Poland joins the International Mounted Games Association. From a 10-Year-Long Children’s Pony Cup to a New Era of Inclusive Equestrian Sport

How a decade-long project in Poland, European study visits and membership of the International Mounted Games Association are inspiring a new approach to equestrian sport.

For the Końskie Zdrowie Foundation, the journey into Mounted Games began long before the first Pony Games competition was organised in Poland. It began with a simple ambition: to create more opportunities for children to experience the joy of riding, develop their skills and become part of the equestrian community.

Ten years later, the Foundation’s PONY CUP project has become much more than a series of children’s riding competitions. It has evolved into a platform connecting riding clubs across several Polish regions, supporting the development of young riders and creating new opportunities for recreational equestrian sport.

Końskie Zdrowie is now preparing to take its next significant step, supported by its membership of the International Mounted Games Association (IMGA).

From WEG Herning 2022 to European inspiration

The initial spark came during the FEI World Championships in Herning, Denmark, in 2022. The experience opened up new perspectives on the possibilities of equestrian sport and encouraged the Foundation to look beyond traditional competition formats.

In 2024, the team travelled to the Netherlands and Belgium to visit Bixe Events, with the aim of understanding how similar children’s competitions were organised, managed and developed across different regions.

The visit provided valuable insights into competition structures, the engagement of local riding clubs and the practical organisation of events for young riders.

The following year, a visit to Brimborion Poney Club in France introduced the team to Horseball, offering another perspective on team-based equestrian disciplines and their potential to engage riders beyond conventional individual competitions.

But the real turning point was still to come.

Melazza Ranch: The game-changing moment

In November 2025, the Foundation team visited Melazza Ranch in Italy.

It was here that the team discovered Mounted Games, and immediately recognised their potential to transform the way equestrian sport could be presented to children, recreational riders and the wider riding community in Poland.

Mounted Games combined everything the Foundation had been looking for: horsemanship, teamwork, coordination, confidence, fun and an exciting competitive format accessible to riders at different stages of development.

The inspiration was so powerful that the team decided not to wait.

During the tenth season of PONY CUP, two Pony Games competitions were introduced, one at walk and one at trot, based on games described in the International Mounted Games Association (IMGA) Rule Book.

This was the Foundation’s first practical step towards introducing the discipline to the Polish equestrian community.

From inspiration to MGA Poland

Following the Italian visit, the Foundation contacted the International Mounted Games Association, asking for a recommendation of a club with a strong record in Mounted Games, a club that could demonstrate the complete development pathway, from the youngest and beginner riders to elite-level athletes.

The recommendation led to Poney Club de Chatenet in France.

As one of the largest and most dynamic clubs in its region, with a particularly strong and growing Mounted Games community, it offered exactly the experience the Polish team hoped to discover.

The international relationships and knowledge gained through these Erasmus+ study visits also enabled the Polish team to take an important organisational step: joining the International Mounted Games Association and establishing MGA Poland.

This membership represents more than recognition of the team’s interest in the discipline. It provides a foundation for developing Mounted Games in Poland in cooperation with the international Mounted Games community, learning from established structures and bringing European experience into the develoment of a national network.

MGA Poland now serves as a platform for introducing the discipline, supporting its development and connecting Polish riders, clubs, trainers and organisers with international partners.

Poney Club de Chatenet: Learning from an established system

The 2026 study visit to France, the longest of the Foundation’s international visits to date, proved to be its most fruitful.

This time, the team arrived well prepared, having already studied the theoretical foundations of the discipline. The visit allowed them to experience the practical side of Pony Games in depth.

Participants had the opportunity to ride club horses with different levels of training, observe sessions involving riders at various stages of development and take part in training alongside French riders.

The experience provided invaluable insight into how a club can build a structured training pathway, develop both horses and riders, and create an environment in which participants can progress from their first equestrian experiences to advanced competition.

Beyond the club: Learning from the French system

The visit also included participation alongside Team Poney Club de Chatenet in a training camp at Equestrian Club de Cognac.

During a seminar led by Pierre-Luc Portron, the Polish delegation explored the process of implementing Pony Games and Mounted Games regulations, the practical application of competition rules and the organisational framework supporting the discipline.

The team observed several trainers working with riders and gained insight into the work of the French national team selector.

These experiences helped connect the practical aspects of coaching and horse training with the wider organisational structure required to develop a sustainable competitive discipline.

The visit concluded with a discussion with Géraldine Mermet, the heart of Poney Club de Chatenet, about opportunities for future cooperation and the possibility of welcoming the French team to Poland.

European PONY GAMES – Inclusivity in Polish Equestrianism

The 2026 project, European PONY GAMES – Inclusivity in Polish Equestrianism, represents the next stage of this journey.

The Foundation believes that Pony Games and Mounted Games could become particularly important for the future of Polish equestrian sport and its wider industry.

While traditional competition pathways remain important, a significant part of the Polish riding community consists of recreational riders, children and adults who may not necessarily aspire to elite sport but still want to develop their skills, participate in competitions and enjoy the experience of riding.

The Foundation sees Mounted Games as an opportunity to bridge this gap.

The discipline offers a format in which riders can develop at their own pace, experience the excitement of team competition and remain connected to horses in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The ambition is to make equestrian sport more accessible, enjoyable and welcoming, regardless of age, personal circumstances, experience or financial background.

Building a Polish Mounted Games community

Through the PONY CUP project, the Foundation has already established connections with riding clubs and organisers across three to four Polish regions.

These relationships provide the foundation for a wider network of cooperation, shared training opportunities and the development of Mounted Games across the country.

MGA Poland is now working towards creating a coordinated structure for regional cooperation, supporting the training of instructors and officials, developing suitable horses and riders, and establishing a sustainable framework for organising competitions.

The next steps include developing a five-year and ten-year strategy for Pony Games in Poland, expanding the PONY CUP format and creating opportunities for adult riders as well as children and young people.

At the end-of-season PONY CUP competitions in December 2026, the Foundation will host an information conference under the project title European PONY GAMES – Inclusivity in Polish Equestrianism, introducing the discipline and its development opportunities to the Polish equestrian community.

Erasmus+ Sport: Turning inspiration into action

The European journey of the Końskie Zdrowie Foundation has been made possible through the support of the European Union’s Erasmus+ Sport programme.

The study visits to the Netherlands in 2024, France and Italy in 2025, and France again in 2026 have provided more than international exposure.

They have enabled the Foundation to establish lasting partnerships, acquire practical knowledge, develop new organisational skills and translate European experience into concrete action in Poland.

For the team, Erasmus+ Sport demonstrates how international cooperation can support the development of grassroots sport and create opportunities that might otherwise remain out of reach.

The Foundation is now ready to continue this journey with its European partners, building a new chapter in Polish equestrian sport.

From a children’s riding competition celebrating its tenth season to the establishment of IMGA Poland and a national Pony Games initiative, the message is clear: equestrian sport should not only develop champions. It should create opportunities for everyone to enjoy, learn and grow alongside horses.

Ewa Obrycka-Błaut

CEO Fundation Końskie Zdrowie

fkz@elblag.com.pl / MGA POLAND/ PONY CUP