French Dressage Focusing on 2012 Olympic Games

Focus

Eurodressage F.O.C.U.S.

Since the retirement of Karen Tebar's Falada M, the French dressage world has been without an anchor at Grand Prix level. Young rising combinations fight hard to earn an entry at the prominent CDI dressage competitions

and gain valuable experience and exposure on the international scene.

French equestrian website Cavadeos.com interviewed French dressage selector and chef d'equipe Alain Francqueville who admitted he's aware of the country's current weaker position but stated that the dressage committee has set out clear goals and is hoping to have several combinations qualify for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

At the 2010 CDI-W Mechelen only one French pair competed: Sebastien Duperdu with his grey Passe Partout (by Gribaldi). The combination scored only 60.212% in the Grand Prix to finish last in a field of 17 competitors. Previously trained by Philippe Maynier, 25-year old Duperdu is one in a reasonably small group of French Grand Prix riders from which a solid team has to be build.

"It was Sebastien's debut on the international scene and you shouldn't forget he's still very young," Francqueville commented. "He has to confront the international competition to gain experience. He has progressed a lot recently and he has to continue that way."

Marc Boblet and Whitni Star at the 2010 CDI-W Amsterdam France' 2008 Grand Prix champion, 41-year old Marc Boblet, was supposed to compete in Mechelen with his second Grand Prix horse, the 12-year old Westfalian Florijn (by Florestan x Ehrentusch), but he withdrew shortly before the show.

"Florijn wasn't ready," Francqueville explained. "Because of the weather conditions the past few weeks, Marc couldn't train properly. This pair is also making its debut at that level. It serves to nothing to rush to a World Cup Qualifying leg when a horse is not ready. He prefered to stay home."

Boblet is France's current dressage torch bearer with his 2008 Olympic mount, Whitni Star. Florijn is Boblet's second stronghold and he also has two very interesting small tour horses coming along: the World Young Horse Championship bronze medal winning Noble Dream (by Caprimond x Donnerhall) and Floretta. Boblet took these two mares to Holland to train with Hans Peter Minderhoud and has planned on returning there with his four horses for more regular tutoring.

Sebastien Duperdu at the 2010 CDI-W Mechelen Francqueville stated that the 2011 World Cup is not part of the French grand scheme this year. "This year is a period of preparation. The Olympic selection trials start 1 March 2012 and that's our objective, as well as the European Championships in Rotterdam. But to prepare and confront the international competition we are truly missing CDI shows during the winter, so we're forced to go to the World Cup qualifiers. These shows are really used by the combinations to make progress instead of placing high. Next year, when all combinations have experience it should be different. This winter we just have to get ready. In February all senior riders will meet with Hans-Heinrich Meyer zu Strohen at Jablines to be well prepared for the qualification period."

The lack of shows during the winter makes it even more difficult for smaller dressage nations to obtain starting places at the prestigous World Cup Qualifiers. Only 15 entries are allowed in the Grand Prix. "The spots are expensive and we get very few invitations," said Alain. "So nothing is certain. Marc Boblet should be competing at the qualifier in Amsterdam. Whitni Star should do the world cup qualifier and Florijn the CDI*** tour which go on at the same time. We also have Rémy Issartel, Stéphanie Childéric or Arnaud Serre which could ride at a few legs, but that is to see."