Next week it's time for one of the annual highlights in the international showjumping calendar: The 2023-edition of CHIO Aachen. 

Belgium, France, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden and USA will all field teams for Thursday's traditional Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup, while some of the world's best will battle it out throughout the week to qualify for Sunday's Rolex Grand Prix worth a staggering 1.500.000 Euro. 

On the list of riders is Mclain Ward (USA) – the winner of the two last Majors in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. With his victories in Geneva and Den Bosch, Ward is live contender and on the hunt for his third win – not to forget the possibility to write more history in Aachen; if he can win the prestigious Grand Prix at the holy grail of show jumping, he will take home a 1.000.000 Euro bonus on top of the prize money. Through the history of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, only one rider has managed to win three Majors in a row: Scott Brash (GBR), in 2015. 

Other big names on the entry list include Laura Kraut (USA), Steve Guerdat (SUI), Martin Fuchs (SUI), Scott Brash (GBR), Ben Maher (GBR), Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA), Gregory Wathelet (BEL) as well as Nicola and Oliver Philippaerts (BEL). The host nation of course comes strong in force, with Marcus Ehning (GER), Daniel Deusser (GER), Gerrit Nieberg (GER) – last year's Grand Prix winner in Aachen – and Andre Thieme (GER) among those the home crowds will be cheering for at the Soers.