clearly not letting this fellow past.

A large group of Arabian stallions put on a good display.

Two Trakehner stallios, both by Van Deyk, Kaiserdom and Kaiserkult entertain the large crowd.

A budding Vaulter getting in a bit of practice.

There are plenty of ponies over here, you see them in the paddocks and in quadrille.