Rising Stars Ready for FEI Endurance World Championship 2026

The global Endurance community turns its gaze to Portugal on Friday, 11 September, as the historic estate of Barroca d’Alva, prepares to host the FEI Endurance World Championship for Young Horses 2026. Barroca d’Alva has been a fixture on the international Endurance calendar since 2004, hosting more than two dozen major FEI events. Set among the cork oak pastures of Portugal’s Ribatejo region, its sandy tracks provide a test of technical skill, stamina and horse-and-rider partnership over the Championship’s 120-kilometre course. Host Nation pride and European Championship pedigree The home crowd will have plenty to cheer as Portugal fields a strong line-up. Multiple championship medallist Laetitia Gonçalves makes her 12th Championship start aboard Celeste De Breyt. Also among Portugal’s entries is 16-year-old Antonio Lopes Avó, a team gold medallist at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors 2026. He also finished fourth at the FEI Endurance World Championships for Young Riders & Juniors in 2025. Avó has entries with SW Landuran and SW Lulmkahlo. Joao Tome Barbosa Isidro, riding Olimpia D Iberica, brings solid experience from his third-place finish at the