Previously, countries could qualify for the Olympics through the priority Nations Cup series, as seen with Ireland in 2019 for Tokyo 2021 and Belgium and Brazil in 2022 and 2023 for Paris 2024, respectively. However, the newly introduced Longines League of Nations in 2024 has not yet achieved its promised structure and is losing support from top riders. Due to venue-related decisions, riders such as Steve Guerdat and Martin Fuchs have already opted out of participating in this year’s League of Nations.

The FEI has now announced that the LLN will no longer play a role in the qualification process for Los Angeles 2028. This change must be approved in November at the General Assembly in Hong Kong and subsequently by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

New Qualification Method

The World Championships will play a bigger role in Olympic qualification. The top seven teams from the 2026 World Championships in Aachen will qualify directly for the Games, compared to five teams at the 2022 World Championships in Herning. Additional qualification pathways include:

  • The United States will automatically qualify as the host nation.

  • Three team spots will be awarded through the 2027 European Championships.

  • Three team spots will be awarded through the 2027 Pan American Games.

  • Extra team spots per region:

    • Eastern Europe and the Caucasus

    • North Africa and the Middle East

    • Asia and Oceania

For these regions, the FEI will designate qualification competitions, preferably within their respective areas.

Impact on the Longines Nations League

With this decision, the LLN—which offers over one million euros in prize money per event and attracts top riders and horses—faces further pressure. Quentin Simonet, Technical Director of the French Equestrian Federation and Vice President of the European Equestrian Federation, raised critical questions about this decision.

Todd Hinde, Head of Jumping at the FEI, defended the move: “Spain’s participation in the final is a point of discussion, but the selection of countries for the LLN is based on the world rankings, making it a fair process.”

However, Simonet stood by his position, supported by Sophie Dubourg and Frédéric Bouix, the new president of the French federation. “This decision weakens the LLN,” he emphasized. Hinde acknowledged this but stated that the FEI aimed to create a system that offers all countries equal opportunities. “From a marketing perspective, however, this is not a good signal for the LLN,” Simonet added.

Format Revisions Only in 2026

The rules for individual qualification in show jumping remain unchanged. In eventing and dressage, there are no major changes, except for a key adjustment affecting emerging nations. Previously, if a country lost its team spot due to insufficient combinations with valid Minimum Eligibility Requirements (MERs), it automatically received an individual entry. Now, these will only be awarded based on the Olympic rankings, which are more evenly distributed across regions.

Additional changes in eventing and dressage include:

  • If a country loses its team spot after the World Championships, it will no longer be replaced by the next team in the rankings. Instead, composite teams with at least three qualified combinations may participate.

  • In eventing, the FEI Nations Cup series in 2027 will award one team spot, whereas in dressage, this will not be the case due to the series’ weaker performances.

  • Horses in eventing must now be at least nine years old to compete in the Olympics (previously eight).

  • An additional confirmation result at CCI 5*-L, 4*-L, or 4*-S level will be required.

Looking Ahead to Los Angeles 2028

FEI President Ingmar de Vos expressed satisfaction with the popularity of equestrian sports during the Paris 2024 Olympics. “Viewership has increased by 38%, and even by 55% for the team events. This proves how important team competitions are for the audience.”

No final decision has been made regarding the venue and number of participants for Los Angeles 2028. The Equestrian Park in Temecula, 130 kilometers south of Los Angeles, appears to be the frontrunner. De Vos hopes to maintain the number of participants at 200 combinations: 75 in jumping, 65 in eventing, and 60 in dressage. The competition formats will be reviewed again in 2026, but major changes seem unlikely.