Open d'Italia Pony

The Open d'Italia Pony in San Giovanni in Marignano

Every summer, the Municipality of San Giovanni in Marignano, in the hinterland of the Romagna Riviera in the province of Rimini (Emilia-Romagna), becomes the Italian capital of youth equestrianism. At the Horses Riviera Resort, along Via Montalbano, the Open d'Italia Pony takes place, the flagship event organized by the Italian Equestrian Sports Federation (FISE) which attracts young female and male riders with their ponies from all over the peninsula for several days.

This is not a single competition, but a true multidisciplinary festival of under-16 equestrian sport. During the event, competitions in show jumping, dressage, eventing, horseball, and polo alternate, alongside numerous Club disciplines designed for the youngest. The Italian Absolute Pony Championships are also awarded in the same context, the highlight of the competitive season for this category.

A week of sport for over a thousand ponies

The most recent edition saw the participation of over a thousand horse-and-rider combinations among children, teenagers, and ponies, spread over about nine competition days. The format includes the Club sector trials at the opening – quadrilles, gymkhanas, pony games, Run & Ride, and combined events – followed by days dedicated to dressage and show jumping, with the resort's arenas fully active from morning to afternoon.

In show jumping, categories designed for every level follow one another, from the Primi Passi and Primi Galoppi for the youngest to the more technical courses of the Trophies, Criteriums, and Absolute Championships. The event also historically has a selection value, hosting observation trials for the European Pony Championships.

A showcase for Italian equestrian talent

The Open d'Italia Pony is much more than a competition: it is the main breeding ground for Italian equestrianism, the place where tomorrow's champions grow and test themselves. The setting of the Horses Riviera Resort, a few kilometers from the sea of Cattolica and Misano, combines sport, hospitality, and a festive atmosphere, making San Giovanni in Marignano a meeting point for families, technicians, and enthusiasts from all over Italy.