A rider guides a horse over a fence. [Photo/Hangzhou Daily]

The 2026 Longines FEI Jumping World Cup China League Hangzhou leg and the Samaranch Jumping Series opened on Oct 30 at Hangzhou Equestrian Center in Zhejiang province, bringing together more than 278 horses and over 500 horse-and-rider combinations from China and overseas, including Canada, Italy, and Switzerland.

Founded in 1978, the FEI Jumping World Cup is one of the International Equestrian Federation's premier competition series. The 2026 China League features three legs: Beijing in May, Hangzhou in October, and Chengdu in November, where the season finale will be held.

The Hangzhou leg features competitions across multiple height categories, including the 1.40-meter World Cup qualifier and the 1.45m World Cup event. The Samaranch Jumping Series includes 0.6m and 0.9m competitions, with the top overall riders in each category earning opportunities to visit Spain for an exchange program.

In the 1.2m team event on opening day, Beijing Jiachi Equestrian Team claimed first place. Its three riders, aged 14 to 44, represented different generations of the sport. Other winners included Gao Xiaokun in the 1.3m individual event, Zhang Zirun in the Samaranch Jumping Series 0.6m event, and Zhang Ruikun in the 0.9m event.

The event also organized an equestrian outreach program at Yaolin Primary School, allowing students to experience the sport and learn about the Asian Games legacy.