International Dressage Competition San Giovanni in Marignano

The first international of the year

Every year, at the end of February, the Horses Riviera Resort in San Giovanni in Marignano, in the province of Rimini in Emilia-Romagna, hosts the CDI that officially opens the international dressage season in Italy. It is the first event of the year for the discipline in our country and for this reason it attracts riders and pairs from all over Europe, eager to compete after the winter break.

An international showcase in Valconca

The competition takes place on the arenas of the Horses Riviera Resort, a facility immersed in the Valconca countryside, a few kilometers from Cattolica and the Adriatic coast. The events bring together athletes from numerous nations: in the 2026 edition, pairs from eleven countries were expected, including Italy, Austria, France, Ireland, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Georgia, Armenia, Spain, and Portugal. A participation that makes the Marignano CDI a true crossroads of continental dressage.

All categories, from ponies to Grand Prix

The sporting program is among the most complete on the calendar: alongside the senior categories with CDI3* and CDI1* levels, there are events dedicated to young horses (CDI Young Horse, for 6 and 7-year-old subjects) and the entire youth pipeline, with Pony (CDIP), Children (CDICh-A), Junior (CDIJ), Young Rider (CDIY), and Under 25 (CDIU25) categories. In parallel, a national competition is held as part of the FISE Sport Project, which also brings a large number of Italian pairs to San Giovanni in Marignano.

A state-of-the-art facility

The Horses Riviera Resort covers about 120,000 square meters and offers three arenas, two warm-up arenas, and a training arena, all with Toubin Clement sand footing designed for optimal drainage. The center also has hundreds of stables for the competing horses and on-site catering services, confirming itself as one of the most important equestrian centers in Italy.