The 2026 National Equestrian Dressage Championship came to a close on May 10 at the Qinhan International Equestrian Center in the Western Xian New Area of Shaanxi Province. The event featured 34 elite horse-and-rider combinations from across China, including teams from Shaanxi, Xinjiang, Jiangsu, Hebei, Guangdong, and Beijing, showcasing the elegance and agility of equestrian ballet.
The competition followed international standards: the team event and individual qualification used the FEI St. George test, individual preliminaries adopted the FEI Intermediate I, and the individual final used the FEI Intermediate I Freestyle. Team rankings were determined by the combined percentage scores of the three best riders from each squad, while individual competitors advanced through qualification and preliminaries, with the top 12 earning a spot in the final.
The three-day competition saw the Jiangsu team—comprised of Zhao Yu, Yao Yiyan, Wu Ya, and Li Yu’ang—deliver a standout performance in the team event on the first day. With consistent execution and precise control, they secured the team gold with a total score of 201.853 points, marking Jiangsu’s first-ever team title at the national championship. Guangdong finished second with 201.764 points, followed by Xinjiang in third with 200.854 points.
In the individual competition, Xinjiang rider Liu Tao, who won the dressage individual gold at the 15th National Games in 2025, dominated the field. Riding his horse, he earned the highest score of the day—72.290 points—with a fluid and uninterrupted routine, claiming the individual gold medal. Liu Tao also received the Best Horse Owner Award.
After the event, Xinjiang team coach Liu Zhong praised his squad, noting that their riders managed to secure the top two spots in the individual standings.
