Gold medallist Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (UAE), silver medallist Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi (UAE) and bronze medallist Omar Blanco Rodrigo (ESP) on the podium at the FEI Endurance World Championship 2026 for Young Horses in Barroca d’Alva (POR). © FEI / Ignacio Díaz Herranz

12.09.2026

The Barroca d’Alva equestrian estate in Alcochete (POR) staged an impressive display of horsemanship, tactical pacing and equine endurance at the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2026.

Setting a fierce but calculated tempo, Salem Hamad Saeed Malhoof Al Kitbi (UAE) guided the Spanish-bred mare Moheeba to the Individual title while also leading his nation to Team gold. The pair completed the 120km course at an average speed of 23.764km/h.

Al Kitbi and Moheeba arrived in Portugal with proven form, having previously claimed victory in their qualifier at Loubejac (FRA) at an average speed of 19.9km/h. Al Kitbi – already an accomplished international championship medallist with Individual gold, Individual silver and Team gold medals to his name – reaffirmed his affinity for the Portuguese terrain, having also won the Barroca d’Alva test event in 2025.

Finishing 3min 27sec behind, fellow Emirati Athlete Mansour Saeed Mohd Al Faresi (UAE) secured Individual silver aboard the Australian-bred gelding Bullio Rembrandt. The result represented another notable career milestone for Al Faresi, coming precisely 12 years after he won gold at the 2014 FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses. It added to a senior-level medal tally that already included Individual silver and bronze.

Spain’s Omar Blanco Rodrigo and Yanna completed the Individual podium, finishing 19min 46sec behind the winners to take bronze. Making his ninth championship appearance – in a career already highlighted by five Team gold medals – Blanco Rodrigo delivered a measured, tactical performance to secure another international podium for Spain. Yanna was also presented with the Best Condition award.

Competition throughout the top 10

Behind the medal winners, the top 10 featured a competitive group of emerging equine talent and seasoned international Athletes. Fahad Helal Mohamed Al Khatri (BRN) and Kashmir des Bois finished fourth, improving significantly on their eighth-place finish at the previous year’s Young Horse Championship in Jullianges (FRA). Their preparations had included qualification over 140km at CEI3* level.

Marc Vila Sabata (ESP) took fifth with Waya, a Polish Arabian mare owned and trained by Miguel Vila Ubach. The combination delivered a disciplined ride after previously qualifying over 160km at CEI3* level.

Sixth place went to Iñigo Kastrexana Lanzagorta (ESP) and KL Aratz AA 75. On his championship debut, the horse’s owner, trainer and rider guided the Anglo-Arabian to an average speed of 21.644km/h.

Melody Theolissat (FRA) and Estetik Duvialaret finished seventh. On her 14th championship appearance, the decorated French Athlete – winner of Young Horse Individual gold in 2010 and multiple other Team and Individual medals – led the French challenge.

The reigning European champion Marijke Visser (NED) delivered a steady performance aboard the eight-year-old Izya de Galonne to take eighth. Santiago Garcia Suarez (ESP) and Isaak des Dolines finished just two seconds further back in ninth. Garcia Suarez impressed on his championship debut, building on the combination’s previous 140km qualification at Barre des Cévennes. Khalifa Mubarak Salem Sabt (BRN) and India du Cambou completed the top 10.

UAE secure Team gold

The United Arab Emirates secured Team gold with a collective riding time of 16:53:34. Individual winner Al Kitbi led the squad, supported by Nasser Hesham Nasser Mohammad Al Suwaidi in 19th and 15-year-old Essa Abdulla Essa Ali Abdulla in 20th aboard the Spanish-bred mare Nahaba.

France earned Team silver in 17:30:31 through Theolissat in seventh, Julie Poncela in 17th and three-time championship Athlete Camille Coulomb in 23rd.

Spain secured Team bronze in 17:56:37. Their three counting combinations were Garcia Suarez in ninth, 20-year-old championship debutante Carlota Micharet Botello in 14th and Judith Gimenez Lopera in 30th.

Italy completed the Team classification in fourth on 19:32:29. The country’s counting scores came from 14-time championship Athlete Costanza Laliscia in 27th, Federico Valeri in 33rd and Giulia Bonomi in 40th. Chiara Salvadori and Serena Sereni followed in 41st and 42nd respectively, with each Italian combination finishing just one second behind the one immediately ahead.

Notable Individual performances

Belgium’s Louna Schuiten guided Idjani de Passille to 16th place and recorded the day’s best veterinary recovery time. On her 13th championship appearance, Schuiten demonstrated the conditioning of a horse that already held a CEI3* 160km qualification from Compiègne (FRA).

Estonia’s Iti Tikk finished 38th aboard the Estonian Sport Horse Mumelton Kassari. The registered ESH mare, who has no Arabian bloodlines, completed her second major championship of the summer following July’s European Junior Championship in Jullianges. Tikk continues to combine high-level Endurance with international Jumping, regularly competing and winning at CSIYH1* 1.10m level.

The championship offered a glimpse of the future of international Endurance, with 56 of the 109 combinations completing the 120km course and many of the successful young horses now set to progress towards senior competition.

Results here