The Cadre Noir and the Spanish Riding School of Vienna had invited the President of the Federation Française du Lipizzan, Marie-Françoise Chevallier Le Page and her husband, Michel Le Page, at Saumur this weekend, to celebrate the traditional Printemps des Ecuyers.
Also invited by Colonel Faure, Marc Jalabert accompanied by his lovely friend Anasthasia, had set their appointments, leaving exceptionally the Feria de Nîmes (where his nephew Juan Bautista was to distinguish himself this weekend by being awarded both ears of the bull that he had fought valiantly) to meet with them Mrs. Gürtler, Director of the Spanish Riding School of Vienna, and finalize, around a very pleasant breakfast, the contract that will lead this great institution and its legendary Austrian Lipizzaner horses, (but also the Cadre Noir de Saumur, the Royal Andalusian School and the Portuguese School) into the arenas of Arles decorated for the occasion by Christian Lacroix, in late August 2013.
Warmly greeted by Colonel Faure and M. Robert d'Artois, Mr and Mrs Le Page have enjoyed long discussions with breeders, drivers and riders who had come from around the world to applaud the teams of Lipizzaners participating to the Grand International Competition Hitch, once again beautifully organized.
At the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation they also came across few members of the AFL who ran a booth, saw Jean-Marie Le Metayer working his elegant Siglavy Steaka, and congratulated Mr. Jean-Claude Olivier, Vice-President of the Federation Française du Lipizzan, for the beauty of his stallions, as well as the mare and foal he had brought from the «Elfes Blancs» for the occasion.
The representation of Gala du Cadre Noir was, as usual, superbly executed under the direction of Chief Rider Jean-Michel Faure. The Spanish Riding School of Vienna presented with his customary elegance, a great work with long reins from Rider Seiberl with the sparkling Siglavy Theodora I. It was a pleasure to finally see evolving into the great arena of the French Riding School the remarkable team pulled by four magnificent Lipizzaner stallions conducted smoothly and brilliantly by Max Dobrestberger, Director of the National Stud of Piber (Austria) and driver internationally renowned, with his charming wife Andrea, as a groom.
A very nice weekend, very successful.
LINK WITH PHOTOS:La FFL invitée au Printemps des Ecuyers
Performance on long rein:
