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.
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 online meeting about developments in Horse Welfare and SLO in our member countries
Mid of November 2024, representatives from 11 FEIF member countries met online to discuss issues related to Horse Welfare and SLO as concerns the issues in their respective countries. It was a stimulating and informative meeting with lively contributions from all the...
Youth Work Committee Meeting 2024
As part of the FEIF committee meetings, the discussions of the Youth Department centred around the evaluation of past and the planning of future events: this summer’s FEIF YouthCup which was brilliantly hosted by Switzerland, and the most recent FEIF Young Leaders’...
Young Committee members
For a good number of years now, each FEIF Committee has a dedicated seat for a young committee member. Candidates are aged 18-26 and can apply directly to FEIF. Young committee members have a full vote and work under the same conditions as any other serving committee...