What is an international horse show?
A horse show is an equestrian event where the world's best riders and horses compete in various disciplines, mainly show jumping. More than just a competition, it's a true spectacle combining sporting performance, technique and the complicity between rider and mount.
The CHI de Genève, recognized as one of the most prestigious international equestrian competitions, welcomes the biggest names in equestrianism every year in a unique atmosphere. But how is such an event organized? What are the essential elements of a horse show? Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how this exceptional competition works.
Procedure
At the CHI de Genève, as at most competitions of this level, riders and their horses arrive early in the week (Tuesday or Wednesday) to settle in. From Wednesday onwards, horses undergo a compulsory veterinary check-up, followed by a warm-up on the main arena to acclimatize to the environment before the start of competition on Thursday.
The show's most prestigious event, the Rolex Grand Prix, takes place on Sunday. To enter, riders must qualify through the various events organized on the preceding days.
Arena
This is the arena in which all events take place.
Veterinary inspection
Before the start of the competition, a veterinary inspection is carried out by international experts to ensure that each horse is fit to compete. During this examination, the veterinarians check the gaits of the horses, as well as their health records. In case of doubt, a second check may be requested. In addition, random tests (blood and urine analyses) may be carried out throughout the competition to ensure compliance with health and ethical regulations.
Warm-up
The warm-up is a training session that allows riders to familiarize their horses with the competition arena before the official start of competition. This moment is essential to relax the horses and allow them to discover the environment, in particular the lighting, obstacles and atmosphere of the competition.
Reconnaissance
Before each event, riders walk the course to analyze :
- Obstacle layout and height,
- The number of strides between each obstacle,
- the ideal course to adopt according to their horse's abilities.
This reconnaissance is a key step in optimizing their performance and striving for a faultless course.
Training paddock
The training paddock is a specially equipped area where riders warm up their horses before riding them on the main track. This warm-up includes :
- Exercises at all three gaits (walk, trot, canter),
- A few training obstacles,
- Technical adjustments to ensure that the horse is reactive and concentrated before entering the arena.
Course Manager
The ringmaster is the person responsible for the design and installation of the obstacle courses. His role is strategic: he must propose layouts that highlight the qualities of horses and riders while offering a technical challenge adapted to the level of the competition.
In Geneva, this mission has been entrusted to Gérard Lachat (Switzerland) since 2012, accompanied by a foreign ringmaster. After Luc Musette (Belgium) until 2016, Louis Konickx (Netherlands) from 2017 to 2023, it's now Gregory Bodo (France) who takes on this role.
Jury
In most cases, the jury is made up of three or four members, who ensure that the event runs smoothly and keep a record of any faults committed during the course. In addition to the judges, the jury also includes one or more timekeepers, one or more speakers and a secretary.
Stars
The star rating is an indicator of the prestige and level of difficulty of an international competition. It is determined mainly by the financial endowment and the level of the participants.
⭐ Competition 1:* open to intermediate riders,
⭐⭐ Concours 2 and 3 :** advanced level with experienced riders,
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Competition 4 :* high level, open to international riders,
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Competition 5 :* the most prestigious, reserved for the world's best riders and horses.
The CHI de Genève is one of the few 5-star competitions, making it one of the most prestigious events on the world equestrian scene.
