Jumping is an extreme test of horsemanship, nerve and skill and a spectacular mix of courage, control and technical ability!

2020 FEI Jumping facts and figures

Monthly Breakdown of Events & Cancellations

Major Events 2020

Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final, Las Vegas (USA)

In 2020, the FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic for the first time since its inception.

This event, which generally takes place during the spring in the Northern Hemisphere was one of the first major Events to be cancelled. All the qualifiers had taken place and athletes were ready to go fight it out for the title, but it was just not meant to be. The global concerns about the spread of the virus and the travel restrictions imposed by the US Government made the much awaited Jumping and Dressage Finals the first in a series of major events to be cancelled.

As a result, the defending FEI Jumping World Cup™ champion remains Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat.

Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final, Barcelona (ESP)

With the World Cup™ Finals cancelled, hopes naturally turned to other prestigious series such as the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™. With the North American, Central America & Carribean and Middle Eastern leagues kick-starting the 2020 season in February, it looked set to run as usual, full of suspense and team spirit.

Unfortunately, with infections on the rise, it became increasingly complicated for Organisers to host a Nations Cup™ event, just as nations battled with travel restrictions to attend one. Only Abu Dhabi and Wellington were able to take place while all the remaining Organisers for the qualifiers – La Baule, St Gallen, Sopot, Rotterdam, Falsterbo, Dublin and Hickstead – were valiant in their determination to go ahead but unfortunately they were left little option but to cancel given the sanitary restrictions around the world.

The Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final, due to be held at the Real Club de Polo de Barcelona (RCPB) beginning of October, suffered the same fate.

Postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games to 2021

On 24 March, the announcement was made by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that the Tokyo 2020 Olympic & Paralympic Games would be postponed to 2021 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

This decision, alongside the cancellation and postponement of many other Events on the FEI Calendar and related challenges led to the creation of discipline specific Calendar Task Forces in order to find appropriate solutions that would meet the needs of all stakeholder groups. You can read all about the various task forces put in place and the decisions taken in our dedicated Covid-19 section.

Youth Championships

Jumping youth were also impacted by the pandemic, with limited events and most of the major Championships cancelled, namely: FEI European Championships in Vilamoura (ESP) and in Strzegom (POL) for Ponies; the Eurasian Championships in Moscow (RUS); the North American Championships in Traverse City (USA); and, the South American Championships in Quito (ECU).   

Fortunately the Championships are back on for 2021 so the next generation of athletes will have an opportunity to shine and represent their nations.

Young Horses

Experience and showcasing talent is equally important for horses. Each year in Lanaken (BEL), the FEI WBFSH Jumping World Breeding Championships for Young Horses provides the perfect platform for horses, aged five to seven, to demonstrate their skills and reveal their potential as future stars of the international circuit.

Regrettably, the where no laureates in 2020 as the Championship was cancelled.