The Horsemanship International Challenge 🌍

The Results

🥇1st: Oakfield Farm Pony Club Centre

🥈2nd: YCL Shanghai – Dragon Unicorn

🥉3rd: Greenway Stables Pony Club Centre

🏅4th: YCL Shanghai – Eastern Highland

While the competition itself was a highlight, for many participants the experience extended far beyond that. In the weeks leading up to Championships, the teams visiting from China enjoyed a packed itinerary of Pony Club activities, including training opportunities, camping experiences and time spent with their British hosts.

Reflecting on the experience, YCL Pony Club parent said:

After participating in the The Pony Club Championship as an observer & volunteer for so many years, this year I finally had the opportunity to bring my daughter Chloe and her friends from the YCL Pony Club to this competition. Special thanks to The Pony Club UK! For representing the highest level in the UK, they have specifically added the “International Challenge” category, giving us, the “novices,” an opportunity to step into this cradle of Olympic athletes and immerse ourselves in authentic British youth equestrian culture.🐴 The gains from this experience go far beyond the competition itself. From The Pony Club training at a Scottish castle estate, participating in outdoor camping during the Big Sleepover, spending ten days with their new British girlfriends, and finally standing side by side with them on the The Pony Club Championships Blue Cross Horse & Pony Care courtyard for the very first time…

These seemingly scattered experiences will gradually become precious memories on their path to growing up. Perhaps many years from now, they may not even remember the rankings of this competition, but they will definitely remember there was once such a summer when they came to England, met a group of kind and friendly girlfriends, and spent time together training, competing, camping, and laughing. These, perhaps, are the most fascinating aspects of The Pony Club and equestrianism.❤️”

The opportunity to host and compete alongside international teammates was equally meaningful for the UK riders. Lexie Julianna Eve, who took part in the Challenge and hosted riders from YCL Pony Club, said:

Been part of the International Challenge meeting our new friends from YCL we had so much fun hosting them at our senior camp. The week we had so much fun becoming team mates and loving our centre pony’s and horses. The trip to Championships started at 2am 😴 we where lucky to have a Driver in Debbie our Centre Proprietor. We arrived with our team as well as supporters and had the best time. The Centres Sleepover activities then party. Next day the competition which was the 1st time our centre had done Blue Cross Horse Care. We all loved it and looking forward to have a go at the UK Blue Cross competition 2026. All of us are still chatting keeping up with our friends at YCL and look forward to hopefully seeing them again.

The International Challenge exemplified the values at the heart of The Pony Club, bringing young people together through learning, teamwork and a shared passion for horses. While medals and placings were important, the friendships formed throughout the experience may prove to be the event’s most lasting achievement.

The Pony Club would like to thank all competitors, coaches, volunteers, hosts and supporters who helped make the 2026 Horsemanship International Challenge such a memorable success. We look forward to continuing to strengthen international partnerships and welcoming even more young equestrians to future editions of the competition.