2014 Will definitely be the year of the Horse…in Lyon!
After the FEI World Cup, which crowned the Olympic horse and rider combination Charlotte Dujardin (GBR) and Valegro in dressage, and the current World No. 10, Daniel Deusser (GER) and Cornet d'Amour in show jumping, the teams of GL events will resume the organisation of the Equita exhibition, from 29th October to 2nd November at Eurexpo.
This will be a special year for the exhibition and rightly so!
2014 is both the year that GL events has been recognised by its peers, becoming part of the select club of World Cup Final organisers and Equita's 20th anniversary, 20 years of experience and expertise dedicated to horses and the equestrian world. The keynote of this anniversary will be exceptional things, of which the proof is the Lyon International Equestrian Competition, the new stage of the highest levels of sporting confrontations.
Four different competitions will punctuate the sporting programme of these 5 days: a CSI5*-W, a CDI5*-W, a CSI2* and a CSI YH 1*.
The Olympic Champions, European Champions and the recent medallists of the World Equestrian Games in Normandy will begin their indoor season and take part in 5-star competitions, the highest level on the international circuit, according to their discipline.
For show jumping, two highlights are not to be missed:
– the Equita'Masters (CSI5*), organised in 2 rounds, where only the 10 best riders can try to win the competition on Saturday, 1st November at 8pm
– the Longines FEI World Cup (CSI5*-W), the 3rd of the circuit's 12 legs, on Sunday 2nd November at 2.30pm
The cream of the crop in terms of dressage riders will distinguish themselves during:
– the Reem Acra FEI Dressage World Cup (CDI5*-W), the 2nd of the circuit's 9 legs, on Friday 31st October at 7pm.
Two other international show jumping events will be organised on the fringe of the 5- star classes reserved for the elite:
– a CSI 2*, which will play host to experienced amateur riders or professionals with future cracks,
– a CSI YH 1* reserved for young horses.
With prize money amounting to 630 000 euros, 20 or so nations expected, the biggest names in two Olympic disciplines and no less than 150 000 enthusiasts present, Lyon has established itself as the European capital of equestrian sport.