Versailles – The gardens of the historic Palace of Versailles will soon host the Paris Olympic equestrian competitions.
Meanwhile, a select number of jockeys from the National Equestrian Academy, which manages the palace's famous royal stables, continue to care for their beloved horses. Almost every day at dawn, they enjoy the tranquility and splendor of the gardens and forests of the Palace of Versailles. , before being spread by thousands of visitors from all over the world.
Founded by French trainer and impresario Bartabas, who decided to revive this magnificent building in 2003, this elite academy has just 12 jockeys. After many years of hard work, they participate in prestigious shows at the Great Stables of Versailles every weekend to the delight of audiences.
Although the Academy is open to both men and women, the majority of applicants are women.
“There are only women here now,” says Fanny Lorre, one of the experienced jockeys, with a gleeful laugh as she describes the big change from the once male-dominated world of equestrianism. Ta.
The 28-year-old Rollet is known as “Equyer'' (French for landowner or jockey) and has a wealth of knowledge about the history of the royal stables.
Commissioned by King Louis XIV (Sun King) of France, the stables were built between 1679 and 1682 opposite the main entrance to the palace. In the 18th century, it was once home to more than 2,000 horses. The academy's jockeys currently train around 40 horses, including Lusitanos, a Portuguese breed known as a favorite of King Louis IV.
The Great Stables were “built just before the King arrived here at Versailles. He had a lot of horses, so he wanted a very large and nice stable,” Lorre said. “At that time, horses were very important both at court and in everyday life.”
“They built this building in just three years, which is quite amazing considering the size of the building,” she added. “It was also a school for people of the time who wanted to learn how to ride horses. Learn a little bit of philosophy, math, and everything else to help them become the best in the kingdom.” .”
Under the monarchy, horses were used by the royal family, their entourage, and visitors to go hunting, show off their horsemanship, and enjoy rides in the gardens of Versailles. They were an important part of the festival and a symbol of the king's power.
After the French Revolution in the 19th century, the army requisitioned the stables, which served the cavalry regiments until World War II. They were then used as storage facilities for archives in the Versailles district, and then as horse-drawn carriages until Bartabas intervened and founded the Academy.
Its members are known for their modern interpretations of equestrian art. They take fencing, dance, and archery classes to hone their skills, which are used in weekly shows.
As the Paris Games approach, the palace, which will host equestrian and modern pentathlon events from July 26 to August 11, is buzzing with excitement.
Lorre said that although academy members are not participating in the Olympics, they are looking forward to watching Olympic athletes sprint in the gardens of Versailles.
“The Olympics in this garden has a lot of historical significance,'' said Academy rider Dounia Kasur, 26, “because the king used to organize many plays and shows in that garden.'' So it's really wonderful to have this garden.” It's here! ”
Grandstands, outdoor arenas and gallop tracks have now been set up throughout the park, and up to 40,000 people are expected to take part in the cross-country portion of the event. Olympic horses will be housed in temporary, air-conditioned facilities built near the competition venue.
The palace itself will be open to the public during the Games. In conjunction with the Olympics, an exhibition dedicated to European horses and equestrian civilization will be held from July 2nd to November 3rd.
The National Equestrian Academy will continue to show in Versailles this summer until August 7th. Visitors can also visit the nearby Coach Gallery, which includes his one of the largest collections of coaches in Europe.
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