Thai equestrian sports buzz: Pattaya to host national school horse-riding championship next week

Pattaya is preparing to host a school-level equestrian event. The Equestrian Federation of Thailand, under the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen and in cooperation with the Department of Physical Education, will stage the “School Riding Championship 2026” from August 12–16 at B.Grim Country Club, also known as the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, in Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province.

The competition is expected to attract a record number of student riders from schools across the country, injecting energy into Pattaya at the start of the rainy season. Events will include show jumping, dressage and combined disciplines for youth, giving young riders opportunities to showcase their skills and earn points that can help them advance toward a professional career.

The event will clearly benefit the local economy. Hotels, restaurants and tourism operators in Pattaya will gain from the stays of athletes, support staff and spectators, boosting income at a time when some businesses have yet to fully recover. It is also an opportunity to promote Pattaya as a potential hub for sporting tourism, especially for sports that use natural spaces and open environments.

Within Thailand’s equestrian community, the growing participation in school-level events reflects increased interest in horse sports and greater investment in equestrian infrastructure—training arenas, equipment supply and more structured coaching. Support from educational institutions and established standards for animal and athlete safety are important factors that reassure parents and schools and encourage student participation.

Organizers are preparing safety measures for both horses and spectators. Clubs and veterinary staff will monitor horse health, with rules in place for stable management, horse movements and strict health checks to prevent animal disease outbreaks and ensure animal welfare. There will also be coordination with local authorities to manage traffic and parking to facilitate participants and visitors traveling from other provinces.

For Pattaya residents and visitors, in addition to watching the competitions there will be demonstrations of horse training and educational activities about horse care, giving young people hands-on exposure to activities that could become future careers. Local businesses can organize sport- and family-oriented tourism promotions to increase community income. Organizers invite tourists and the public to attend; admission tickets are intended to be accessible and there will be family-friendly supplementary activities.

Hosting this championship is therefore more than a sports event: it is a platform to strengthen Pattaya’s image as a city that supports sporting and experiential tourism, to provide Thai youth with national-stage development opportunities, to build supporting industries and to stimulate the local economy overall.