Young Horse Eventing World Championships 2026: Who Leads

What the young horse eventing world championships are

The young horse eventing world championships are the FEI WBFSH Eventing World Championships for Young Horses, known as the Mondial du Lion. Every October, the best 6- and 7-year-old eventers meet at Le Lion d'Angers in western France to find out who has the talent to become a future star.

The 42nd edition runs October 15-18, 2026 at the Parc de l'Isle Briand in Maine-et-Loire. It is a three-phase event (dressage, cross-country, show jumping), and the cross-country day draws tens of thousands of spectators, according to the organizers.

Where things stand after dressage (as of Oct 16)

These are provisional standings from the first 7-year-old dressage session on Thursday, Oct 15. Lower is better, and nothing is decided yet.

Liedekerke-Meier and Tara van het Leliehof won the 6-year-old world title here last year. Canada's Mike Winter and Billy Debussy scored 37.3.

Only 33 of the 52 entered 7-year-olds had gone by the end of Thursday, so the order can still change. Spain's Àlvar Sala and Otis Pomona scored 32.8 and were eighth provisionally, according to the Spanish federation (RFHE).

The 6-year-old class (CCI2*-L) began its dressage on Friday. We do not have standings for it as of this writing.

The schedule

• Thursday-Friday: dressage. The 7-year-olds ride on both days and the 6-year-olds on Friday.
• Saturday, Oct 17: cross-country. The 6-year-olds start at 10:00 and the 7-year-olds at 13:00 local time.
• Sunday, Oct 18: show jumping and the prize-giving. Show jumping is the last phase, so the final order is set there.

Broadcast times can shift, so check the official timetable. Live scoring is on World Sport Timing, and streams are on ClipMyHorse.TV and GRANDPRIX.tv.

Why the 6- and 7-year-old classes matter

At six and seven, a horse is still learning its job. Judges and buyers are not looking for a finished product. They want to see a horse that is brave, careful, rideable and still has room to grow.

The two classes are different tests:

• 6-year-olds (CCI2-L):* the first big step up. The question is whether the horse understands the job and stays confident.
• 7-year-olds (CCI3-L):* a longer, more demanding test. In eventing's star system, the 3* long format is a step below the 4* and 5* levels that today's top horses compete at. See our guide to eventing levels for the full ladder.

How young horses are judged

The three phases are the same as in regular eventing. But the judging lens is different: it is about potential, not just a clean result.

• Dressage: several judges score the horse's paces, rhythm, suppleness and connection. Scores can vary a lot between judges. On Thursday, the individual judges' averages for the leaders ranged from about 65% to 75%.
• Cross-country: the course tests boldness, balance and willingness to listen to the rider. Courses for young horses are designed to educate, and the atmosphere and crowds are a big part of the challenge.
• Show jumping: carefulness, technique and scope (the ability to jump with room to spare). Rails and time faults add penalties, and the lowest total score wins.

Everything is added up in penalty points. Dressage percentages are converted to penalties, so a 67.2% test equals 32.8 points.

Why buyers and breeders watch

Many top eventing horses started their careers at this event. The results list each horse's breeding, which makes it a showcase for stallions and breeding programs.

For buyers, a young horse that jumps clean, stays relaxed in a big atmosphere and moves well is a safer bet to progress. For breeders, a winning sire line or dam line is proof of concept.

Be careful, though. A good result at seven does not guarantee a horse will stay sound or reach the top. Always get a vet's opinion on any horse you plan to buy; see our guide to pre-purchase exam costs.

What to watch for next

Use this checklist on cross-country day and show jumping Sunday:

1. Does the horse look to the next fence? Eager, forward and still listening is the ideal.
2. Is the rhythm steady? Rushing or backing off both tell you something.
3. Does it recover? A horse that finishes fresh has plenty in the tank.
4. How does it jump when tired? Look at the front legs and the back at the last fences on Sunday.
5. Who is the breeder? Check the sire and dam, and see which bloodlines keep appearing.

Dressage leaders do not always win. Cross-country and show jumping can reshuffle the order, so stay tuned for the final results. For more on how the sport works, visit our disciplines hub.