Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping NAL receives further boost in Canada and USA as FEI and Horse Network sign multi-year agreement

Top level Jumping action from the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League will be available for millions of fans in the United States and Canada, thanks to a new multi-year partnership between the Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) and Horse Network.

The new cooperation starts from the 2017/18 season with coverage from the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park in Canada, where the first qualifier of the League takes place this Sunday, 6 August, and will enable equestrian and sport enthusiasts to follow each of the 14 Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League events.

Horse Network, a US-based digital publishing platform, will offer a combination of sporting action, videos, articles and multimedia content around the series, bringing fans closer to the action and taking them behind-the-scenes like never before. All content published by Horse Network will be available free of charge and includes live streamed action from the competitions.

“We’re very pleased to announce this new cooperation with Horse Network”, FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus said. “The energy and excitement of Longines FEI World Cup Jumping was brought to North America with the launch of the North American League in 2015 and it has thrilled athletes and fans since. Horse Network’s innovative approach provides great value for equestrian fans, organizers and sponsors and is important for the growth of the sport in North America.”

“We are thrilled and honored that the FEI has selected Horse Network as its online media outlet for the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping North American League in the United States and Canada,” commented Horse Network CEO Sean Hurley. “Plain and simple, Horse Network’s mission is to grow the sport. Today’s equestrian sports fans want quality, immediacy, humor and news, in particular across digital platforms. The combination of the FEI’s world-class leadership in the sport with Horse Network’s huge audience and cutting edge capabilities is very exciting, we look forward to working closely with the FEI to grow equestrian sport.”

Notes to Editors:

About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance, Vaulting and Reining.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para-Equestrian Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para-Equestrian Dressage and Para-Driving.

About Horse Network

Founded in 2012 and privately owned, Horse Network is a leading modern media company dedicated to equestrian sport. Every month, Horse Network connects with millions of users through entertaining and informative videos, articles and multimedia content about horse sport, lifestyle, health and humor. Horse Network reaches its massive audience through its website, email list and social media as well as in person at events across North America. Horse Network’s coverage of North America’s most significant events over the past year achieved an unprecedented amount of audience for equestrian competition in North America. For more information please visit www.horsenetwork.com.

About Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League

The Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping is the world’s premiere individual Jumping series, and the breeding ground of equestrian legends. Now in its 40^th season, the very best human and equine athletes from 16 leagues in 43 countries around the world will battle to qualify for the prestigious Final to be held in Paris (FRA) 10–15 April 2018. Last season the USA’s McLain Ward took the overall title with his horse HH Azur and a faultless display of horsemanship at the FEI World Cup™ Finals 2016/17 in Omaha (USA).

A total of 14 athletes from the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping North American League qualify for the prestigious Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping Final, which will be held in Paris (FRA) in 2018. The top seven athletes from the East Coast US, top three from West Coast US and the two best-placed athletes from Canada and Mexico will qualify for the Final, alongside winners of the 13 other leagues from around the world.

Launched in 2015, the North American League boasts a minimum of US $2.4 million prize money across the series, and offers the best Jumping athletes from North America and around the world the chance to qualify for the jackpot of more than US $1.4 million (€1.3 million) on offer annually at the Final. http://www.feiworldcup.org/