Youth Work
FEIF Youth Work started in 1986 when a first “international youth week” was arranged by FEIF and the Netherlands.
The goal of FEIF Youth Work is to bring together young people from different countries. All should share a passion for the Icelandic horse, and participants will learn a lot about the culture, traditions and the place of the horse in thehost nationa. The shared language at all FEIF Youth events is English.
Photo: Hestamannafélagið Sörli
The goal of FEIF Youth Work
The central goal of the FEIF Youth Work Department is to encourage young people from across FEIF member countries to meet, to engage with one another, and to build on their love for, and understanding of, the Icelandic horse.
We want to create an international platform, so young people can develop life skills, and grow as individuals.
Within transnational communities, learning takes place in the following areas:
- Taking good care of the horse, and the natural environment
- Responsibility for self and others, including the horse
- Supporting one another through good times and periods of stress
- Intercultural communication and understanding
- Lifelong friendships
- Tolerance of those with differing opinions
- Teamwork capability
- Development of personal skills
- Improved English language competence
Photos: Sophia Humpert (Photo competition 2022) and Martina Karl (Photo competition 2022)
Young Riders at World Championships
World Championships are organised every two years (uneven years) in one of the member countries.
Competitors, who in accordance with the FEIF General Rules are eligible, and who are at least 16 years old and not more than 21 years old in the calendar year, may compete in the World Championships. Countries may send up to 5 young rider/horse combinations. Since 2013, young riders have their own A-finals, and B-Finals were introduced in 2019 for classes in which the number of entrants is greater than 20 riders.
FEIF Youth Award
In order to encourage and support good practice in youth work at national and regional level, FEIF presents the Annual “Youth Country of the Year Award”.
This trophy goes to the country which has offered the most challenging, innovative and inclusive programme for children and teenagers throughout the year.
Gaining the Award also gives the winning nation one extra space at the FEIF Youth Camp, or Cup in the following year.
Photo: Catherine Mynn – FEIF Director of Youth Work, Svenja Braun – IPZV
Youth Award
See the countries who were “FEIF Youth Country of the Year”.
Get in touch
Contact the Youth Committee or find the youth leader of your country.
Regulations
Get the latest documents from the Youth Work department.
News from Youth Work
FYCamp 2025 – final day
The final day of the FEIF Youth Camp started in the class room again with a lecture on horse health by Úndina Thorgrimsdóttir and a presentation by Johannes Armplatz about the latest research into the maximum rider‘s weight an Icelandic horse can comfortably carry....
FYCamp 2025 – Day 4
Of course, the highlight for any rider coming to Iceland is a ride out into the ever surprising landscape - and horse trip in Reykholtsdalur is no exception. The ride was hosted by Haukur Bjarnason from the horse farm Skáney, home to a number of champions, horses and...
FYCamp 2025 – Day 3
How often do you try to reach for your left foot with your right hand when sitting in the saddle? That - and many other seat exercises - were practised by the participants on day three of the 2025 FEIF Youth Camp in Iceland finally getting on a horse under the...