2006 World Equestrian Games

The Australian Team march in the opening ceremony.

The Australian Team march in the opening ceremony.

The thing that did occur to us on the train trip from Amsterdam to Aachen was that because the fields were so brilliantly green, they must have a lot of rain. And rain it did on the morning and right up until the Opening Ceremony. However, the sun came out for the duration of the festivities. But as everyone knows at Aachen, come prepared!

The almost capacity crowd (40.000) were delighted with the entrance of these mares and foals.

The most impressive part of the Opening Ceremony were the 64 Stallions from the ten German State Studs. They performed an elaborate quadrille, with the enthusiastic crowd clapping along. The spectators made Australian horse shows crowds seem very staid indeed.

More work from the 64 State Stud Stallions.

The State Stud Stallions.

The Aachen WEG logo represents the colours of the seven disciplines involved. Dressage, Show jumping, Eventing, Endurance, Reining, Vaulting and Marathon Carriage Driving.

Reining Dressage World Champion, Nadine Capellmann, is an Aachen girl. She is on the WEG Advisory board and represented the Dressage riders in the Opening Ceremony.

Recognise anyone you know? The Australian Team march in the opening ceremony with Phillip Dutton carrying the flag.

No they are not sheltering from the rain, they are part of a display that was best seen from above as it represented the WEG logo.

The WEG Mascot, 'Karli'.

This is what all the umbrellas were about, as they formed the Logo, with this photo taken from an overhead camera that moves right across the arena on cables.

The Teams gather in the Main Arena.

The flags of the 61 participating countries.

The new FEI President, HRH Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein made a moving opening speech which included; "The FEI World Equestrian Games is like no other Championships in the horse world, here we bring together all of our disciplines...ultimately it is the horse that brings us together. The horse who has no understanding of borders, political differences, class or languages, cements us in the simple common bond of friendship and unity".

The German flag is raised and will stay aloft for the next two weeks.

More action during the opening ceremony.

Emperor Charlemagne makes another appearance.

Balloons were let loose in all seven colours of the seven disciplines.

The Teams and part of the near capacity crowd.

We are not sure what the stilt walkers were all about, but they were an impressive part of the opening ceremony.

The very colourful Opening Ceremony.

The very colourful Opening Ceremony.

Well it did rain a little, but what would Aachen be without umbrellas? This shows part of a Medieval Hunting Party with Emperor Charlemagne, who ruled the Holy Roman Empire from Aachen.

More of the Medieval Hunting Party.

This attractive combination opened the activities of the Opening Ceremony.

Carriage Driving has a long tradition at Aachen and as was expected they played a big part in the Opening Ceremony.

A delightful pair of Haflingers with a couple a very happy passengers.

Many riders came into the arena representing the history of Aachen and horses. This elegant sidesaddle pair are in period costume.

These riders represent Napoleon's influence in Aachen and are wearing French Cavalry costumes.

The Aachen Horsedrawn Tram.