On Monday evening in the Albert Vahle Arena, the sale horses were presented to a packed house of potential buyers. Rather than using an auction format, the combined Nordrhein-Westfaelische Stud Books offer a collection of young horses for sale at firm prices. This year’s collection is composed of 27 spectacular young dressage prospects. Before the presentation had ended, the catalog Nr. 1 –"Danny Wilde", a gorgeous four year old dark bay stallion who had been the reserve champion by the NRW korung in 1998, and had won a whole series of suitability competitions – was sold to the world renowned Vorwerk private breeding farm. The sires in this young stallion’s bloodlines include such names as "Donnerhall," "Pik Koenig," "Furioso II," "Patron," and "Romadour." This is just one of a whole series of exceptional young dressage prospects offered for sale. Anyone can buy these horses (of course for the right price). It is just a poor excuse to say that one cannot buy real quality in Germany. If you can afford it, almost anything is for sale.

Another of the exceptional young horses offered is a 3 year old bay stallion named "Laverno" by "Lanciano PB" out of "Laverna" by "Pik Bauer." "Lanciano" was also the sire of the top horse of the 1998 CHIO Sale, "Lara," who was purchased for Ann-Kathrin Ehlen. She is the young woman who competed with "Peron" upon his return to Germany after Atlanta and before he was sold to Switzerland. "Lara and Ann-Kathrin were named to the German Team for the World Championships for young dressage horses. "Laverno" brings with him everything one could want in a dressage horse as well as in a potential sire, from three outstanding gaits and an exceptional attitude, right down (or up) to a beautiful head. You could feel the excitement in the audience when he entered the arena – to use an old cliché – he took your breath away and sent shivers down your spine. His presence alone was mesmerizing.

Due to the seriously wet conditions, the dressage competitions for Wednesday have been moved to the indoor arena. The organizers want to save the footing in the stadium for the major CDIO competitions coming up. These will decide the team members who will represent Germany. For Germany two of the home town girls from Aachen are on the list of favourites, Nadine Capellman and Alexandra Simons-de Ridder, last year’s winner of Aachen’s top dressage prize. The spectators here are also anxious to see if Isabell Werth’s "Gigolo" is back to his old form before his injury last year at Aachen, or if he has seen his better days and should retire.

The best of the Dutch decided not to show at Aachen. That group includes Anky van Grunsven and "Bonfire," Arjen Teuwissen and "Goliath," and Coby van Baalen and "Olympic Ferro." They have chosen their team but do not want to compete against the Germans such a short time before Sydney so as not to be prejudged. The Americans have taken the same route, although they are no threat to either of the top teams. This should make the upcoming competition at the Olympics even more exciting. Germany has won team Gold at every Olympic and World Championship since 1973 but Holland took the World Cup this year

Now, if we can just persuade the rain to go away and come again another day when the tournament is over.