French Equestrian Excellence: 2,500 Riders Descend on Lamotte-Beuvron for Grand Tournoi’s 20th Edition

LAMOTTE-BEUVRON, France — The dust is settling over the Parc équestre fédéral this weekend, but the intensity is only ramping up. From Friday, May 15, through Sunday, May 17, 2026, the Loir-et-Cher region has become the epicenter of collective equestrian sports as the Grand Tournoi celebrates its landmark 20th anniversary.

With more than 2,500 participants and over 600 teams competing, this isn’t your typical equestrian meet. While the world often associates horse sports with the quiet precision of dressage or the vertical challenge of show jumping, the Grand Tournoi focuses on the “collective” side of the saddle—high-energy, team-oriented disciplines that demand as much tactical intelligence as they do riding skill.

As Editor-in-Chief of Archysport, I’ve covered everything from the FIFA World Cup to the Olympic Games, and there is a specific, raw energy to events like the Grand Tournoi. It is a blend of athletic rigor and community passion that defines the heart of French sporting culture.

A Milestone Anniversary in the Loir-et-Cher

Reaching a 20th edition is no small feat for a specialized sporting event. The organizers have scaled the competition to match the milestone, utilizing the expansive facilities of the Parc équestre fédéral in Lamotte-Beuvron to accommodate the massive influx of athletes, and horses. For the uninitiated, this venue serves as a sanctuary for equestrian development in France, providing the infrastructure necessary for high-stakes championship play.

The event is more than just a series of matches; it is the definitive battleground for national honors. Across four primary disciplines, riders are fighting for the prestigious title of Champion of France. The atmosphere is open and accessible, with free entry for the public from 9 a.m. To 6 p.m., ensuring that the local community is as invested in the outcome as the athletes themselves.

The Disciplines: Beyond Traditional Riding

To understand the Grand Tournoi, one must understand the specific nature of collective equestrian sports. These are not individual pursuits but team games where the horse is an integral teammate.

• Horse-ball: Often described as a mix of basketball, rugby, and polo, horse-ball is a fast-paced game where players must pass a ball to teammates and eventually throw it through a hoop. It requires immense agility and a profound bond between horse and rider.
• Paddock Polo: A variation of the classic sport, paddock polo emphasizes precision and control in a smaller, more concentrated area, making it a spectator favorite for its rapid transitions and strategic positioning.
• Pony-games: Primarily focused on younger riders, this discipline tests speed, agility, and technical skill through a series of timed obstacles and relays.
• Mounted Archery (Tir à l’arc à cheval): A discipline that bridges the gap between ancient tradition and modern sport. For the second consecutive year, the Grand Tournoi is hosting the French amateur championships for mounted archery, a sport that is seeing a significant resurgence in French clubs.

Editor’s Note: For those following along from outside France, these collective sports differ from the Olympic disciplines in their emphasis on team scoring and physical contact, making them significantly more volatile and exciting to watch in a live setting.

Saturday Night Lights: The Horse-ball Showdown

While the championships are the primary draw, the “crown jewel” of the weekend’s schedule is the Coupe de France in horse-ball. The tournament structure has been a grueling five-month marathon across France, narrowing the field down to the elite few.

The semi-finals took place on Friday, carving the field down to the final contenders. Tonight, Saturday, May 16, the tension reaches its peak. Starting at 8 p.m. (20:00 local time / 18:00 UTC), the finals will determine the victors in two critical categories: the mixed category and the women’s category.

The stakes for these athletes are immense. After months of regional qualifying, the final matches at Lamotte-Beuvron serve as the ultimate validation of a team’s chemistry and endurance. The evening slot for the finals is a deliberate choice, creating a “stadium atmosphere” that mirrors the intensity of professional league sports.

The Pipeline to the European Championships

The Grand Tournoi serves a secondary, equally important purpose: talent identification. This weekend is not just about current titles, but about the future of the French national team.

Specifically, the selection process for the France Cadets horse-ball team is reaching its conclusion. Scouts and national coaches are using this weekend to finalize the roster that will represent France at the European Championships of Horse-ball. In a poetic turn of scheduling, those championships will return to the very same venue—the Parc équestre fédéral—from August 10 to 15, 2026.

This creates a powerful narrative arc for the young riders. A cadet who earns their spot this weekend will return to the same soil in three months, but this time, they will be competing for international glory on home turf.

Logistics and Spectator Experience

For those attending the event in Lamotte-Beuvron, the experience is designed to be inclusive. With free admission and on-site catering, the event functions as a festival of equestrianism. The 9 a.m. To 6 p.m. Daily window allows fans to see the breadth of the competitions, from the precision of the archery to the chaos of the horse-ball matches.

The scale of the event—2,500 participants—means that the logistics are a massive operation. The Parc équestre fédéral’s ability to manage hundreds of horses and thousands of people simultaneously is a testament to the organizational maturity of the Grand Tournoi over its two-decade history.

Key Takeaways for the Global Equestrian Community

• Event Scale: 20th Anniversary, 600+ teams, 2,500+ participants.
• Core Disciplines: Horse-ball, Paddock Polo, Pony-games, and Mounted Archery.
• Critical Date: Horse-ball Coupe de France finals take place Saturday, May 16, starting at 20:00 local time.
• National Impact: Determination of French Champions and selection of the France Cadets team for Europeans.
• Venue: Parc équestre fédéral, Lamotte-Beuvron, France.

As we move into the final day of competition tomorrow, Sunday, May 17, the focus will shift toward the final championship standings and the official announcement of the national selections. The Grand Tournoi continues to prove that equestrian sport is not just about the relationship between a rider and a horse, but about the synergy of a team working toward a common goal.

Next Checkpoint: The final results of the French Championships and the official France Cadets roster announcement are expected by Sunday evening. Stay tuned to Archysport for updated standings and winner profiles.

Do you follow collective equestrian sports? Which discipline do you find more challenging—the precision of mounted archery or the physicality of horse-ball? Let us know in the comments below.