With just over two months to go before the start of the 2026 World Equestrian Championships at Aachen, the French Equestrian Federation has published the long lists of riders, drivers, vaulters, and horses being considered for selection.
The 2026 World Championships will begin on August 11 in Aachen, Germany. A highlight of the season, these World Championships will mark the return of a multi-discipline event, bringing together six of the seven disciplines of the International Equestrian Federation: show jumping, eventing, dressage and para-dressage, as well as driving and vaulting.
For FFE President Frédéric Bouix, “The World Championships are a very important milestone for our federation. They take place every four years, alternating with the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and offer direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. It is also the major event of the Olympiad for non-Olympic disciplines such as driving and vaulting, as well as for endurance riding, the championship for which will be held at the end of 2026 in AlUla (KSA). Following the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, we have chosen to open up the national teams to facilitate access to the highest level for more athletes and thus renew the pool of talent.”
National federations will release lists of prospective horse and rider pairs on July 6, before the final selection announcement no later than July 27. It is in this context that the French Equestrian Federation has chosen to release its long lists.
Nicolas Touzaint and Diabolo Menthe help France to a team silver at the Paris Olympics in 2024. Photo by Tilly Berendt.
“The announcement of these long lists marks the starting gun just over two months before the championships begin,” explains Sophie Dubourg, National Technical Director, the head of the French team. “They include the human and equine athletes in contention for selection, having achieved the FEI qualifying standards and embracing the sporting objectives of these championships. This is also a very important moment for us, as it allows us to formalize a three-way commitment between the Federation, the riders, and the horse owners of the Olympic and Paralympic disciplines.”
“For all the athletes already identified on these lists, the FFE is committed to providing them with the closest possible support, including additional resources for veterinary care for their horses, personalized training support, enhanced communication, and assistance for owners. These lists are not final, and other riders and horses can still be added before the beginning of July for selection. We hope that the momentum of these World Championships will inspire as many athletes and owners as possible to join in,” concludes Sophie.
Jean-Luc Force – National Eventing Coach – said: “We have 12 horse and rider combinations qualified for the World Championships, meaning they have achieved qualifying results since January 1, 2025, at the European Championships and/or in 4* and 5* international competitions. So far, this is quite satisfactory, as we have qualified all the combinations we had in mind for selection. Our riders are all experienced, and some even have two horses with potential selection. This means they are well-organized and structured. We met with each of them to establish a genuine relationship, plan the season, and personalize the support to best meet the specific needs of each horse. Nevertheless, the season isn’t over, and for some, there are still two or three competitions before the selection. We must remain very cautious.”
The French eventing long list is as follows:
- Thomas Carlile – Golden de Beliard AA | Owned by: Elevage de Beliard
- Luc Château – Cocorico de l’Ebat |Owned by: Laure Sudreau
- Sébastien Cavaillon – Elipso de la Vigne |Owned by: Elipso 2024 Syndicat
- Alexis Goury – Colorée de Poteau Z |Owned by: Juliette Bletoux and Je’Vall |Owned by:Michel Mitius, Fanny Goury, Alexis Goury
- Karim Laghouag – Dream de Viève |Owned by: Philippe Lemoine, Ecurie Karim Laghouag, Guy Bessat, Frédérique Perrody
- Gaspard Maksud – Zaragoza |Owned by: Martin Thurlow, Jane Young
- Benjamin Massié – Figaro Fonroy |Owned by: Aurélie Loisin and Filao de Perle |Owned by: Benjamin Massié, Véronique Real
- Astier Nicolas – Alertamalib’Or |Owned by: Aliette Forien, Pascal Ravery, Astier Nicolas, Paul Nicolas and Dirty Old Town |Owned by: Astier Nicolas, Bénédicte Nicolas de Monval, Olivier Gouraud
- Nicolas Touzaint – Diabolo Menthe |Owned by: Mézard Sports, Françoise Niclaus
Stay tuned for much more coming your way on EN as we hurtle towards the FEI Eventing World Championships at Aachen in August. EN’s coverage of this year’s World Championships is supported by Kentucky Performance Products — your go-to source for science-backed, U.S.-produced nutritional support for every horse. Learn more about Kentucky Performance Products here.
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