Eurodressage correspondent Silke Rottermann was on the scene at the 2011 CDIO Saumur, while editor in chief Astrid Appels attended the 2011 World Cup Finals in Leizpig. Here are Rottermann's personal impressions from this wonderful show in France. Her show coverage is coming up the next few days as we catch up on news.
Here is a report of Silke's work day at Saumur:
This is a show a bit different from the others I attended for Eurodressage before. Not only because I repeatedly return to this beautiful small town at the Loire river on private occasions, but because this show turns out to be a holiday rather than work for me. I have already travelled the 900 km distance by train the Wednesday before Easter to stay with a friend who works at the Ecole Nationale d'Equitation and had some really recreational days before the CDI kicked off. Not only could I watch the Cadre Noir in their daily training, but I also widened my equine horizon by watching my first ever international vaulting competition (CVIO) on the Easter weekend, held at the old Manège des Ecuyers in Saumur. A huge crowd from all over Europe turned it into a big party inside while outside the teams prepared on the outdoor arenas of the Ecole de Cavalerie in brightest sunshine.
April 28th 2011
After two days attending the training sessions of many riders prior to the start of the show it finally kicks off today. My day starts at 7 am and at 7.30 we are off as usual the last days to drive the 12 km from the small village of Chaintre to the ENE.
It’s pretty cold when we arrive at the school. While my friend start preparing the first Cadre Noir horse for training I welcome the cute liver chestnut sauteur Kankan of whom I have grown quite fond the past days. After that I stroll to the press office to get me a hot tea and pick up the starters lists for today’s classes.
The ENE might be one of the world’s largest equestrian facilities, but the show turns out to be a rather familiar one, despite international competitions going on in several arenas.
Spectators, trainers, riders and judges mix and mingle at the showgrounds, of which the heart is the beautiful “Carriere d’Honneur” surrounded by the Prestige Stables of the Cadre Noir.
To hide from the biting cold before the first start I step in the tack-room of the sauteur-section until the very last minute. My Pikeur-jacket and the polo-shirt are definitely too thin this morning, but one could easily forget it is only April with all the hot sunny days before. It is really a luxury having a “base” like this at a show where I can deposit all stuff, use the coffee machine of the grooms, an always empty toilet…and everything only 30 seconds from the place where I position myself to take photos.
While the show begins with the Intermediaire II class for under 25-year-olds, in which 6 pairs take part, the Cadre Noir riders prepare their horses for a public exhibition in the magnificient Grand Manege nearby. All the usual routine of this huge school has to continue, of course.
I have the feeling my fingers freeze like in winter and my knuckles become white already after the first minutes taking photos and writing down notes. It’s no fun at all and after the first class is over I hurry to the warm stables watching the Cadre Noir’s solo-star Ralo munch his hay. I am desperately looking for some riding gloves I could use, but can't find any, so I return to the arena hands in my pockets.
It is the beginning of a photography marathon of many hours, only interrupted by a short lunch break. Unlike the days before I don’t spend it in the canteen of the ENE which offers really great food. When I try to get in it’s hopelessly crowded so I call it quits and buy myself some horrible crepes to fill my growling stomach.
The day progresses and after some trial and error I find out a useful system at which movement to take pictures and when to write down notes. Finally the sun is coming out and I enjoy the Grand Prix class with a huge number of 30 starters trying to qualify for the Grand Prix Special on Saturday afternoon.
The only thing really annoying me are the thoughtless people belonging to the groups of tourists visiting the Cadre Noir. These guided groups flood the showground like noisy waves every two hours or so. Some stand so close to me that I can hardly lift my camera when it needs to be done quickly in between taking notes. One time an older man held his pocket camera in front of my lense even though there is lots of space on both sides from me. Another time a boy of about 8-years old considers it funny pushing me again and again when I fix the lense. After ignoring him for a while and his mother not saying a word on her lovely son’s behaviour I give my limited French a try and growl at him. To my relief mother and son disappear, but not without looking at me in anger.
I have to admit that I admire the Cadre Noir horses which patiently tolerate all these visitors, posing over and over again for family photos. Many even seem to enjoy being patted on their noses an estimated 100 times an hour.
In the short 15-minute-breaks when the ENE staffers prepare the surface I walk around, looking for some dressage-VIP-shots. Poor French O-judge Bernard Maurel obviously feels he's being stalked by a paparazzo when I take a picture of him for the second time today and jokingly hides his face before giving me a humorous smile.
At half past 5 pm all is done for today, my back aches from standing around and I stumble back to the tack-room where my friend looks even more tired after a long day of riding and lunging horses. I think we would both like going home, having a nice dinner and relaxing a bit, but it’s still not time for that.
Two horses are waiting to be exercised at Saumur itself. So we drive straight to the old Ecole de Cavalerie where the Cadre Noir horses used to be stabled until the 1980s. But as soon as two cheerful horsey faces welcome us everything is forgotten. So instead of downloading pictures and start writing I do what I also do at home around this time of the day: mucking out, feeding, grooming.
I don’t think any of the journalists at CDI are as multitasking as I am on that day, but I enjoy it. And as somebody loving the history of equitation so much I almost feel honoured having mucked out boxes in which a long time ago an Olympic champion was stabled…
By the way, his name was Taine and you will soon read on this thoroughbred in Eurodressage’s Greatest Oldies-section—when I have done all the Saumur reports!
Text and Photo by Silke Rottermann
Related Links
Scores 2011 CDIO Saumur
Photo Report: Training Day at the 2011 CDIO Saumur
A Walk on the Premises of: Cadre Noir, French Treasure of Horsemanship