Germany fell to 4th place after dressage in the 2026 Aachen Reit-WM. The team recorded 316.69 penalty points after the marathon, just behind Australia (308.06), the Netherlands (310.37) and Belgium (310.82).\n\n## Dressage and Marathon\nAfter dressage, where Germany still led the standings, the team fell to 4th place in the marathon. The 6 penalty points gap equals exactly two knocked-down hurdles, showing how tight the ranking is. Anna Sandmann, the last German starter in the marathon, completed the eight obstacles without faults and handled the slippery conditions with confidence. She noted that the reins were slicker, but the performance remained solid.\n\n## Anna Sandmann’s Performance\nAnna Sandmann was particularly proud of her new horse in the pair, Teddy, which she described as “super focused.” She had respect for the large terrain in Aachen, but Teddy helped her tackle the difficult conditions. Her 157.20 penalty points contributed significantly to the team score.\n\n## Mareike Meier and the Incident\nMareike Meier returned to form after the brief disqualification incident the day before. Her pair was removed from the ranking on Friday due to an equipment error, but the German team protested successfully. Meier could refocus on the sport in the marathon and achieved 159.21 penalty points.\n\n## Christoph Sandmann’s Contribution\nChristoph Sandmann, Anna’s father, remained the weakest rider with 165.41 penalty points. He was already the weakest German rider in dressage. His points do not count toward the team score, keeping the team’s chances open.\n\n## The Steeplechase as a Deciding Factor\nIn the steeplechase, pairs must navigate a set course as fast and fault-free as possible. Errors such as knocking down a hurdle or throwing a ball off a hurdle incur three penalty points. Exceeding the allowed time is also penalized. For the Germans, the steeplechase is the last chance to close the 6-point gap.\n\nSource: WDR reporter on site, Sport im Westen live: Reit-WM Aachen 2026 - Marathonfahrt der Vierspänner, 22.08.2026, 14:00.