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
FEIF Young Leaders Event 2025
This year we are going to Denmark! We are inviting all young people aging 18-26 years in FEIF countries to come to Denmark for an inspiring weekend. We aim to encourage young people to engage in organizational work and inspire curiosity in a natural and reflected way,...
Meet the new Director of Youth – Catherine Mynn
What motivates you to take on this job? I had the privilege to go through the youth program that FEIF had to offer during the years that I was a young rider. The events taught me so much about the Icelandic horse and our way to work and live with them. Over the years,...
FEIF Youth country of the year 2024
After struggling to connect with the next generation of young riders, this country came up with the excellent idea of a new form of academy. „If the young riders don‘t attend the programmes we invite them to, we will bring the programmes to them - virtually on...