The return of the Paris Horse Show, the CSIO 5* of Hickstead and Falsterbo “saved” by Agria, the revalued endowment of the CCI 5*-L of Badminton, the fight against violence in sport, as well as the setbacks of Éric Lamaze and Andreas Helgstrand are featured in the barometer published in the latest issue of GRANDPRIX magazine.
EN HAUSSE: Hickstead and Falsterbo conserve their CSIO 5*
Threatened with disappearance or downgrading, due to not having been retained by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) within the new Longines Nations League, the prestigious Hickstead and Falsterbo competitions (here in photo) will retain their CSIO 5* label. In mid-December and then mid-January, both announced that they had entered into a partnership with Agria, a multinational insurance company specializing in animal coverage. This new title sponsor will allow the Agria Royal International Horse Show to celebrate its fiftieth edition from July 23 to 28, in the south of England. As for the Official of Sweden, he will celebrate his fortieth birthday from July 11 to 14. “It is very important for British show jumping to have such a competition in our country”reacted Di Lampard, national selector, while Jana Wannius, president of the organizing committee of the Falsterbo Horse Show, was delighted to “this collaboration which not only perpetuates the development of our event, but also symbolizes our commitment to maintaining a central role in international equestrian sports”. Finally, in Europe, only the CSIO of Sopot is downgraded to level 4*. Phew!
ON THE RISE: After four years of absence, the Paris Horse Show returns in 2024
The Paris Horse Show will celebrate its grand return from December 6 to 8, 2024 after four years of absence! Relocated to the Porte de Versailles exhibition center, where it was held from 1974 to 2009 before moving to Villepinte for eleven editions, the event will be organized as part of a partnership between the National Center for Exhibitions and Competitions agricultural (CENECA) and the company VL, specialized in communication and events. “It will be in a new setting, with new content”, declared Jean-Luc Poulain, president of CENECA, also owner of the International Agricultural Show. Sport reserved for amateurs, demonstrations in a wide range of disciplines, educational workshops and conferences will accompany the commercial activity of the show. “We are offering an innovative concept. In other words, we are going to take up the strong points of the Paris Horse Show, while providing a more intimate space for exchanges”adds Emmanuel Semo, founder of VL.
ON THE RISE: A parliamentary commission brings the fight against violence in sport back into the news
In the National Assembly, a parliamentary commission of inquiry, opened in July, set itself the objective “to identify operational failures within French sports federations, the sports movement and governance bodies in the sporting world”, particularly with regard to sexist and sexual violence, a theme which quickly established itself as a central subject of discussions. Like many other leaders, Serge Lecomte, president of the French Equestrian Federation (FFE), and Frédéric Bouix, its general delegate, were interviewed at the end of November. Although they were able to present federal policy in this area, and its first results, this interview gave rise to more verbal jousting than constructive discussions. In particular, there was discussion of Loïc Caudal, a former riding instructor who had remained on the FFE staff as a maintenance agent and driver of the federal truck despite two convictions for sexual assault on a minor in 2013 and sexual assaults on three minors in 2017. Through repeated questions, the two leaders acknowledged having knowledge of one of the two legal decisions while the latter was still in office within the FFE and not having considered it necessary taking precautionary measures.
SEASONAL HIGH: 12
On January 5, the organizers of the legendary CCI 5*-L Badminton announced that the total amount of financial prizes for the event, now called Mars Badminton Horse Trials, would reach 425,000 pounds sterling, an increase of 12% compared to the 2023 edition. The winner will win 117,600 pounds, or a little less than 140,000 euros according to the current exchange rate. A good initiative for riders and horse owners called to celebrate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the competition, from May 8 to 12. “We are delighted to be able to increase the amount of our prizes, as appropriate for such a prestigious occasion. We have exciting plans to make this a truly memorable one.”said Jane Tuckwell, event director.
DOWN: Éric Lamaze has one series of disappointments…
Eric Lamaze
© Scoopdyga
At the end of November, a Florida court ordered Éric Lamaze to pay $1.4 million in damages in a fraud case. The Canadian is being sued by the former owners of Nikka van de Bisschop, which he rode and then managed in 2021 and 2022. After the rider’s medical certificates were found to be false in another case in Canada, the plaintiffs filed a motion demanding that the Olympic champion and his lawyer be sanctioned. The court logically ruled in their favor. During the hearing, the former Hickstead rider said he suffered from throat cancer and had undergone two laryngeal surgeries last summer. He also admitted to being in remission from his brain cancer since 2021, contrary to what he said until now… “M. Lamaze a presented deliberately false testimony about his state of health with the aim of manipulating and deceiving the Court, and thus intentionally delaying the judicial process”argued Judge Maxine Cheesman, summing up this case, unfortunately, worthy of a bad B movie…
FALLING: Unacceptable training methods at Andreas Helgstrand
Andreas Helgstrand
© Sharon Vandeput/Hippofoto
At the end of November, a report broadcast on a Danish public television channel revealed the use of training methods contrary to animal welfare in Andreas Helgstrand’s stables. Hired as a groom, a journalist filmed on a hidden camera horses injured in the flanks, hindquarters and mouths, others trained in rollkur, and still others anesthetized without veterinary prescription. The program also reported accusations of fraud targeting the rider, merchant and businessman. The Danish Federation, which his father, Ulf Helgstrand, has chaired for a long time, quickly excluded the multi-medalist “of the national team, at least until December 31, 2024” and stripped Helgstrand Dressage of its status as a training center for young riders. At the beginning of 2024, the newspaper Nordjyske reported on the worrying financial situation of the Global Equestrian group, which Andreas Helgstrand built with the investment fund Waterland Private Equity and which includes all its activities, but also those of Ludger Beerbaum and the Swedish trainer Patrik Kittel, the immense Wellington International complex, the equipment manufacturer Kingsland or even our American colleague The Chronicle of The Horse…
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2024-02-07 13:46:48
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