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The Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28) has announced plans to move equestrian and para equestrian competitions to an existing purpose-built facility in Temecula, Southern California, emphasising sustainability, legacy, and fiscal responsibility in their decision.
The relocation of equestrian and para equestrian events, which were previously assigned to the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area, will achieve significant cost savings by eliminating the need to construct an expensive, entirely temporary venue.
"The plan to relocate equestrian competitions to the existing Equestrian Center in Temecula is a positive development for the sport and the equestrian community," FEI President and International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Ingmar De Vos said.
"The FEI has worked closely with the Organising Committee to evaluate and choose a venue capable of hosting all equestrian and para equestrian events with the aim of managing the overall costs and complexity.
“Importantly, the venue can also accommodate Eventing competitions which was a condition of the IOC Executive Board to include this discipline in the programme of the LA28 Olympic Games. The reasoning behind the venue change also fits well with equestrian sport’s sustainability ideals and aims, and will create lasting legacies for the local community. With this important announcement we can now start working with LA28 on the field-of-play design and organisation of the equestrian competitions.”
The LA28 Organising Committee revised its venue plans to use more existing venues, and fewer temporary venues, in order to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games more sustainable while elevating the experience for athletes and fans. The new venue assignments will create more than US$150 million in combined cost savings and revenue increases for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The amendments to the venue master plan, that have already been approved by the IOC Executive Board, will be put forward to the City Council of Los Angeles for its formal approval in the coming months, as the proposals involve relocating the competition venues outside the city’s boundaries, and differ from the plans initially submitted during the bid.
“We are thrilled a venue has been chosen that can host all the equestrian events,” CEO of the United States Equestrian Federation Bill Moroney said.
“The announcement of the equestrian venue aligns with the IOC requirement stating all equestrian events must be held at the same location. The Equestrian Center for the LA28 Games in Temecula will be a world class international experience on the field of play for the athletes, horses, and their support teams as well as for fans and spectators alike.
“US Equestrian is proud to support equestrian sport’s inclusion in the Olympic and Paralympic programmes for 2028 and is eager to work with the FEI, LA28 Organising Committee, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee to bring an extraordinary event to the USA. The LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games hold immense potential to elevate the visibility and popularity of our sport nationwide.”
The IOC Executive Board will finalise the events, athlete quota and competition formats for the LA28 Olympic Programme following the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a final decision expected in 2025.
The Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028 will take place from 14 to 30 July, followed by the Paralympic Games from 15 to 27 August.
More information about updates to the venue plan for the Olympic and Paralympic Games LA28, can be found here.
The full submission put forward to the City of Los Angeles can be found here.
Image: Equestrian Center in Temecula, California (USA) © LesliePotter/USEquestrian
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, Para Driving, Para Dressage, Endurance and Vaulting.
The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its six able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving
FEI Media Contacts
Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Media Relations
FEI Communications
vanessa.randin@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 73
Malina Gueorguiev
Manager, Governance Communications, Stakeholder & Media Relations
Communications Department
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 33
If Strzegom proved one thing, it was that Eventing is rarely predictable. The leaderboard changed dramatically throughout but a young French team proved they could fight until the end, climbing from last to first in the fifth leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ in Poland today. Their score of 145.5 was just a whisker ahead of cross-country leaders Sweden, who wound up on 146.6. Whilst Poland delighted their home crowd by finishing in third on 168.3.
All four riders were making their first appearance for the French Team in a Nations Cup competition, but this did not stop them beating stiff competition, including a number of leading riders. These included reigning Olympic champion Julia Krajewski (GER) and winner of six Olympic medals Andrew Hoy (AUS) who at 65 years old was the most experienced competitor in the clubhouse.
The French had a disappointing start in the Dressage phase, where they finished last of the five teams which came forward with Australia out in front. The cross-country phase proved influential, particularly the time with very few riders finishing without penalties. French rider Camille Laisney was one of them and also came out overall winner of the CCIO4*-S.
She was full of praise for her talented French-bred mare, Avalone. “It was a really nice day. For me the dressage was not really good, but I was last to go in cross-country yesterday and I saw that the time was hard to get and my horse is really fast so I say ‘ok I can do something here.’ This is the first time I have come here and the cross-country is amazing. The ground is perfect and all the fences were nice. The showjumping arena is impressive and that can be challenging for horses. I am going to take her of her (horse) as she is just the best.”
20-year-old Verane Nicaud has no doubt impressed French selectors ahead of the FEI European Young Rider Championships which take place next month at this very venue.
“It was an amazing week and many beautiful memories. We all get the chance to do our first Nations Cup here so that was a big experience for all of us and this is part of a dream which we share.
My next goal is the Young Rider European Championships which is here (at Strzegom). We just tried our best out there and it paid. The cards were really changing after the cross-country, and the time was hard to make, but we are all happy.”
My next goal will be a four-star long like Boekelo. We came with nothing to lose and we win, and that was a dream. We hope we have shown that France is ready to compete well at the Olympics in Paris.”
Marie Bouchanville and Sebastien At made up the French quartet and were both full of praise for the venue. “I really like Strzegom. We are really far away, it took two days to come but the weather was really nice and the cross-country was lovely to ride” said Bouchanville.
"It was an amazing week and many beautiful memories"
Verane Nicaud (FRA)
Technical delegate at Strzegom, Giuseppe Della Chiesa, highlighted how well supported the event remains, and how useful that can be for Nations needing team practice ahead of Championships. “It is great to see how much this event has improved over time. The good thing of the sport is that everywhere is different. Strzegom has been put on the map because there is a good atmosphere and a well-supported atmosphere.”
In just two appearances, France have remained unbeatable in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series this season, winning the opening leg in Montelibretti back in March. The nation has shown strength and depth in their Eventing squad over the last few season. They have used the Series to give both less experienced riders and more seasoned team members useful practice competing as a team.
France is now out in front first in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ standings with 200 points, just ahead of Italy and Switzerland who have 180 points. The Series will now move to Arville in Belgium next month (15-18th August), for the sixth event in this eight-leg Series which concludes at Boekelo (NED) in October.
Full results here
Download image here
With exquisite timing, just five weeks ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Team France soared to victory when producing an impeccable performance at the fourth and last leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Copybook clears from Simon Delestre (I Amelusina R 51), Kevin Staut (Scuderia 1918 Viking d’La Rousserie), Julien Epaillard (Donatello d’Auge) and Olivier Perreau (GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly) saw them stand alone on a zero scoreline at the end of a thrilling day of sport that had their own supporters, and the electric Dutch crowd, on the edges of their seats.
In an epic contest Henrik Ankarcrona’s all-powerful Swedish side had to settle for second this time out when fractionally faster than the third-placed British who also finished on a four-fault tally. Belgium lined up in fourth, Brazil slotted into fifth, the Dutch finished sixth, Switzerland seventh and Ireland lined up in eighth place.
It was a tense and close-fought affair from start to finish - so close that two giants of the sport, Team Germany and Team USA, missed out on the second round when slowest of four teams sharing a four-fault result at the end of round one.
For French team manager Henk Nooren and his side however it was a glorious win after a period of inconsistency. And the timing couldn’t be better.
“To have seven out of seven clears - that was for me was something to be really proud of!”, he declared this evening.
Quality
The quality of the field was such that 25 of the 40 starters jumped clear in the first round, not because the 12-fence track set by Dutch course designer Quintin Maertens was easy, but because the teams were filled with Olympic-level combinations all striving to either confirm their selection potential or to prove that they have what it takes.
Qualification for the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ Final was also on everyone’s minds, especially the athletes from Belgium, France and Great Britain who were languishing at the bottom of the League table from which only the best eight of the ten competing nations would make the cut to the much-anticipated finale at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona (ESP) in October.
Despite putting up a mighty fight today the British and Belgians won’t be making that trip to Spain. The French however rose like a phoenix from the ashes and lifted themselves out of the danger-zone to finish joint-fifth in the final standings.
Sharing the lead
At the halfway stage they were sharing the lead on a zero score with Sweden, Britain and Brazil while the Dutch and Belgians were close behind carrying just a single time fault.
But when Maertens raised and widened a number of fences his course began to take a greater toll in round two. Swedish stars Henrik von Eckermann with the great King Edward and Peder Fredricson with the evergreen Catch Me Not S each secured double-clears, but Malin Baryard-Johnsson and H&M Indiana faulted once, and with just three athletes in each team in the second round that proved costly.
Ben Maher and Point Break and Harry Charles and Romeo 88 also kept a double clean sheet, but Joseph Stockdale and Equine America Cacharel fell victim to the middle element of the triple combination at fence seven which loosened Great Britain’s grip. And when both Stephan de Freitas Barcha with Chevaux Primavera Imperio Egipcio and Luciana Diniz with Vertigo du Desert left a pole on the floor then Brazil also slipped off top spot. Because the French were just too good.
All four jumped in the first round despite the fact that they had their zero score in the bag after great runs from Epaillard, Perreau and Delestre. Staut, according to team manager Henk Nooren, had something to prove when going last. And when Perreau was left on the bench second time out, Staut did just that when executing a brilliant second clear after Delestre led the way with another fault-free performance.
The result was left in the hands of Epaillard, the world number 4 athlete who was runner-up at the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ Final 2024 in Riyadh (KSA) in April and individual bronze medallist at last year’s FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan (ITA). Sweden’s Baryard-Johnsoon had faulted before he went into the arena as the second-last rider to go, and the man who thrives on riding at speed knew what he had to do, wrapping it up with another classic run from Donatello to ensure his was the only country to finish on that coveted clean sheet.
Reflected
Team manager Henk Nooren reflected on how French fortunes have played out during this first season of the Longines League of Nations™. It certainly wasn’t a smooth run.
As he explained his team was short of combinations suitable to compete in the LLN or any 5* Nations Cup competition “so we gave all the possibilities to new and upcoming combinations to see if we could create some. Leg one in Abu Dhabi was not a good start because we ended up last of last, but Ocala was already better and then St Gallen was cancelled. So everybody was really, really sharp to prove themselves here!”, he pointed out. They didn’t disappoint today.
“Our biggest goal is the Olympics, especially because it is a home Olympics, but we also wanted to qualify for Barcelona Final at the same time”, Nooren explained.
His Olympic selections seem to be clarified this evening, Simon Delestre already in the running with Cayman Jolly Jumper “but Amelusina now especially after this performance today is definitely one that could replace in a couple of weeks”, he said.
He was clearly impressed by the performance of Kevin Staut who had a smile as wide as an ocean after he left the ring for the second time. “The last time Kevin jumped in a Nations Cup was 2022, he got injured in April 2023 and only got back in the ring in the beginning of this year…so for Kevin today there was not only the pressure from the Nations Cup and the LLN and but it was also an enormous pressure to prove himself again that he has a horse to go perhaps to Paris within a couple of weeks”, the French Chef d’Equipe pointed out.
He didn’t need to see so much of Olivier Perreau’s GL Events Dorai d’Aiguilly because “we saw the horse a couple of times last year coming up to the level and jumping clear…especially at the European Championships where he had three really great days and ended up eighth individual and we've seen him quite a bit ever since. That's why we took him out of the second round today because we wanted this half to get more information about the other horse/rider combinations. With him we have basically enough information for ourselves”, he said.
“And then Donatello - no matter how much success he already had he never jumped in any Nations Cup in his life. The first choice for Julien is Dubai that’s for sure. But now it's also clear that over two rounds and let's say the second round today was a really championships round. So yes, he also has a replacement if necessary.
Long way back
Staut was understandably delighted this evening. As he said “it’s been a really long way to come back to this level so it's really emotional. Some clears don’t have the same value as others for this reason. We have had tough days, tough weeks, tough shows and a few weeks ago I was not really sure that we could come here and be ready - but here we are! I’m proud of my horse and all the team around us!”
The brand new Longines League of Nations™ series has produced some unforgettable sport this season and today was another fantastic contest.
Despite their disappointing result today Team Ireland still finished at the top of the League table and they will fight for the inaugural series title in October along with Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, Brazil, France, USA and The Netherlands.
Don’t miss a hoofbeat….
Few nations have been as dominant in their home Nations Cup as The Netherlands. After finishing off the podium last year, the Dutch reasserted their dominance at home with a notable victory Thursday in the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ of Rotterdam (NED).
Led by Chef d'Equipe Patrick van der Meer, the quartet of Edward Gal (Glock's Total Us), Marlies van Baalen (Habibi DVb N.O.P.), Emmelie Scholtens (Indian Rock), and Dinja van Liere (Hermes N.O.P.) kept Denmark at bay with a total score of 222.392, led by van Liere's 77.891% in the CDIO5* Grand Prix test.
Denmark, who won the series' last leg at Compiegne (FRA), finished second with a total score of 220.349. They were just ahead of Germany (219.435), who captured the opening leg in Wellington (USA).
The Netherlands has now won four of the last five editions of this event. They have only lost on three occasions in the last 11 years.
"It's always nice to win, but to win here in Rotterdam is very special. It was really nice. We also had some tests with some unexpected results. There were some mistakes, there was some tension, but at the end, especially Dinja—she lifted us all up. We won, and that's super."
-Patrick van der Meer (NED)
The Dutch squad was the only team to have all four of its athletes score above 70%, including its drop score—van Baalen's 70.435%. But it was team anchor van Liere who really rose the team's average with the 12-year-old stallion, Hermes N.O.P., her bronze medal-winning partner from the 2022 FEI Dressage World Championships (DEN). Their 77.891% score was not only the highest score put forward by the team, but it was also the highest of the competition.
"This was only our third competition this year, and he just keeps getting better. He's really a champion in the piaffe and passage, but he's such a complete horse. He can do it all and has so much talent.
-Dinja van Liere (NED)
"He can be a clown sometimes and make up his own test, so I have to stay sharp, but I'm so proud of him and so happy with our performance today," van Liere added.
Both Denmark and Germany kept things close, and the team anchors proved to be the separators. With some horses affected by the venue's big atmosphere at the multi-disciplinary CHIO Rotterdam, Carina Cassoe Krüth (DEN) and Heiline's Danciera putting up a rather surprising score of 67.674%, which was ultimately dropped from her team. Isabell Werth (GER) boosted her team with a 76.935% score aboard Wendy de Fontaine, but it was not enough to match The Netherlands' collective consistency.
It was a particularly triumphant return to team competition for Gal, who took a sabbatical of nearly three years from competitive sport following the Tokyo Olympic Games (JPN). Rotterdam marked just the second international competition for Gal and the 12-year-old stallion Glock's Total Us since 2021, but they came into the event in strong form, having won both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special at CDI3* Exloo (NED) in May. The pair received a 73.196% from the judges in Rotterdam, second-best on their team.
"For almost three years, I didn't ride in any competitions, and I just started again," Gal said. "I didn't have to start all over again with [Glock's Total Us, because] he has so much experience. Now he will settle down a bit in the stable."
Rotterdam is the penultimate leg of the 2024 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ series, but for the Dutch, the competition plays an additional role, acting as the final test before the nation selects its team for the upcoming Paris Olympic Games (FRA). With big names on the Dutch roster, van der Meer certainly recognized the talent within the group he put forward to compete Thursday.
"We're close to [the Olympics in] Paris and making the selection...I'm not only here as the chef d'equipe but also as the sports director, and I'm really happy with all the riders here," van der Meer said. "When you see the big names here and then being able to win, it gives a great feeling."
Ahead of the series finale at Falsterbo, Germany leads the FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings with 30 points. Denmark sits second with 28 points, just ahead of Sweden (27 points).
Starting in 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show - a key event in the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ series - will feature a new venue, a new date, and a new CEO, enhancing the experience for riders, spectators, and the global equestrian community.
Scheduled for 26 February - 1 March 2026, Helsinki will now be the concluding event of the Western European League, meaning it will follow the Gothenburg Horse Show. Currently, and for the 2024/25 season, it’s the second leg in the series after Oslo, with the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup™ scheduled for 27 October 2024.
Helsinki Fair Centre
From 2026, the Helsinki Horse Show will take place at the expansive Helsinki Fair Centre. This move marks a return to its original location, where the event was first established in 1985, now significantly upgraded to accommodate the growing demands of the sport. The new venue offers a larger competition arena, revamped spectator seating, and comprehensive indoor infrastructure, promising an elevated experience for all attendees.
Valtteri Gundersby Appointed CEO
Valtteri Gundersby, a 31-year-old lawyer and equestrian entrepreneur, has been named the new CEO of BCM Scanhorse Ltd, the organizing company behind the Helsinki Horse Show. Gundersby will work alongside Tom Gordin, the long-time Event Director, during a three-year transition period. This leadership change is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the event’s organisation.
The transition to the Helsinki Fair Centre allows for greater flexibility and creativity in event planning. The new venue, approximately four times larger than the current location, the Helsinki Ice Hall, enables the development of additional side events, improved hospitality services, and a significant equestrian shopping and event venue at the Horse Expo.
FEI Jumping Director, Todd Hinde said;
“We are thrilled with the transformative plans for the Helsinki Horse Show. The move to the Helsinki Fair Centre, the new timing as the final event in the Western European League, and the new leadership under Valtteri Gundersby are set to ensure a world-class experience for athletes, spectators, partners and all participants. These changes will reinforce Helsinki's position as a premier destination in the equestrian calendar.”
With just weeks to go until the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the FEI has launched its global marketing campaign – "A bond Like no other" – honouring good horsemanship and celebrating the unique and long-lasting connection between horse and human.
Created together with London-based marketing agency Redtorch, the aim of the campaign is to engage Olympic and Paralympic equestrian sports fans and connect with a broader audience, showcasing the essential connection between horse and human and its critical role to success in the sport.
Click on the image to watch the video
"Equestrian sport is a rich mosaic of stories that illustrate the profound connection between horse and rider,” FEI Commercial Director Ralph Straus explained. “It is a bond that not only drives the horse and human combination to achieve sporting excellence but, as many riders will attest, it also contributes to human emotional well-being.
“For many people, equestrian is a lifelong passion and community. Horse lovers instantly connect through a shared understanding of this unique relationship.
"Through this campaign, we want to take these stories to a broader audience by providing some insight into the depth and beauty of this distinctive bond between the horse and rider. By creating content that we hope will appeal to both animal lovers and sports enthusiasts, we are looking to engage new fans who are curious about the sport and want to experience more of the rich heritage of the sport.”
Although spearheaded by the FEI, the campaign is a truly collaborative effort that resonates deeply within the equestrian community. It involves the collective participation of National Federations, athletes, grooms, and owners to share their stories with a global audience.
The host nation, France, certainly has stories to tell. With a total of 33 medals, France is in the top five countries that have won the most Olympic medals in equestrian sport. As a leading organiser of FEI events each year, France also stands at the forefront of horse breeding, with the "cheval de Selle Français" recognised as one of the premier breeds among Olympic horses.
“Equestrian sport is based on a relationship between two sentient beings, each with their own character, coming together to form a relationship that develops and grows over time,” explained FEI Secretary General and President of the Association of Paralympic Sports Organisation (APSO) Sabrina Ibáñez.
“To truly be successful in equestrian sport, horse and human need to spend quality time together to build up trust. It’s not unlike having a best friend where, after knowing each other for a long period of time, you can just finish each other’s sentences. It’s the non-verbal bond and highly emotive nature of the relationship that is special and unique. Ultimately, it’s about understanding each other’s body language and intonations, learning to read one another without words.
“The bond also highlights the relationship between two elite athletes, with both the horse and the human having undergone years of intensive training to develop their skills en route to the pinnacle of the sport.
“We hope that this campaign will shine a light on the uniqueness of our sport.”
While Paris 2024 will be the first Olympic Games to have a 50:50 ratio of female and male athletes, equestrian is known as a gender-neutral sport that allows athletes of all sexual orientations, gender identities or expressions to compete on a level playing field. Equestrian uniquely stands as the only Olympic and Paralympic sport where all competitions are mixed gender.
The equestrian events of Paris 2024 will be held against the breathtaking backdrop of the Palace and Park of Versailles, a stunning UNESCO World Heritage site. An operational cross-country test event held in August 2023 has already provided a taste of what’s to come, promising a spectacular setting for all equestrian disciplines.
The Olympic Games will take place from 26 July to 11 August, followed by the Paralympic Games from 28 August to 8 September 2024.
Key links
Keep up to date with the campaign via FEI digital channels. Catch the action on IOC Olympic & Paralympic channels between Saturday 27 July and Saturday 7 September. Full schedule can be found here.
Don’t forget the hashtags: #ABondLikeNoOther #ASportLikeNoOther
FEI Media contacts
Vanessa Martin Randin
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications & Media Relations
FEI Communications
vanessa.randin@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 73
Didier Montes
Manager, Sport Communications and Media Relations
FEI Communications
didier.montes@fei.org
+41 78 750 61 21
The teams have been confirmed for the fourth and last leg of the inaugural Longines League of Nations™ 2024 series which takes place in Rotterdam, The Netherlands in ten days time, and for Belgium, France and Great Britain the pressure will be immense.
Languishing together at the bottom of the leaderboard in joint-eighth place with just 85 points apiece, they need to finish prominently next week if they are to make the cut into the top-eight nations that will qualify for the inaugral Final of the brand new series at the Real Club de Polo in Barcelona, Spain on 6 October.
After the first two legs, in Abu Dhabi, UAE in February and Ocala in Florida, USA in March, Team Ireland had the whip hand with a 30-point lead over Germany in second place, and with two legs still left to run there was no great cause for alarm for the sides at the bottom of the League table. But the cancellation of round three in St Gallen, Switzerland two weeks ago due to adverse weather conditions has changed all that.
The Belgians, French and British really need to step it up this time out, and even the home side can’t afford to be complacent. As next week’s competition gets underway the Dutch will be lying seventh with 115 points and they’ll need to build on that for sure. However they’ve been unbeatable on home ground for the last three years, so no doubt they’ll be doing all in their power to make it four wins in a row.
Chosen
Henk Nooren’s French side looks really strong with Simon Delestre, Julien Epaillard, Olivier Perreau and Kevin Staut flying their flag this time out. And the British are not holding back, fielding Harry Charles, Tim Gredley and Joseph Stockdale along with reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher. Meanwhile the third of the vulnerable teams at the bottom of the table, Belgium, also looks rock solid with Pieter Devos, Abdel Saïd and Gilles Thomas joined by Koen Vereecke.
After their back-to-back hat-trick of home wins the Dutch crowd will be expecting big things from their foursome, but Kim Emmen, Willem Greve, Harrie Smolders and Maikel van der Vleuten are well up to the task. Just five points separate them from Team Sweden in sixth place, so those Swedes need to stay on their toes too. However team manager Henrik Ankarcrona has selected three of the team that won Olympic gold in Tokyo (JPN) three years ago - longtime world number one Henrik von Eckermann, Peder Fredricson and Malin Baryard-Johnsson - along with five-time Olympian Rolf-Göran Bengtsson, and they look very formidable indeed.
The exciting Brazilian side consists of Stephan de Freitas Barcha, Luciana Diniz, Rodrigo Pessoa and Pedro Veniss and with 125 points collected so far they lie in fifth place on the leaderboard, just ten points adrift of fourth-placed Team USA who will be represented by veteran multi-medallists Laura Kraut and McLain Ward along with Jessica Springsteen and Callie Schott.
Solidify
Lying third, Switzerland carries 150 points into next week’s contest and it is up to Romain Duguet, Edouard Schmitz, Pius Schwizer and Janika Sprunger to solidify their position while Otto Becker’s German team of Marcus Ehning, Christian Kukuk, Richard Vogel and Philipp Weishaupt won’t be wanting to relinquish their second-place slot. And with their noses out in front the Irish won’t be keen to lose their advantage either.
So Irish Chef d’Equipe, Michael Blake, is sending a crack side that includes Daniel Coyle, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam and Mark McAuley and clearly the green-team mean business and intend to stay top of the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 standings ahead of the Final. But of course horse sport being what it is, no-one can predict the outcome until the last combination has galloped through the timers in Rotterdam on Friday 21 June.
Statistics
Here are some statistics from the two legs of the series so far:
A total of 80 horse-and-rider combinations have started, jumping 124 rounds with four eliminated and two opting to retire. A total of 1,801 fences have been jumped and there have been 19 single clear rounds and 10 double-clear rounds while just seven refusals have been recorded - one at a vertical fence, two at an oxer and four at the open water obstacle. You can find lots more interesting details here
https://leagueofnations.fei.org/statistics
CHIO Rotterdam is one of the Top Three hospitality events in The Netherlands, and in 2024 celebrates its 75th anniversary. It is the only Dutch outdoor 5* FEI event, and is organised at the beautiful Kralingse Bos, a wooded park surrounding the Kralingse Park lake.
The teams for the fourth leg of the Longines League of Nations™ 2024 will parade in the Rotterdam arena at 15.30 on Friday 21 June and the action will get underway at 16.00 local time. With qualification for the Final hanging in the balance it will be crunch time for the top 10 nations, so don’t miss a hoofbeat….
With just a few days to go before the fourth and last qualifier of the Longines League of NationsTM 2024 in Rotterdam (NED) before the Final in Barcelona (ESP) on 6 October, nations are already looking at their options for qualifying for the 2025 edition.
The Longines League of NationsTM Ranking determines which nations will compete in the world's most prestigious team Jumping event. For the 2025 edition, only the top nine nations globally, along with the Longines League of NationsTM 2024 winning nation, will secure their place in the series’ second edition.
The Longines League of NationsTM ranking is determined by combining the points of each nation's top five athletes from the Longines Ranking, along with at least one athlete from the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking. This total score forms the Longines League of NationsTM Ranking.
Ireland leads the way
Ireland remains at the top with 13,840 points, keeping the leading position from November 2023. The Irish have demonstrated remarkable consistency, with all five senior athletes scoring over 2,000 points and ranking within the Top 50 of the Longines Ranking. Additionally, U25 representative Harry Allen is currently ranked second in the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking.
France has climbed to second place with 13,760 points, surpassing the USA, which now sits in third on 13,157 points. Ireland, France, and the USA are the only nations exceeding the 13,000-point threshold.
In the next tier, all scoring above 12,000 points, are Great Britain (12,611 points), Switzerland (12,587 points), Germany (12,359 points), and Belgium (12,185 points). The Netherlands (11,729 points) and Sweden (11,379 points) occupy the eighth and ninth positions, respectively.
The fight for the final qualification spot for the 2025 Longines League of NationsTM edition has proven to be highly competitive for the last few months. While Brazil has claimed this spot for the current edition, Italy currently holds it for 2025 with 10,175 points. Trailing closely are Canada with 9,822 points, Brazil with 9,740 points, Mexico with 8,927 points, and Austria with 8,376 points.
Three teams have been vying for the last spot in the Top 10 over recent months, with Brazil, Canada and Italy temporarily holding the tenth spot, while Mexico and Austria are still close enough to hold options for qualification.
The competition is expected to remain fierce until the end of October, as the November Ranking, following the final of the Series in Barcelona, will ultimately determine the participants for the second edition of the Longines League of NationsTM.
The Crucial Role of U25 Athletes
According to the Longines League of Nations™ Ranking rules, the classification points are determined by the top six athletes from each nation in the Longines Ranking, with at least one of them being an under-25 (U25) athlete. This requirement places significant importance on the younger athletes from each participating nation.
Many of these nations boast one or even two athletes in the Top 10 of the FEI Jumping U25 Ranking, including Harry Charles (GBR), Harry Allen (IRL) and Michael Pender (IRL), Jeanne Sadran (FRA), Natalie Dean (USA) and Mimi Gochman (USA), Lars Kersten (NED), Edouard Schmitz (SUI), and Thibaut Spits (BEL).
The impact of younger athletes extends beyond ranking points to actual competition performance. Several U25 athletes have been selected to participate in the Longines League of Nations™. Notable participants include Michael Pender (IRL), Tani Joosten (NED), Joseph Stockdale (GBR), and Jack Whitaker (GBR) in the inaugural stage in Abu Dhabi (UAE), and Harry Charles (GBR) in Ocala (USA) and St. Gallen (SUI), where Natalie Dean (USA) was also selected to compete.
Following the last qualification stage in Rotterdam (NED) on June 21, the eight finalists will vie for the coveted Longines League of NationsTM Trophy in Barcelona. However, the coming months will also witness an intense scuffle for qualification spots for the next edition, promising an exciting journey ahead.
All the versions of the Longines League of NationsTM Ranking are accessible with full details here.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a case involving a Prohibited Substance.
In this case, the horse Kensington W (FEI ID 107YP42/NED), ridden by Finn Boerekamp (FEI ID 10150533/NED), at the CSI3* Valencia (ESP) from 19-25 February 2024, tested positive for the prohibited substance O-Desmethylvenlafaxine.
The athlete was able to trace the source of the Banned Substance in the horse’s system back to human cross-contamination caused by his support personnel, who urinated in the box of the horse while being on medication, which was very likely to account for the positive sample.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal accepted the Settlement Agreement reached between the FEI and the athlete, according to which the athlete had clearly established on a balance of probabilities, how the Banned Substance 0-Desmethylvenlafaxine entered the horse’s system. Therefore, the period of ineligibility imposed on the athlete was eliminated. The athlete will also not incur any fines, however the results obtained at the event remain disqualified.
The full Decision is available here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Equine Prohibited Substances
The FEI Prohibited Substances List is divided into two sections: Controlled Medication and *Banned Substances. Controlled Medication substances are those that are regularly used to treat horses, but which must have been cleared from the horse’s system by the time of competition. Banned (doping) Substances should never be found in the body of the horse and are prohibited at all times.
In the case of an adverse analytical finding (AAF) for a Banned Substance, the Person Responsible (PR) is automatically provisionally suspended from the date of notification (with the exception of certain cases involving a Prohibited Substance which is also a **Specified Substance). The horse is provisionally suspended for two months.
**Specified Substances
The FEI introduced the concept of Specified Substances in 2016. Specified Substances should not in any way be considered less important or less dangerous than other Prohibited Substances (i.e. whether Banned or Controlled). Rather, they are simply substances that are more likely to have been ingested by horses for a purpose other than the enhancement of sport performance, for example, through a contaminated food substance. Positive cases involving Specified Substances can be handled with a greater degree of flexibility within the structure of the FEI Regulations.
Information on all substances is available on the searchable FEI Equine Prohibited Substances Database.
Think Outside The Box
Think Outside The Box is a campaign created to raise awareness around the risk of contamination in and around the stables, and the potential consequences from a rule’s violation perspective as well as general health and safety for horses.
The campaign is centred around four core themes – Behave, Organise, Maintain and Secure – with each theme broken down into specific actionable points and the risks should they not be addressed. The risk for contamination and consequences for EADCMR violations such as disqualification and suspension, being the core driver of the campaign, feature prominently as does safety messaging in relation to intoxication, injury and potential fire hazards.
The campaign portal www.fei.org/think is available in three languages – English, French and Spanish - and includes downloadable assets for the public to promote and endorse the campaign natively on their own platforms as well as dedicated sections for ambassadors and supporters, including the International Grooms Association and Equestrian Organisers Association among others.
The FEI Tribunal has issued its Final Decision in a human doping case.
This case involves two adverse analytical findings for the prohibited substance Clenbuterol, listed in Class S1.2 Other Anabolic Agents according to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Prohibited List 2022.
Samples taken from the Spanish Dressage athlete Agusti Juan Elias Lara (FEI ID 10032759) on 21 May 2022 during the CDIO5*-NC in Compiègne (FRA) and on 8 July 2022 during the CDI4* in Fritzens-Schindlhof (AUT), returned positive for Clenbuterol.
The athlete was notified of the violation of the FEI’s Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA) on 1 September 2022 and was provisionally suspended by the FEI at that time since Clenbuterol is a Non-Specified Substance and is prohibited both, in and out of competition.
In its Final Decision, the FEI Tribunal decided to suspend the athlete for a period of four years, starting from the date of the FEI Tribunal Final Decision (4 June 2024). The provisional suspension already served by the athlete shall be credited against the ineligibility period. Additionally, the athlete was disqualified from all results obtained at the events, fined CHF 5,000 and asked to pay costs of CHF 3,000.
The parties can appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) within 21 days of receipt of the decision.
The full FEI Tribunal Final Decision is available here.
Notes to Editors:
FEI Clean Sport - human athletes
The FEI is part of the collaborative worldwide movement for doping-free sport led by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The aim of this movement is to protect fair competition as well as athlete health and welfare.
WADA’s Prohibited List identifies the substances and methods prohibited in- and out-of-competition, and in particular sports. The substances and methods on the List are classified by different categories (e.g., steroids, stimulants, gene doping).
As a WADA Code Signatory, the FEI runs a testing programme for human athletes based on WADA’s List of Prohibited List of Substances and Methods and on the Code-compliant FEI Anti-Doping Rules for Human Athletes (ADRHA).
For further information, please consult the Clean Sport section of the FEI website here.
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