From Pony to Podium: Our Youth, Our Future is the title of the first session of the 14th edition of the FEI Sports Forum, taking place on 30th and 31st March 2026 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
The morning of Monday 30th March will be dedicated to youth in equestrian during with a particular focus on the pathway from youth to elite level. The session will review actions taken in the last eight years, participation trends across disciplines and regions, and key developments with updated statistics will help identify growth areas and disparities. Feedback from National Federations and other key stakeholders will highlight successful initiatives as well as ongoing challenges, including funding, access to horses, education and welfare standards.
A dedicated Youth Development panel will explore how to better engage young athletes, enhance welfare education and raise riding standards. It will also examine barriers to continued international participation, the relevance of current youth categories and championship rules, opportunities at national level, and the role of FEI Youth Rankings.
A discussion with a second panel focusing on the elite pathway will address the significance of Youth Championships, regional disparities, structured academy systems and the balance between education and high-performance sport in preparing future elite athletes. In 2026 the inaugural FEI World U25 Championships will take place in Millstreet, adding to the existing FEI European Young Rider/Junior Eventing Championships and FEI European Pony Eventing Championships.
The Monday programme will continue with discussions on the Olympic and Paralympic Regulations for Los Angeles 2028, and conclude with a session on the FEI Dressage and Para Dressage Regulations, both of which are undergoing full revision this year.
On Tuesday 31st March, the Sports Forum will open with a session on the FEI’s marketing and communications strategy.
This will be followed by sessions on veterinary matters, including advancing rules, research and responsibility, as well as an update on the all-important topic of equine welfare and safety. The eighth and final session of the FEI Sports Forum 2026 will introduce the newly created FEI Event Stable Manager certification, delivered within the framework of FEI Solidarity.
