A huge group of French Grand Prix riders has entered for the first national dressage competition, post corona, to be held in Macon, France, this weekend 2-5 July 2020.
No less than 34 combinations have been entered for the Grand Prix class, a field the size not even the National Championships have been able to get together in the past.
Four foreign combinations are on the starters' list: American Rachel Stickland on Errolympic-CTwo, as well as French based Belgian 2014 WEG team rider Laurence Vanommeslaghe, who has entered two horses (Havalon and new acquisition Edison).
Belgian based French rider Ludovic Henry is there with Casanova S (by Jazz) and will kick off the class as first starter. French based Portuguese Carlos Pinto will enter the arena with his long-time top horse Sultao Menezes.
Olympian Morgan Barbançon is riding her number one Sir Donnerhall II and is making her Grand Prix debut on the 9-year old Westfalian Deodoro (by Damon Hill x Lauries Crusador xx)
Worth mentioning is that French team rider Anne Sophie Serre has swapped horses with her husband Arnaud and has taken over the ride on the Portuguese sport horse Ultrablue de Massa (by Rubin Royal)
French team rider Charlotte Chalvignac, who got unfortunately eliminated at the 2019 European Championships because Lights of Londonderry was unlevel, is not returning to the arena with her Championship horse. Instead she is bringing 14-year old Lusitano Bacara da Brao and the 11-year old Lusitano mare Elice. The come back of Lights of Londonderry is planned for the CDN Le Mans on 1 July 2020.
Photo © Alexander Brenninkmeijer
Related Links
Edison, New Grand Prix Horse for Laurence Vanommeslaghe
French Team Selected Last Minute for 2019 CDIO Compiègne Nations Cup
Quick Notes from the Grand Prix at the 2019 European Dressage Championships
Astier and Chalvignac Make Lights of Londonderry Shine Bright
Charlotte Chalvignac Gets Ride on Brune's Lights of Londonderry