2010 World Equestrian Games Candidates are France, United Arab Emirates and USA

The National Federations had until 15 July to submit applications to host the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games to the FEI.

FRANCE
The candidature of the French Region of Basse Normandie and the city of Caen was formally confirmed by the President of the Regional Council Philippe Duron on 12 July 2004. Reputed for horse breeding, the region of Basse-Normandie encompasses a large equine industry which employs more than 7000 persons taking care of approximately 55,000 horses. In Caen and its surroundings, a number of international competitions are organised each year in several FEI disciplines. The World Champions Eric Levallois, Eric Navel and Reynald Angot and the four stallions of the French 2002 gold team all came from Basse-Normandie, as are Baloubet du Rouet and a number of legendary French horses, both in racing and jumping.

UAE
On 8 June 2004, the UAE Equestrian and Racing Federation confirmed its application to host the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. The United Arab Emirates is a modern Gulf State with a strong economy and high growth rate. Serviced by all major airlines, the UAE has a reputed expertise in organising international conventions, and successfully hosted the FIFA Football Junior Championship in 2003. The world's richest flat race, the Dubai World Cups is held every year since 1996. The country, which is a leader in the discipline of Endurance, has a fine national infrastructure for Endurance, Jumping and Dressage in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai where is also located a state-of-the-art equine hospital. A new world class arena is being built in Sharjah this year and the Federation plan to introduce in due course the disciplines of Eventing, Vaulting and Reining followed by Driving.

USA
On 8 July, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher together with the US Equestrian Federation announced the application of Kentucky (USA) to host the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games. The well-known Kentucky Horse Park, host of one of the most prestigious Three Day Event in the world, is the selected venue to host the seven disciplines of Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Driving, Endurance, Reining and Vaulting. Located in Lexington, Kentucky, the heart of the Bluegrass, the Kentucky Horse Park is a working horse farm with 1,200 acres surrounded by 30 miles of white plank fencing. The park hosts nearly 850,000 visitors and 80 special events and horse shows each year. With a complete facility for many different disciplines of equestrian activity, the Kentucky Horse Park is booked practically every week with multiple horse competitions and special events.

Held every four years, the World Equestrian Games include all FEI disciplines. The first WEG was organised in Stockholm in 1990. The 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera (ESP) attracted close to 300,000 spectators, 800 participants from 45 nations and 1000 media representatives. The 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games will be held in Aachen (GER) from 22 August to 3 September.

The FEI will discuss in detail the organising procedures of the 2010 World Equestrian Games with each candidate NF and help in establishing the formal bids that shall be received by the FEI no later than 15 October. These organising procedures include technical requirements, veterinary, marketing, logistics, television and general organising matters. The allocation of the 2010 World Equestrian Games shall be announced in 2005.