Youth Olympic Games
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar, Senegal, 31 October – 13 November 2026.
Equestrian at Dakar will be represented by Jumping, where 24 athletes will be invited, a maximum one from each nation, to compete individually and in regional teams.
In order for NZ athletes to be eligible for the Youth Olympic Games, they must achieve a Certificate of Capability, and the opportunity for this will be at Competition 3 of the World Jumping Challenge to be held in Christchurch 5-7 December and Auckland (Pukekohe) 19-21 December. This event will be held at a height of 1.20m-1.30m.
To be eligible to participate in the Youth Olympic Games, athletes must be below the age of 18 years during the Games and therefore must have been born between 14 November 2008 and 31 December 2011.
NZ’s place is not guaranteed and is subject to final allocation by the IOC in April of 2026.
Due to the delayed timeframe in confirming a spot for NZ, we will continue with providing the opportunity for athletes to gain a Certificate of Capability in Competition 3 of the WJC.
FEI World Jumping Challenge
- What is the World Jumping Challenge
The aim of the FEI World Challenge series is to offer athletes who, under normal circumstances, cannot take part in international competitions due to various factors (travel cost and distances for example), the opportunity to compete internationally without having to leave their own country. These “hybrid” competitions are meant as a bridge between the National and first International level of competition with the aim of helping NFs develop the various disciplines in their country. (FEI World Challenges exist in Jumping, Dressage, Eventing, Vaulting, Driving and Para Dressage.)
The WJC is open to all Athletes from the beginning of the calendar year in which they reach their 14th birthday. Athletes may ride more than one Horse, but the results of only one Horse will count. A Horse may compete with only one Athlete. Athletes and Horses participating in the FEI Jumping World Challenge do NOT need to be registered with the FEI.
Athletes having participated at more than 3 International Jumping events in competitions at 1.35m and higher in the same year are not eligible to compete.
- Our participation in the WJC
NZ will be participating in Category A : 1.20-1.30 m, with competitions in both the North and South Island. The riders of the FEI Jumping World Challenge are competing over the same courses using the same arena size (65 x 45 m) and designed by a Course Designer appointed by the FEI. Best two scores from competitions one, two and three are counted towards the final result.
North Island
Competition 1: 16-18 Oct – Poverty Bay A&P (Poverty Bay Showgrounds)
Competition 2: 21-23 Nov – Brookby Showjumping (Papatoetoe Pony Club)
Competition 3 (Final & YOG): 19-21 Dec – Auckland Christmas Cracker (Pukekohe A&P Showgrounds
South Island (2 competitions only)
Competition 2: 18-19 Oct – Otago Spring Show (Otago Taieri A&P Showgrounds Mosgiel)
Competition 3 (Final & YOG): 5 – 7 Dec – Canterbury Xmas Cracker (Dunstan NEC Chch)
Horses taking part in the FEI Jumping World Challenge competitions in their own country do NOT need to be registered with the FEI. Horses must be fully registered with ESNZ and have a Jumping Annual Start.
18 July 2025