3 questions for Pascal Cadiou, president of the Selle Français Stud Book

Equita Lyon is also a platform for the stars of tomorrow and notably hosts the French championship for 3-year-old Selles Français horses. The President of the Stud Book explains the significance of this event.

Why do you think it is important to organise this French championship at Equita Lyon?  
Organising this French championship at Equita Lyon provides a great showcase. It's a really special event, which brings together both professionals and amateurs. That in itself opens certain doors for breeders.
For the horses, it represents the start of their apprenticeship. We take them out of their natural, day-to-day environment and put them face to face with what they will encounter as adults. It's an opportunity to test their stress levels. For the Stud Book, these competitions allow us to collect information about the horses, cross-breeding etc. It gives breeders an opportunity to meet and exchange ideas and it gives them a point of comparison. For others, it's a way of helping to open doors and market their products more effectively.

How do you judge a 3-year-old horse?
Four criteria are assessed by the panel of judges, which is made up of breeders and riders: the breed characteristics, the locomotion/gait and the ability to jump free and the ability to jump when mounted. What's interesting is to see how each horse develops between two events. At that age, things change very quickly. Sometimes, between performances that are just two months apart, you don't see the same horse.

Does the French Stud Book Championship for 3-year-old Selle Français horses reveal future stars?
You would have to say yes. Former winners include Dallas Vegas Batilly, an Olympic team champion with Ben Maher (GBR) this summer in Paris. And for the second year running, the Selle Français has just been voted the best stud book in the world, which is a great acknowledgement. It also proves that our training is effective and that our breeders are working in the right spirit.