After just 18 months of works, the Pole International de Sports Equestres (PISE) is set to host its very first competition: the 3-star International Horse Driving Competition. In these brand-new facilities, 83 drivers representing 16 nations will compete, just a few weeks before the Haras National du Pin (Orne, Normandy, France) hosts the World Horse Pair Driving Championship. A rehearsal event in which the French will face a foreign strong string of drivers, including two world number ones!

PARTICIPATING NATIONS

Argentina – Australia – Belgium – Canada – Denmark – Finland – France – Germany – Hungary – Ireland – Netherlands – Spain – Sweden – Switzerland – United Kingdom – United States.

SCHEDULE

Wednesday, July 5th

9am-12.30pm Horse inspection
1pm Familiarization (PISE main arena)
7pm Nations Evening

Thursday, July 6th

9h-15h30 Dressage category 1 horse (PISE main arena)
16h Familiarization (PISE main arena)

Friday, July 7th

8:30am-5:15pm Dressage 2 horse category (PISE main arena)
18h Dressage prize-giving ceremony

CAI Le Pin au Hara 2023 -Dressage Results

Saturday, July 8th

9am-4pm Marathon (category 1 horse then 2 horses – Parc du Hautbois)
6pm Marathon prize-giving ceremony

Results Dressage and Marathon

Sunday, July 9th

8:30am Cones 1 horse category (PISE main arena)
11am 1 horse category prize-giving ceremony – REGION NORMANDIE trophy (PISE main arena)
12:00am Cones 2 horse category (PISE main arena)
3:45 pm 2 horse prize-giving ceremony – CONSEIL DÉPARTEMENTAL DE L’ORNE trophy (PISE main arena)

CAI Le Pin au Haras 2023 Final Results A+B+C

World’s Driving Elite

There’s going to be plenty of sport on the tracks of the magnificent PISE! Barely delivered, this exceptional facility welcomes the world’s driving elite. Drivers and their teams will be inaugurating the spacious, functional stables, and taking advantage of the subirrigated grounds of the four brand-new arenas. The “Versailles of the Horse” is transformed into the “Rolls Royce” of equestrian sports, for the comfort of competitors and spectators alike.

On the sporting front, needless to say, thrill-seekers are in for a treat. In the one-horse category, world No. 1 Mario Gandolfo (SUI), 11th individually at the 2022 World Championships here at the Haras du Pin (FRA), will certainly be keen to continue his fine 2023 shape – he recently won the English event in Windsor, ranked 3rd in Bühl (GER) and 4th in Sélestat (FRA) – and consolidate his world leadership.

Two women will be looking to challenge him: world n°5 Kelly Houtappels-Bruder (NED) and n°6 Laura Philippot (BEL), the latter in extraordinary form with two international victories already this season in Bornem (BEL) and Kladruby (CZE). On the French side, it’s also the leaders who dominate, with Magalie Aillaud and multi-medallist Anne-Violaine Brisou, one of the most experienced on the circuit. The men are not to be outdone, with Clément Deschamps, Tony Ecalle (winner in Sélestat), and above all Fabrice Martin, crowned World Team Champion at the Haras du Pin last year and riding in the colors of IFCE (Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation).

2-Horsepower Carriages With Plenty of Power

This year’s Haras national du Pin International Driving Competition has a very special flavour. From September 26th to October 1st, the site will be hosting the FEI 2-Horse World Driving Championship. So next week will be nothing less than a full-scale rehearsal! In fact, many of the participants have never set foot on the Norman track before.

Such is the case of world number 1, Hungarian Martin Hölle, master of the discipline for six years now. Judge for yourself: double World Champion (individual and team) in 2017, 2019 and 2021, winner this season in Kronenberg (NED) and Bühl (GER)…at just 27 years of age! Needless to say, he’ll be hard to beat, even if the marathon’s topography could reshuffle the cards.

French leader Franck Grimonprez, world no. 2 and reigning individual world vice-champion, who is on the rise this season, won’t be passing up his chance to make his mark. He will be supported by a fine selection of French drivers, including François Dutilloy, world n°6 and winner of this year’s CAI3* in Saumur, and local driver Raphaël Berrard. And let’s not forget the multi-medal-winning Swiss Werner Ulrich, who took part in 14 world championships and was, for two decades, one of the very best 4-horses drivers. A dream line-up that promises some great jousting!