Driving is one of the most spectacular, adrenaline-fuelled equestrian sports, with fearless horse and driver teams displaying incredible skill, stamina and versatility.

2020 FEI Driving & Para Driving facts & figures

Monthly Breakdown of Events & Cancellations

Major Events 2020

FEI Driving World Cup™ Final, Bordeaux (FRA)

Driving fans filled the arena for the FEI Driving World Cup™ Finals in Bordeaux in February, marking one of the biggest events of the year.  Dutch designer Johan Jacobs set a daunting course causing several shake ups in the leader board. Only two teams went clear on the first day; József Dobrovitz of Hungary, who was third on the leader board, and Koos de Ronde (NED), who entered Day two on zero penalty points in first place. And in between them was eight-time champion Boyd Exell (AUS).

The following day it all came down to a thrilling drive-off Ijsbrand Chardon, Koos de Ronde, and hungry Boyd Exell. Up first, Chardon set the bar high with an extremely fast clear round, but Chardon was able to move ahead of him and take the lead with a better overall score. When Exell entered the arena you could hear a pin drop. During his round, backstepper Hugh Scott-Barrett hung perilously off the back of the rig to shave microseconds off their time, and it payed off, the title was Exell’s for the ninth time!

Podium

FEI Driving World Championships for Singles, Pau (FRA)

Following numerous event cancellations throughout the year, it was fantastic to have 49 of the world’s best drivers come together for the FEI Driving World Championships for Singles in Pau.

In this championship the Dutch clearly took the upper hand, not only winning the team title, but also taking home individual gold. Thirteen nations competed for the team podium and in the end it was France who came in second just ahead of Germany winning bronze.

Team Podium

Individual Podium

Youth Championships

Driving youth also experienced a tough 2020, as they had to go through the year with a limited number of events and no major championship. Having the possibility to showcase talent at this age is very important, just as it is to get a first feel for championship ambiance and pressure, both at individual and team level.

Opportunities for young drivers to shine were scarce in 2020, and sadly the FEI European Championships for Children, Juniors and Young Drivers in Lamotte Beurvron (FRA) had to be cancelled.

Young Horses

Experience and showcasing talent is equally important for horses than it is for athletes. This year in Mazohegyes (HUN), the FEI Driving World Championships for Young Horses should have provided the perfect platform for horses, aged five to seven, to demonstrate their skills and reveal their potential as future stars of the international circuit.

Sadly here too, the laureates of 2020 remained unrevealed as it was not possible to see the championship take place and we can only hope that next year we will be able to witness the action and get a glimpse of the potential that rests in the future of FEI Driving.

FEI World Driving Championships Four-in-hand and FEI World Para Driving Championships

Initially staged to be held in Kronenberg, and then moved to Verden, the FEI World Driving Championships four-in-hand ultimately had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, consequently, Steffen Bauchle from Germany, remains the defending champion.

Unfortunately, the FEI World Para Driving Championships in Malmö (SWE) underwent the same fate. Grade I title holder Jacques Poppen and Grade II winner Francisca Den Elzen, both from The Netherlands, remain the undisputed champions.