Hungarian equestrian photographer Anett Somogyvari got married on 4 July 2026. She and her partner of 26 years, Róbert Szeibert, celebrated their union amongst friends and family. Szeibert is a Business Transformation expert and couple has a passion for horses. They stand a purebred Akhal-Teke breeding stallion at stud. Annet also runs the website equestrian website Lomania.
According to the Australian equestrian magazine Equestrian Life the Equitana Melbourne event, to be held in November 2027, has been cancelled. Hosted for the first time in 1997, the event seems to have definitively come to an end after almost three decades. “Unfortunately, like many major events, EQUITANA has faced increasing financial challenges in recent years. The cost of staging an event of this scale has risen dramatically, while the growing costs of travel, accommodation and participation have made it increasingly difficult for businesses and visitors alike to attend," said managing director Rod Lockwood.
The Sydney Morning Herald posted that Australian Olympian Heath Ryan is suing Equestrian Australia after being suspended since 12 June 2025 over a video showing him whipping a horse 42 times. "Ryan, who defended his actions after the footage was released in June 2025, is understood to be arguing that EA should not have relinquished responsibility for the investigation to the FEI and that, given the incident occurred in Australia, the sport’s Lausanne-based international governing body has no jurisdiction," the newspaper posted. The SMH continued, quoting EA chief executive Ben Houston who said that "the EA has zero tolerance for any acts of horse cruelty of any kind and because of the seriousness of the allegations levelled against Heath Ryan, Equestrian Australia stands by its decision to provisionally suspend Mr Ryan’s membership pending the outcome of the investigation and determination of FEI." See an additional statement of EA here.
The 8-year old Danish owned licensed stallion Diamond of the King WE (by Double Diamond AK x Halifax x Kennedy) will continue his sport career in Sweden under Enla Svärd. The bay finished 6th at the 2022 Bundeschampionate in Warendorf as a 4-year old and won silver at the 2023 Dutch Young Pony Championships as a 5-year old before selling to Danish Elena Hagerup. She competed him nationally in Denmark at FEI Pony level.
It's grandparents time: Birgitte and Wolfram Wittig welcomed the birth of their first grandchild, a boy at the end of June. Also former German Grand Prix rider Nicole Glaser-Kappeler became a grandmother for the first time. Her daughter Pia gave birth to a baby girl named Kira.
The campaign for the FEI Presidency has entered its next phase with the publication of the manifestos of the three candidates standing for election. The three candidates are Mark Samuel (CAN) – FEI Honorary Vice President, who served on the FEI Board for 12 years as Chair of Regional Group IV (North America) and FEI Vice President from 2017 to 2024; Sabrina Ibáñez (ESA) – FEI Secretary General since 2014, having joined the FEI in 1991 and previously served as FEI Director of Governance and Executive Affairs; and Jack Huang (TPE) – Chair of FEI Regional Group VIII (Asia and Oceania) since 2016 and FEI Vice President since 2019.