Aachen, Germany –The CAIO4*-H4 Nations Cup competition began on Thursday at CHIO Aachen with the dressage phase. Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Ed Young, the U.S. Driving Team had a solid start to sit in second place with a score of 95.27 after the first phase of the competition. Chester Weber is the top U.S. athlete, lying in second place on a score of 38.34.

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his and Jane Clark’s team of KWPN geldings had a lovely dressage test in a star-studded international field. They demonstrated great harmony in their test, highlighted by excellent trot work and impressive deviations. The Ground Jury of Hanspeter Rueschlin (CHE), Bert Jambon (BEL), Anne-Marie Turbe (FRA), Jan-Erik Palsson (SWE), and Reiner Wannenwetsch (GER) rewarded Weber and his team for their stellar performance to put them near the top of the leaderboard.

Allison Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) had a respectable dressage test with Willow Star LLC’s team of KWPN geldings as she makes her CHIO Aachen debut. She and her team performed quality movements, marred only by the left leader jigging during the walk work and the right wheeler showing resistance in the rein back. They received a score of 56.93 to put them in 17th place.

Boyd Exell (AUS) leads the field with a score of 34.86 and IJsbrand Chardon (NED) sits in third on a 39.05 behind Weber. The Netherlands leads the team competition with a score of 81.46 and Hungary is in third with a 100.58.

The marathon phase takes place Saturday with Stroud starting at 3:10 p.m. local time followed by Weber at 4:25 p.m. local time.

For livestream information, visit www.chioaachen.de/chio-aachen-on-tv.