Saif Ahmed Mohammed Ali Almazrouei (UAE) riding Bullio Quasillo during the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2025 in Jullianges (FRA) © FEI/Benjamin Clark

The global Endurance community turns its gaze to Portugal on Friday, 11 September, as the historic estate of Barroca d’Alva, prepares to host the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2026. 

Barroca d’Alva has been a fixture on the international Endurance calendar since 2004, hosting more than two dozen major FEI events. Set among the cork oak pastures of Portugal’s Ribatejo region, its sandy tracks provide a test of technical skill, stamina and horse-and-rider partnership over the Championship’s 120-kilometre course.

Host Nation pride and European Championship pedigree

The home crowd will have plenty to cheer as Portugal fields a strong line-up. 

Multiple championship medallist Laetitia Gonçalves makes her 12th Championship start aboard Celeste De Breyt. Also among Portugal’s entries is 16-year-old Antonio Lopes Avó, a team gold medallist at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2026. He also finished fourth at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders & Juniors in 2025. Avó has entries with SW Landuran and SW Lulmkahlo.

Joao Tome Barbosa Isidro, riding Olimpia D Iberica, brings solid experience from his third-place finish at the 2025 Test Event. He is joined by José Pedro Filipe on Cubana J.S., Pedro Godinho on Olimpica Da Ameira, and João Pedro Pereira Lopes on Ohara PL.

France brings plenty of Championship pedigree, led by Melody Theolissat on Estetik Duvialaret. The pair qualified at Compiègne. Theolissat is making her 15th Championship appearance, with four World and European gold medals to her name. She is joined by compatriot Camille Coulomb on Iziboy d'Adeline, Svea Coulon on Istorya Trois Mas, and Simon Menez on Inayye El Sherki. Menez was part of the team that won gold at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Ermelo in 2021. France also fields two additional combinations, Enza Laurent with Qaid Al Thana, and Julie Poncela riding Iraad De Bouzouls. 

Italy’s seven-strong team is anchored by 2019 FEI Endurance European Champion Costanza Laliscia, riding Ines De Callupolo. The squad also features 18-year-old Martina Saviori, a team bronze medallist at the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Riders & Juniors, riding Ilico Cabirat. Federico Valeri, a 2025 European team silver medallist, rides Cursor Agylla, trained by Laliscia. Experienced campaigner Jacopo Di Matteo, who made his Championship debut in 2003, rides Ade DM. The Italian team is completed by three additional combinations, Giulia Bonomi and Furia Buia, Chiara Salvadori and Emoszjonante, as well as Serena Sereni and Delipszjo.

The Powerhouse Squads: Spain, Bahrain, and UAE

Fielding 24 combinations, the Spain squad features nine-time Championship veteran Omar Blanco Rodrigo, a five-time team gold medallist, riding Yanna. Gerard Casas Maxenchs, fresh from team bronze at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors in Jullianges (FRA), rides SW Linstatex AA 50. 

Iban Fernandez Afonso returns to Championship level for the first time since 2008, riding Siria Amaro. Santiago Garcia Suarez makes his debut on Isaak des Dolines. Francisco Perez Gonzalez rides Café de Victoriano, while Marc Vila Sabata partners with Waya, trained by former world champion Miguel Vila Ubach.

Bahrain’s formidable squad features several highly decorated combinations. Veteran Sheikh Mohamed Bin Mubarak Al Khalifa makes his fifth Championship appearance, riding Izaak du Theron. His compatriot Fahad Helal Mohamed Al Khatri, who finished eighth at the 2025 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses, brings two horses, qualifying Kashmir des Bois at CEI3* 140-kilometre level and also Rock N Roll HLM.

Other notable Bahraini entries include Sheikh Najla Bint Salman Al Khalifa on RDV Sarava and Sultan Abdulaziz Alromaihi on Liam’s de Palmas. Alromaihi was an individual bronze and team silver medallist in the previous edition of the Championship in 2025. He competes not just in Endurance, but also in Jumping. Saud Mubarak Salem Sabt, who turns 18 just days before the event, rides I'am de Presage. He arrives with individual silver medals from both the World Championship for Young and Junior Riders in Buftea (ROU) and the Asian Endurance Games in Pattaya (THA).

The UAE brings 15 elite combinations, led by 2021 World Champion Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi. He won the 2025 Barroca d'Alva Test Event and partners with Moheeba, the winner at Loubéjac. Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi, the 2014 Young Horse World Champion, rides Bullio Rembrandt. Suhail Ali Rashed Ali Al Ghailani, the 2019 Young Horse World Champion, rides SW Leonaba. Saeed Ahmad Rashed Abdulla Al Shamsi, who finished fourth at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2023 in Padise (EST) rides Ismael d'Oc.

Rising contenders from around the world

Beyond the major teams, several nations are represented by strong individual combinations. 

Reigning FEI Endurance European Champion Marijke Visser leads the Netherlands’ challenge with Izya de Galonne, while Great Britain’s Maisie Jade Raikes returns with Hissane Amtoudi after finishing sixth at the 2025 Young Horse World Championship. 

Sweden’s Ateshe Firouz takes on the triple role of owner, trainer and rider with Passion d’Elixir, while 16-year-old Alena Kucharicova represents Slovakia aboard Slovak-bred Equanadi. 

Lithuania’s Ugne Zalieckiene, 16th at the FEI European Endurance Championships, rides Sinai, with Poland’s Malgorzata Krywult partnering Idaho Armor. Australia fields James Sheahan with JR Kangaroo AA 95 6. South America is represented by Argentina’s Ramon Flores on SW Lorient Ocean and Brazil’s Rafaela Pantel Vianna on RSC Derek.

Representing the United States, Annamaria Clarke competes with two Spanish-bred Horses, SW Laucha and SW Liwikulma. Heather Davis, who made her Championship debut in 2025 with a top-ten finish at the Pan American Championship, rides Paysandu LPN.

Uruguay’s Jonathan Lopez partners with LS Apolo. India’s Nida Anjum Chelat makes her fourth Championship appearance aboard Izhia du Theven, while Algeria’s Mohamed Iyad Guendoul rides Fleur de Lys. The talented horse will make its first appearance outside its home country.

A world class field awaits

Bringing together 112 horse-and-athlete combinations from 27 nations, this Championship represents the pinnacle of international competition for eight-year-old Endurance horses. With EUR 20,000 prize purse on offer and the sport’s most coveted young horse titles at stake, the stage is set for a masterclass in horsemanship and tactical pacing.