FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2024 in Arborea (ITA) © FEI / Oreste Testa / Sportendurance 

...ready to test tomorrow’s stars in the hills of Haute-Loire

The FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses is set to take place for the first time in the stunning hills of Haute-Loire, France. This prestigious 120-kilometre event will bring together the world’s most promising young horses and their human partners to compete over a course that tests endurance, skill, and partnership. Excitement is building among competitors and spectators alike as they look forward to a memorable championship in this beautiful new setting.

Terrain and Technicality

Athletes will face a technically varied course designed with the development of young horses in mind. “The terrain alternates between hard, rocky tracks, dirt trails and grass paths,” explains Event Director Yves Cuerq (FRA). “Most of the route runs under the canopy of trees, offering welcome shade, and while there are rolling hills to test both horse and rider, there are no overly severe obstacles.” 

To protect the young equine athletes, the course has been carefully marked and modified where needed to ensure comfortable conditions for all – equine and human athletes, their teams, and the public. “We’ve worked closely with officials and technical delegates to adjust both the start and finish areas,” Cuerq notes. “Our goal was a track that is sufficiently technical to challenge the competitors, but not so simple that it encourages excessive speeds. Each junction is manned by a security officer, and directional arrows and painted markings will remain in place permanently, thanks to our partners in the local authorities.”

Ground preparation has been meticulous.

“Local authorities have assisted greatly with maintenance. Aside from minor tweaks to arrival layouts and venue organisation, the track remains largely as it has for previous national events, albeit enhanced with new permanent signage and repainted directional arrows.”

Yves Cuerq

(Event Director)

Welfare First 

The FEI Veterinary Commission, under the leadership of Dr Sarah Coombs and Dr Carlos Ponferrada, plays a pivotal role in ensuring the welfare of each horse. Coombs outlines the Commission’s priorities: 

“Our principal input ahead of the competition is to organise our highly experienced veterinary team and remind everyone of our fundamental role: safeguarding the welfare of the horses. We have reviewed the width of the trot-up lanes and relocated the vetting area to allow young horses to trot freely without interference. Ultimately, we aim to have all horses finish in a condition fit to continue for a further 20 kilometres, and we will apply the rules — especially those for Final Inspection — with the utmost stringency.”

The championship will feature ten veterinary inspection lines, complemented by a Recovery Area equipped with 1,000-litre water containers filled with ice to facilitate cooling. Each athlete may be accompanied by two crew members in the Recovery Area and four in the Hold Area where horses will be resting, alongside a chef d’équipe, team veterinarian, and farrier for those that are taking part in the Team classification of the Championship.

International Line-up 

The entry list comprises 93 athletes from 26 nations. The Middle East leads nominations — UAE (21), Bahrain (7), Saudi Arabia (6), Kuwait (4), Qatar (2) — followed by Europe’s Italy (10), France (9), and Spain (9).

Among the headline stories is French rider Lea Vandekerckhove, who returns winning the 2024 Test Event in Jullianges with Hazor d’Escamps.

Belgium’s Romane Yernaux brings generational pedigree, competing with HappyGirl des Sauv¬lons. "We’ve done everything together and I have ridden her mum (Raisha des Sauvlons) and her uncle (Sichen Des Sauvlons) is my best horse (he finished 33 out of 35 FEI rides) so it’s kind of her family thing there," she shares.

British stalwart Nicki Thorne debuts at the Young Horse Worlds aboard Zoune Cabirat, formerly ridden by 2025 European Champion Marijke Visser (NED).

“This is the first time that I have entered the Young Horse World Championship so I am really looking forward to competing with my fantastic mare Zoune. One of the amazing things about Championships is also meeting with the friends we have made from around the world.”

Nicki Thorne

(GBR)

France’s Klervi Lefevre Bocher partners Hania Ar Veuzic. “The varied terrain of Haute-Loire suits Hania perfectly,” she explains. “I love the technical nature of this ride. I hope for a strong result, but preserving my mare’s condition to the finish is always my priority."

Sweden’s Ebba Botta, now 24, will participate with Paldruga Du Chene, a mare she owns, trains and rides herself. “I'm looking forward to a great adventure, challenge and experience together with my horse and team,” she says.

China’s Bo Sui competes on Spanish-based Ere Urki de Kesberoy after securing a historic team silver for China at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2024 in Monpazier.

France’s Lilou Tomas Arnaud rides Hashtag du Mas, trained by her father Philippe Tomas — 4th at the 2025 Senior European Championships while India’s Nida Anjum Chelat partners Portuguese mare Neide, having made Indian history as the first rider to represent the country at both the Young Riders and Senior Worlds.

Italy fields championship regulars Costanza Laliscia (Besalis Agylla), Carolina Tavassoli Asli (Euphorie AA) and Camilla Curcio (Sumatra dei Laghi), all with strong records across international championships. 

Spain is represented by experienced athletes Bruna Pujols Aumatell (SW Koral) and Marc Vila Sabata (Faria II d’Ascat), while Australia’s Nikki Sample travels from Razorback Stud with stallion Razorback Kellys Fire, symbolising the global reach of the event.

In addition to the NFs listed above, countries such as Bulgary, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal are also sending Athlete and Horse combinations to this Championship, further highlighting the international representation and broad participation in the event.

Spectators, Media and Beyond

Fans will enjoy shaded seating overlooking the start, vet gate and finish, with refreshment stations and crew parking nearby. A dedicated media zone near the vet gate ensures close-up coverage. Although no full live-stream is planned, all competitors will be GPS-tracked, and a WhatsApp channel will broadcast highlights, videos and photos throughout the day.

Beyond the ride, opening and prize-giving ceremonies on 31 July and 3 August welcome public participation. And with Jullianges confirmed to host the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders 2026, the venue cements its status as a cornerstone of international Endurance.

“We’re a small town with a big passion for Endurance,” says Yves Cuerq. “Local authorities and communities have backed us for eight years. Hosting the world’s best young horses is a dream realised for everyone here.”