EActually, Isabell Werth was only supposed to walk one lap with Bella Rose around the large grass arena in the Aachen Soers. But when the two rode in at the opening ceremony of the CHIO, the 37,500 spectators rose from their seats, a jerk went through the beautiful, tall, proud chestnut mare, she straightened up even more and began to pass. In this solemn trot, rider and horse contested the entire long loop. And Bella Rose, the dressage mare on her way to retirement, effortlessly found the energy for such a feat.
Actually, it seemed, instead of her big farewell gala this Friday, she could just as well have completed the full Aachen dressage program again – in 2019 she was overall winner here. Or the Show Jumping Grand Prix on Sunday, as Isabell Werth joked. But no. She’s eighteen years old, so it’s decided, her sports career is over. She will bring her last peak performance this Friday when Isabell Werth celebrates her Olympic freestyle in Tokyo 2021 with her for the last time.
