2002 World Equestrian Games

Show Jumping: A French Day in Spain

Vive La France

This time it would be a French victory, with the French men all riding Selle Francais stallions, all with interesting stories. During the press conference the Chef d'Equipe noted that they had something a little different this time: two younger riders and two veterans. He also noted that the beauty of this team was that they all at some point helped earn the medal. Eric Navet, who rode Dollar du Murieer hts de Seine, is a past World Champion winner and Gilles Bertran de Balanda (riding Crocus Graverie) won 20 years ago. The two younger riders, Eric Levallois on Diamant de Semilly Ecolit, and Reynald Angot on Tlaloc M, had done so well in the year leading up to the World Equestrian Games that they earned their spot on the team.

When asked what this means that all the horses were Frenchbred, Chef d'Equipe Jean-Maurice Bonneau, agreed it would be a good boost for their country and their horses. Each horse had its own tale of accomplishments.

Angot was riding Tlaloc M, a horse that was sired by Quidam de Revel by Loripierre par Foudre de Guerre, the horse that won the French Championship in 1985. Tlaloc was sold at three years old to Switzerland and at five to Jan Tops for Belgium. Then Poncho Romo bought him and he stayed in Mexico until he was eight or nine. He was then bought by a Frenchmen and returned to his homeland and when the horse turned ten Angot started riding him.

Eric Levallois rode Diamant de Semilly, who was another example of the breath of talent of these horses. Diamant's sire is Le Tot de Semilly, the horse that Eric rode to a Team Gold Medal in the 1984 World Championships and a fourth Individually. The father's traits were passed on to Diamant, explained Eric.

"He is a fantastic horse; very sensible, very intelligent in the arena. He's the best horse I've ever ridden in my entire life. The Selle Francais horse is known for having a good mouth, a big stride and lots of power and Diamant has all these traits.

Eric went on to explain that his mother is Elf III and she is known to be very strong willed and "a good match for the father. With the two it's a perfect match," he said with a smile.

In fact it seemed that each of these rider's was paired with a Selle Francais stallion that not only showed how much depth the breed has but how talented their riders were. For them it was an extra bonus to win the Gold on their country's horses.