The road to Los Angeles 2028 officially takes shape
The journey towards the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games has officially entered a crucial phase, as the FEI has published the Olympic Qualification Systems for the three equestrian Olympic disciplines — Jumping, Dressage and Eventing — following approval by the Executive Board of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) at its meeting held on 8–10 December 2025.
The documents, which had already been submitted to the FEI General Assembly on 7 November 2025, are now available online and represent the official “roadmap” that will guide National Federations, technical staff, athletes and key stakeholders through the qualification pathway to the Games.
What the Qualification Systems include
According to the FEI, the published documents provide comprehensive and clearly structured information on key aspects, including:
- Team and individual quota allocation
- Detailed qualification pathways for each discipline
- Event criteria and eligibility requirements
- Key deadlines and qualification timelines
In other words, the systems do not simply define where qualification can be achieved, but also how and when — with regulations that have a direct impact on sporting planning, including competition calendars, performance peaks, horse management strategies, and targets related to rankings and championships.
Where to find the documents
The Qualification Systems are available via the FEI’s Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Hub, the central reference point for official documentation and updates related to LA28.
At the same time, the documents have also been published on the IOC / Olympics.com Los Angeles 2028 portal, which hosts the official PDF files for the equestrian disciplines.
Quotas and programme: what we know so far
For LA28, the Olympic equestrian programme confirms six medal events — team and individual competitions in each discipline — and a total of 200 athlete quota places, allocated as follows: 75 for Jumping, 60 for Dressage, and 65 for Eventing.
Within the Qualification Systems, these figures are translated into concrete allocation mechanisms, including team and individual qualification routes, eligibility criteria, and specific qualification windows that each nation will need to manage with particular care.
The message to National Federations
The FEI strongly encourages all National Federations (NFs) to carefully review the published documents and share them with all relevant parties — including selectors, chefs d’équipe, high-performance managers, team veterinarians and sports administration departments — to ensure a full understanding of the procedures and to minimise the risk of administrative or strategic errors in the Olympic qualification process.
What about Para Dressage?
One final important note: the Para Dressage Qualification System has not yet been published and is scheduled for release in 2026.
For any further clarification, the FEI communication identifies Nitia Lazzari as the relevant contact, as indicated in the official announcement and documentation.
Source: FEI
FEI Eventing Olympic Qualifier – Group F Millstreet (IRL) | CHN Alex Hua Tian rides Chicko during the Cross Country at the CCIO3-L Paris 2024 Olympic Qualifier. Copyright photo: Libby Law Photography
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