On 31 May, the three-week international equestrian festival CHI Pärnu 2026 came to a close at Maria Farm in Pärnumaa, Estonia. During the festival, competitions were held in four equestrian disciplines – dressage, show jumping, eventing, and driving. The event brought athletes from more than nine countries to Estonia and offered both competitors and spectators a world-class international sporting experience.
The festival opened with an international dressage week, highlighted by a FEI Dressage World Cup qualifier of the Central European League. The Grand Prix Freestyle was won by Lithuanian rider Justina Vanagaitė-Samuile aboard Nabab, securing victory in the World Cup qualifier as well. The competition attracted many of the region’s strongest dressage riders and delivered high-level performances throughout the weekend.
In show jumping, riders competed for both Longines Ranking points and FEI World Cup points throughout the competition weeks. To the delight of the home crowd, the highest-ranked class of the second week, the 145 cm Longines Ranking competition, was won by Estonian rider Gunnar Klettenberg aboard Esprit du Buisson Z. The highlight of the festival was the FEI Jumping World Cup qualifier, where Lithuanian Olympian Andrius Petrovas claimed victory with Rowin van de Brouwershoeve. The best Estonian result came from Gunnar Klettenberg, who finished in fifth place aboard San Sebastian.
In eventing, athletes were challenged by dressage, show jumping, and cross-country phases. The cross-country course at Maria Farm provided spectators with the discipline’s most spectacular element and once again confirmed CHI Pärnu’s position as one of the key eventing competitions in the Baltic region. Alongside the international riders, Estonian athletes also delivered strong performances in front of their home audience. The CCI2* competition was won overall by Estonia’s Sarah Marii Aarelo riding Al Pacino.
The driving competition attracted a record number of participants this year, bringing together athletes from across the Nordic and Baltic regions. Competitors contested dressage, marathon, and cones phases. The CAI3* competition was won in the horse division by Finland’s Talvikki Järvinen with Danser T, while Norway’s Kjell Oeivind Mikkelsen and Kraneveld’s Giovanni claimed victory in the pony division.
Over the course of three weeks, CHI Pärnu 2026 welcomed hundreds of horses, athletes from nine countries, judges from ten countries, and hundreds of spectators to Maria Farm. Bringing together four equestrian disciplines under one event, the festival has become a unique fixture in the region and continues to grow as one of the most important international equestrian events in the Baltic States.
The next CHI Pärnu will take place from 14–30 May 2027.
Photos: Külli Tedre, Kirke Ilves