The championship made its debut in Rotterdam, Netherlands, in 1957, and has since grown to become a prestigious biennial event reserved for riders from the Old Continent. The 37th edition will take place in Milan, at the Ippodromo Snai San Siro, adding to the city’s rich history of hosting major international sports events.
Before its current format, the championship was ‘open’, allowing non-European riders to participate and earn a place on the individual roll of honor. Brazilian rider Nelson Pessoa was one such rider, who stood on the top of the podium in Lucerne in 1966. However, since the 1969 edition in Hickstead, the championship has been reserved for European riders only.
The championship took on its current format in Munich in 1975, with the addition of team competitions. Germany has dominated the championship over the years, with 15 victories to their name in the national team roll of honor. In the individual rankings, the British rider David Broome and the German rider Paul Schockemoehle hold the record with three victories each.
The defending champion is German rider André Thieme, winner of the 2021 Riesenbeck Championship, where Switzerland took home the team gold medal. With such a legendary history and top-tier competition, the FEI Jumping European Championship promises to be an unforgettable event for equestrian enthusiasts and sports fans alike.
