The Federation Equestre Internationale’s first team eventing series, the FEI Nations Cup Eventing 2012, will debut at Fontainebleau (France) on March 22-25. The event is part of a six-leg series and is open to all nations that can provide a team of three to four riders for each leg. The series is a test run of the concept.

The Nations Cups will run in accordance to current FEI eventing rules at the three-star level, and riders will accumulate points under a system created for the new series.

Houghton Hall (England) will host the second leg on May 24-27, followed by Strzegom (Poland) on June 1-3 and Aachen (Germany) on July 3-8. The fifth leg will be held at Montelibretti (Italy) on Sept. 21-23, with the last competition at Boekelo (the Netherlands) on Oct. 11-14.

“We are extremely excited to be hosting the opening leg of the FEI’s very first team eventing series at Fontainebleau’s world-famous Grand Parquet next month,” said Francois Lucas, President of the Comité Régional d’Equitation d’Ile de France. “We will see some of the circuit’s best-known eventing riders come together at Fontainebleau, and this will certainly add another level of excitement for spectators.”