There was numerous stress on the house nation at Paris 2024. Whereas France is thought for his or her eventers and showjumpers – who duly delivered with staff silver and bronze – their Olympic dressage hopes have been extra sketchy. They haven’t gained a medal since gold in 1948 in London.
However their trajectory is now on the rise once more. The staff of Alexandre Ayache, Corentin Pottier and Pauline Basquin not solely certified for the staff ultimate, however completed seventh. And Pauline was positioned sixteenth individually.
Alexandre notably caught the attention with Jolene, who has solely been competing for 2 years, having began out instantly at grand prix in 2022. They scored plus-70% within the particular, with only one mistake, shedding oomph within the ultimate piaffe.
“She arrived with me for education aged 9, and couldn’t even do a flying change,” says Alexandre. “Fortunately for me the girl who owned her didn’t get on so nicely together with her however I adored her, so I managed to purchase her and practice her as much as grand prix in six months. She knew a little bit of piaffe and passage however she had no clue about any canter work.
“She continues to be a bit unsettled within the contact, however she is going to enhance much more. She needs to offer her all, and he or she by no means, ever says no.”
Alexandre waxes lyrical in regards to the 12-year-old mare’s character.
“She has a fantastic mind, she is good and sort, and might be ridden by anybody,” he says. “Even my seven-year-old child can do piaffe and passage on her, in a headcollar! Actually, she is ideal.”
Olympic dressage: competing for France on residence soil
Alexandre was overwhelmed by the expertise of competing at his residence Olympics.
“This type of environment is just not regular for us dressage riders,” he says. “It’s laborious to remain centered – everyone seems to be cheering and you’ve got the palace of Versailles proper in entrance of you. However I like this.
“However most of all, I wish to say that my horse is the star. Riders are solely stars due to their horses and we should put the horses of their rightful place. I’m so fortunate to have her.”
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Credit score: Peter Nixon
Lottie Fry and Glamourdale helped Britain safe the staff bronze medal on the Paris Olympics
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Jessica von Bredow-Werndl takes a selfie on the Paris Olympics particular person podium together with her fellow medal winners Isabell Wearth (silver) and Lottie Fry (bronze).
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
Credit score: Peter Nixon
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Martha is an skilled journalist who’s mad-keen on horses and canines. Her reporting CV consists of the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Pageant and World Cup finals. After rising up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she loved 14 years with two rescue canines. Now, her fixed companion is Fidget, a particularly energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on matters as various as a prime horse’s clone to the perfect GPS trackers for canines, in addition to equestrian and rural issues for Nation Life, The Discipline, The Instances, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.
