Often described as an equestrian triathlon, Eventing is a unique challenge, demanding skill, courage and versatility!

FEI Eventing Facts and Figures 2023 

Top 3 NFs with events in Eventing 

Top 3 NFs with registered athletes in Eventing  

Top 3 NFs with registered horses in Eventing 

Major Events in 2023…  

In 2023, eventing once again featured fantastic sporting moments. There were numerous championship titles up for grabs, we got to witness partnerships of all age categories showcase their talent while aiming for both team and individual glory. As you navigate through this section you will have the opportunity to revisit the best moments of another exceptional year.   

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FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ season 2023 

The year’s FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ season was composed of eight legs spread across Europe, with the overall series winner being revealed in Boekelo (NED). Clinching a win in Montelibretti (ITA) and with top three placings at six other legs of the series counting for points, the honours in 2023 went to Belgium with a final overall score of 610 points.  

Having posted four wins throughout the season, namely in Chatsworth (GBR), Haras De Jardy (FRA), Avenches (SUI) and Boekelo (NED), France clearly demonstrated that they are serious medal contenders for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, however, with a total of 480 points, they had to settle for second place in the final standings of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™. With top placings in Montelibretti and Avenches, Italy amassed 440 to complete the leading trio of 2023 and, more importantly for the Italians, securing the Olympic qualifying spot-on offer to the highest ranked team not already qualified.   

FEI Eventing European Championships, Haras Du Pin (FRA)  

This edition marked the 70^th anniversary of this championship which dates all the way back to Badminton (GBR) in 1953, where the hosts took individual gold and silver. The sport has come a long way since then, but British dominance has remained a constant theme, with 19 individual and 23 European team titles under their belts. And in 2023, the defending champions were back out in force once more, clinching the European title and gold medal ahead of team Germany and France. 

At this championship, there were also two Olympic qualifying spots on offer to countries that had not already booked their tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. The battle between the four nations competing for those two places – Austria, Belgium, Italy and The Netherlands – was intense and saw Belgium and The Netherlands come out on top to secure their place at the Games.  

Individually, the British did not leave much room for other nations on the podium as Ros Canter secured individual gold with Lordships Graffalo and teammate Kitty King followed right behind winning silver with Vendredi Biats. Sandra Auffarth took home individual bronze to Germany with Viamant Du Matz.  

Team Podium 

Individual Podium 

Asian Games, Hangzhou (CHN) 

The Chinese team of Yingfeng Bao/Newmarket Ritz, Ruiji Liang/Kiriaant JE, Huadong Su/Lady Chin V’T Moerven Z and Alex Hua Tian/Poseidons Admiral put in a strong Dressage performance to give the team a score of 85.20, putting them firmly in the lead after the first phase in Hangzhou. Following the cross country, just a few penalties were added to the team’s score, allowing them to remain ahead of Japan and Thailand.  

On the final competition day, Team China made history for Chinese sport by winning team gold for the first time since equestrian sport was introduced at the Asian Games in 1982. Silver was won by the Japanese team of Kazuhiro Yoshizawa/Penny Grans, Yusuke Nakajima/Credit Krunch, Kenta Hiranaga/Duke Of Sussex and Shoto Kusumoto/Vick Du Gisors JRA ahead of team Thailand’s Supap Khaw-Ngam/Canadian Club M, Weerapat Pitakanonda/Carnival March, Preecha Khunjan/Clair De Lune Blanc RW, and Korntawat Samran/Billy Elmy. 

And history was made again when Alex Hua Tian and the wonderful Poseidons Admiral became the first pair to clinch the Individual title in Eventing for China on 27.00 penalties. Thailand’s Korntawat Samran riding Billy Elmy took silver, finishing on 27.90, and the bronze medal went to Japan’s Kazuhiro Yoshizawa with Penny Grans on 28.60. 

FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, Le Lion D’Angers (FRA) 

A vast number of stud books were represented in both the six-year-old and the seven-year-old categories of the 2023 FEI WBFSH Eventing World Breeding Championships for Young Horses, with the top prizes going to a British bred six-year-old mare and a French-bred seven-year-old mare. 

The Championship for six-year-old horses was won by the British-bred mare, Barrington Alice ridden by Izzy Taylor (GBR). The pair produced a stunning test to put them into second after the Dressage, before jumping clear inside the time on the cross-country phase. The pair then went on to claim the honours with a clear round for just 0.8 for time on the final competition day, finishing on 26.9 penalties. Second place went to the French-bred Hermes Du Gevauden ridden by Stephane Landois (FRA), finishing on 27.7 and third place of the podium went to the Zangersheide-bred Cooley On Ice ridden by Amanda Goldsbury from New Zealand on 28.8.  

The seven-year-old class proved to be a hard-fought contest throughout, with less than a penalty separating the top five horses on the final leader board. Victory ultimately went to the French combination of Golden De Beliard AA and Thomas Carlile (FRA). The classic athletic little mare jumped a double clear to finish on her Dressage mark of 28.3 penalties.  Kiarado d’Arville ridden by Lara De Liedekerke for Belgium, missed out on victory with 0.4 time penalties in the final Jumping phase and had to settle for silver. Bronze went to the French-bred mare Gravure de la Mouline under the saddle of Astier Nicolas (FRA).   

Podium: 6-year-old 

Podium: 7-year-old 

Pan American Games, Santiago (CHI) 

The defending champions from the USA took a firm hold at the top of the intermediate team and individual ranking when the Dressage phase got Eventing underway at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI). However, on the final day of the competition, the leader board was shuffled around when the Canadian team of Michael Winter/El Mundo, Colleen Loach/FE Golden Eye, Lindsay Traisnel/Bacyrouge and Karl Slezak/Hot Bobo, snatched gold from Team USA by the narrow margin of just 0.1 penalty points. This was the third time in the 72-year history of the Pan American Games that Canada claimed gold and the victory was even sweeter as the team earned one of the highly coveted qualifying spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on offer at this event. The second Olympic qualifying spot went to Brazil, who saw themselves pushed into bronze position following the rise of Team Canada.   

The individual title went to USA’s Caroline Pamukcu paired up with the eight–year-old gelding HSH Blake, who finished on 30.8 penalties.  Brazil’s Marcio Carvalho Jorge and Castle Howard Casanova took silver on 32.2 ahead of Lindsay Traisnel for Canada riding Bacyrouge, who moved up from fifth to bronze on a final score of 34.2. 

Team Podium 

Individual Podium 

FEI YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIPS 

FEI Eventing European Championship for Ponies, Le Mans (FRA)  

Germany was the dominant force at the FEI European Eventing Championship for Ponies at Le Mans taking not only team gold but also individual gold, silver and bronze! 

Germany’s all-female team of Pita Schmid/Sietlands Catrina, Marlene Hayessen/Betty Boo 14, Nell Roming/Marlon 192 and Sina Brugger riding Next Generation clinched gold on a final total of 97.3 penalties. The French team of Tifaniie Villeton/Babylon Night Graves, Clement Tonon/Vidock De Berder, Laurick Hardy/Duncan’s Star and Ella Rinaldi/Boston Du Verdon took silver and bronze went to Ireland’s team of Carla Williamson/Galco, Ciara O’Connor/Agharanny Minstrel, Ben Connors/Cornafest Fred and Molly O’Connor/Coolnaleen Rebel. 

Germany made it a clean sweep of the individual podium, with Nell Roming and Marlon 192 winning the Individual Championship title, while her compatriots Sina Brugger paired up with Next Generation and Marlene Hayessen riding Betty Boo 14 took home silver and bronze.  

Team Podium 

Individual Podium 

FEI Eventing European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors, Montelibretti (ITA) 

Italy’s Young Rider team stormed to gold at the FEI Eventing European Championships for Young Riders & Juniors 2023 on home soil at Montelibretti for Italy’s first-ever gold at this level. In the end, it came down to a tough jumping phase in which just a single clear round was achieved. The Italian team of Matteo Orlandi/Quality Time, Camilla Luciani/Athina Quandolym, Edoardo Fortini/Cooley Showtime and Pasquale Migliaccio/Myvatn De Remella were able to secure gold ahead of Ireland and Germany.  

France’s Charlotte Bordas and Firewall Des Aucels Z took home individual gold, and Germany’s Kaya Thomsen with Cool Charly Blue won silver. Bronze went to Ireland’s Allanah Kelly paired up with Cooley Bounce. 

The Junior championship saw Germany dominate the playing field after a nail-biting finish. The team of Smilla Maline Philipp/Sir Boggles, Mathies Rüder/Bon Ton, Matti Garlichs/Ludwig 282 and Ella Krueger/Koenigsblauer clinched the gold medal ahead of Great Britain and France, who completed the podium.  

Philipp and Sir Boggles were on fire, with the pair going on to win the individual championship title and their second gold medal. Italy’s Leopoldo Petrini and Emerald Jonny won the silver medal ahead of Jeanne Brunel from France paired up with Dexter Z. 

Junior team Podium 

Junior Individual Podium 

Young Rider Team Podium 

Young Rider Individual Podium