Pauline Basquin and Sertorius de Rima Z, Best Scoring French GP-Pair at 2022 CDI Le Mans

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2022 CDI Le Mans

Pauline Basquin (ex Vanlandeghem) promoted herself to being the best scoring French rider in the big tour at the 2022 CDI Le Mans on 10 - 13 February 2022. Aboard Sertorius De Rima Z she finished 9th in the Grand Prix in a 33-strong field and placed 4th in the Special.

The Paris hopeful combination scored 70.435% in the Grand Prix and 69.021% in the Special.

Paris on the Horizon

With France hosting the 2024 Olympic Games on home turf in Paris, the French Equestrian Federation is well aware that the stakes are high and has made a drastic change in its "Sportive Directives" at the start of the year. The federation parted ways with its team trainer of nine years, Jean Bemelmans, and appointed a new team captain and selector in Jean Morel.

Now is the time for France to prepare its Olympic hopefuls so that they can peak in 2024 leading up to Paris. A new group of aspiring combinations with young Grand Prix horses is knocking at the door, but Basquin is no newcomer to the sport. Better known under her maiden name Vanlandeghem, the Cadre Noir rider made her international show debut at small tour level in 2012 on Liaison and her Grand Prix debut with the same horse in 2015.

Sertorius De Rima Z

Her number one in the barn now is Sertorius De Rima Z, a 12-year old Zangersheide registered gelding by Sandro Hit out of Siolita (by Voltaire), bred in France by Marine Ferte. He was named after the Roman general Quintus Sertorius.

The horse is owned by IFCE, the National French Equestrian Institute based in Saumur, France, and was purchased as part of a lot of three horses intended for show jumping. The 1m63 standing Sertorius, however, proved his value for dressage and made his show debut in 2014 as a 4-year old.

In 2017 the pair won the French Championships for 7-year olds in Le Mans. At the time, Pauline said, "I love this little horse a lot, his energy. He has an extraordinary winners' mentality. Physically he's well developed. I waited a lot with him, didn't compete him when he was 4 or 5. By being patient, the horse is much more settled, a lot of more relaxed."

The horse had a two year break from competition between 2019 and 2021 due to health issues, but has returned to full fitness and is now one to watch for France. The combination trains with Guillaume Lundy and as a staff member of the Cadre Noir, the 43-year old Pauline is also supported by the Cadre noir Stable Master, Thibaut Valette. She has also ridden in clinics with American Nuno Oliveira student Bettina Drummond.