Two months before the launch of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the selectors of the French equestrian teams take stock of the upcoming program in view of the meeting of the year. We spoke with Thierry Touzaint for eventing, Jean Morel for dressage, Henk Nooren for show jumping and Fanny Delaval for para-dressage.
By Claire CHARPY, Elodie MULLER, Elodie PINGUET and Adèle VAUPRÉ
Eventing: from Vittel to Versailles
For the eventing Blues, the last big meeting will be in Vittel (88), from June 20 to 23. This is where the Grand National will be held, also supporting the Master Pro of the discipline. “ At the end of this test and after the federal veterinarian’s check-up, the selection will be announced. », Supports Thierry Touzaint, the coach. This selection will include three starters and several substitutes. “ There will still be a long month where anything can happen. We know this because we have experienced setbacks in the past. » As usual, the couples will go to Manche, to Saint-Martin-de-Bréhal, for their preparation. On the menu, the medal hunter plans dressage sessions, obstacles and the traditional gallops, essential for the physical condition of the horses to run cross country.
Finally, before going to Versailles, the Blues will make a detour via the Lion d’Angers (49). “ We will spend three or four days to put the horses in a competition context. For example, we will rehearse on quarries surrounded by flowers, with speakers etc. All this preparation time will also give me the opportunity to create a team spirit to which I am very attached. I believe a lot in this period to create new links between riders. If they are competitors all year round, they find themselves around the desire to succeed together. And it will be up to me to set the mayonnaise. » The mayonnaise must have set on Saturday July 27. It is on this date that the first equestrian event at the Olympic Games will take place: eventing dressage.
Training: the inventory before the final choice
For Jean Morel, coach of the French dressage team, the program which now leads to Versailles is very clear. A first big meeting awaits the dressage Blues this week at the CDI 4* in Le Mans. No less than fifteen French couples are expected there, including those who currently form what the coach calls “the tight square of the Games”. We therefore find Pauline Basquin with Sertorius de Rima Z*IFCE, Corentin Pottier with Gotilas du Feuillard and Alexandre Ayache with his two mares, Jolène and Ruling Olivia. But a certain number of other French couples will also be at the start of the Grand Prix on Thursday. This is particularly the case of Camille Judet and her performer Herelja Higgins, or the recent winner of the Grand National FFE-AC Print de Barbaste, Pauline Guillem with Lucky Gold 3.
Please note that we currently have no news regarding the suspension of Morgan Barbançon. The Frenchwoman no longer appears on the FFE’s “On Horseback for Paris” list. However, the French clan remains awaiting its appearance before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the week following the Le Mans competition.
This meeting at Le Mans “is very important for us, to take stock of the situation with everyone. There are only horses that ride. This is going to be interesting since just the fact that they’re all together is already a lot of pressure. Following this competition, we will be able to start refining. With Laurent (Gallicia, editor’s note) we will decide where we are going and the strategy to get to Versailles”, explained Jean Morel. This path should take the couples through the CDI 3* of Jardy (from June 14 to 16), the CDIO of Rotterdam (from June 19 to 23), the CHIO of Aachen (from July 3 to 7) , the CDIO of Falsterbo (from July 6 to 14), then the CDI 3* of Deauville (from July 12 to 14). A program obviously adapted to the riders and horses.
Show jumping: dress rehearsals
For his part, Henk Nooren, coach of the French show jumping team, gave four meetings to his riders. The first will take place in Saint-Gall (Switzerland) this week, then in La Baule, from June 6 to 9. “ Obviously in La Baule, there won’t be many couples who could be part of the team. La Baule is one of the most beautiful competitions, but it is run on grass. As we have a few unshod horses, we don’t want to take the risk of jumping with crampons. We want to limit the risk of injury. So, the couples of this team will be different from the final selection, even if some could have their place. »
If there is one competition that the coach will carefully observe to make his choice, it is the CHIO in Rotterdam, from June 19 to 23. “ It takes place just before the week during which the final selection will have to be given to the French Olympic committee. » There, we should notably find Simon Delestre with Cayman Jolly Jumper or Olivier Perreau and Dorai d’Aiguilly GL events, as these riders told us during the Spring of Equestrian Sports.
Finally, the contenders for the Olympic selection will have to go to La Coruña (Spain) for a CSI 4*. “ It will serve as a training competition for us. I hope to take five couples there: the four who will be at the Olympic Games (three starters and one substitute, editor’s note), plus a reserve couple “.
Para-dressage: “ Stay in touch with the competition »
On the para-dressage side, we benefit from a little more time to refine the settings. Indeed, the Paralympic events will take place from the end of August. Fanny Delaval, team leader of the French para-dressage team, believes that it “ There remain two important competitions for each rider: Stadl-Paura in Austria (from May 30 to June 2, editor’s note) and Hagen in Germany (from June 6 to 9, editor’s note).” In this last competition, Fanny Delaval affirms the arrival of serious competition for the Blues. “It will put our riders in a situation that is a little more “stressful” than in an ordinary competition. This will allow us to see where we are, to continue working to improve performance and ensure that we can seek optimizations which will increase steadily until Paris.”
Like her counterparts among the able-bodied, Fanny Delaval will have to submit her selection to the Committee. For her, the date is set for July 9. “ Normally, we have to go to Deurne in the Netherlands (July 18 to 21, editor’s note) to work and stay in touch with the competition. » This competition will in fact be the last international before the Games for para-trainers. “ Then, we will put in place an individualized plan for each of the couples ”, in order to meet the needs of each couple.
Finally, those selected will go for ten days to Champcueil (91) to Marina Caplain Saint André for a preparation group. “ Normally the riders will perform the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games. We are focused, we are in it. Now it will come quickly. »
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