R.I.D.E., Les Rencontres Internationales des Disciplines Équestres

After the success of the first edition of the Normandy R.I.D.E. on the beautiful racecourse of Deauville-Clairefontaine, the bonds have strengthened between the # 1 horse region and the organiser of sports events in France, Amaury Sport Organisation (Tour de France, Golf Open de France, Paris Marathon, etc.)

In fact, the R.I.D.E. feels at home in Normandy, and has taken root. In addition, an extra incentive to obtain the World Equestrian Games 2014 in Normandy. A substantial project on which, the Upper and Lower Normandy regions, French Equestrian Federation and A.S.O. work relentlessly.

In order to convince the Federation Equestre Internationale, the three partners are striving to polish their product to increase the 16,000-spectator quota from the highly successful first edition.

The idea of three disciplines; show jumping, eventing and driving four in hand, has been retained of course, it is the stamp of R.I.D.E. Normandy creation.? A friendly concept, allowing participants and spectators of the three disciplines to meet and discover one another.

For the driving, the idea of two marathons preceded by an indoor style class, will be re-iterated. A competition in which the final result will be decisive for the World Cup qualifications.

In the show jumping, the six class-qualifying format towards a super jump-off, the Top R.I.D.E. reserved for the ten best riders of the three competition days, will be repeated.

The Eventing concept, which crowned at Clairefontaine one week after his title, the European Champion Nicolas Touzaint, was accepted unanimously. Nicolas imagined a positive evolution towards a Tour based on this format, less demanding on the horses and more comprehensible for the spectators.

However, in this discipline, the R.I.D.E. will accelerate this year by welcoming the F.E.I. Eventing World Cup Final. An acknowledgement on behalf of the F.E.I. and a step ahead towards the World Equestrian Games, with at this occasion a return to the classical rules.

Yet, for the public, the event will still be conceived in the spirit of R.I.D.E. with a cross-country course inside the racecourse, enabling to follow every second of this fabulous show.

It goes without saying that from the 19th to the 21st of this September, the Deauville Clairefontaine racecourse will be the spot where all the equestrian sports fans must be present. Normandy has to show to the rest of the world that it is one of the undeniable regions of the horse planet worthy of hosting the 2014 World Equestrian Games.