“It is not often that I cry – and mostly not for good reasons – but today it was a fantastic reason to have tears in my eyes," Germany’s Richard Vogel said after he and the 14-year-old stallion United Touch S (Untouched x Lux Z) had won Sunday’s CSI5* 1.60m Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen.

After winning the first Major at The Dutch Masters in March, Vogel – the current world number three and the reigning European Champion – arrived in Aachen as the Rolex Grand Slam live contender, vying for the extra bonus of €500,000 on offer for two Major wins in succession. However, with 30 from the 32 top ranked riders in the world in attendance, it was never going to be an easy quest for Vogel and his extraordinary equine partner United Touch S.

"It is a victory that makes not just me, but the whole team around United, proud,” Vogel said after the two delivered three clear rounds to take their second Rolex Grand Slam Major win of the year.

With these photos, we send our warmest congratulations to Richie, Felicia Wallin, Julius-Peter Sinnack as well as everyone involved in Team Vogel! 

All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.