The Great Week of Fontainebleau
The most important event for the French equine industry celebrates its 30th Birthday. From 25 August to 2 September 2012, more than 1700 young horses converge on the « Grand Parquet » equestrian stadium, in Fontainebleau (70km south of Paris, France).
Aged of 4 to 7 years, they all earned the right to participate to these national finals by winning enough prize money during the season. That means the public will watch the 1700 best French horses for each generation. More than educating these future competitors, the Great Week is a way to promote French breeding and to offer to breeders and riders the best conditions to sell the fruit of their labour.
Nino des Buissonnets SF went through it
Many horses which participated to these finals are today competing at top level under French or foreign saddles. The most recent and outstanding example is Nino des Buissonnets SF (x Kannan KWPN). Nino participated to the 4 year old final and received the label « Excellent », and now is individual Olympic Champion under Steve Guerdat's saddle for Switzerland. Another horse is Noblesse des Tess SF (x Cumano HOLST), which was « Excellent » at 4 years and finalist at 6, and which earned the team bronze medal in London under Kamal Bahamdan's saddle (individual 4th).
3 different circuits
Organized and supervised by the SHF (Société Hippique Française, the French equestrian society for young sport horses and ponies in France), the Great Week gathers 3 different types of classes:
• the « Cycle Libre »: exclusively for amateur riders and owners who want to train and prepare their own horses. Open to 4, 5 and 6 years with 2 levels for the 4 and 5 according on the fact that the horse just started or not to compete in officials classes.
• The « Cycle Classique »: dedicated to professional riders, open to 4 to 6 years with separated rankings for mares, gelding and stallions.
• The « Hunter Style »: open to 4 to 6 years and judged under the hunter rules.
A national criterion for 7 years has been created few years ago and forms now an essential test for this generation, just before starting at the international level.
Some statistics to illustrate the importance of this show:
• 1730 horses, 670 entered in the amateur circuit (called « Cycle Libre »), and 1016 in the professional one (called « Cycle Classique »)
• Selle Français stud-book dominating among more than 30 different stud-books (AA, Z, sBs, BWP, Old, Han, Holst, etc.)
• A global budget of 650.000€ and 386.000€ of prizes.
• A staff composed of 140 persons for organization, technical aspects and visitor's welcome
• 130 exhibitors