The rising stars from 14 nations will contest the first FEI Eventing World Championships U25, which will be held at the Millstreet International Horse Trials in Ireland, presented by Connollys RED MILLS, on July 23-26.
Riders are travelling from as far afield as Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA to the scenic Co Cork venue where history is waiting to be made and a brand-new champion for eventing crowned.
Five nations will field teams: Ireland, France, Germany, Great Britain and the USA. Australia, Austria, Canada, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, Spain and Sweden will field individuals.
Six of the top 10 in the FEI Eventing U25 World Rankings will be competing, headed by world no 1 Calvin Bockmann from Germany who has already made a brilliant senior championship debut when finishing fourth individually at the 2025 European Eventing Championship.
Britain’s Alice Castburn, ranked at no 3, and her veteran home-bred horse Topspin have completed nine 5*s, including four top 10 finishes at Burghley, and her team mate Jasmine Underwood (no 5) was the Young Rider European Champion in 2024 with Indian Girl G.
Lamoza Velisha has been fund-raising to pay for her long trip from Australia where she recently won two 4*s on the Irish Sport Horse Call Me Cooley — 25% of the field of 43 are riding Irish-bred horses.
Libussa Lubbeke (no 7) has already tasted senior championship success when a member of Germany’s gold medal team at the Blenheim Europeans last year, France’s highest-ranked rider, Verane Nicaud (no 9), was part of the gold medal French team at the Young Rider Europeans at Strzegom in 2025 and the top-ranked Irish rider Godfrey Gibbons (no 10) will be making his fifth appearance for the home nation.
‘It is going to be a fascinating competition with a mix of familiar faces at Millstreet and some top-ranked riders who will be making their first visit to the land of the horse,’ said Millstreet Director Thomas Duggan. ‘I think we can anticipate a closely fought contest and a great Irish atmosphere.’
Cross-country course designer Mike Etherington-Smith has expressed delight with the work done by the Millstreet team on the ground following a wet event in May. ‘They have done a tremendous job on the footing which is now excellent,’ he said. ‘The course will, as usual, make full use of Millstreet’s natural features, including water, banks and the Fort—there is plenty to jump out there.’
Running alongside the Championship, which is a CCI4*-S, are international competitions, both long and short format, for levels 2*-4*.
For further information visit, http://www.millstreet.horse
