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The tests' technical difficulties by Pierre Michelet, the course designer of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championship
As the course designer of the HSBC FEI European Eventing Championship, what aspects will you give preference to when you create the courses?
Pierre Michelet: The sports aspects of course! To create the tests for this level of,competition, courses must be designed to designate the best nations, but countries that are emerging in this discipline must also be taken into consideration. It is important to know how to adapt the courses as the level of performance differs, depending on the countries. To determine the team ranking, I think I will give preference to different options on the approaches to the obstacles. In this way, if some rider and horse couples choose the long option, this will result in them being penalised by the additional time on the clock.
What will be the principal technical difficulties?
P.M: For this level of competition, the difficulties will be those of a 3 star competition. The obstacles will test the horses' skilfulness, the precision of the riders and their horses as well as the horses' reactivity in relation to their riders' instructions. Indeed, riding a willing horse, which has been well trained in terms of dressage and above all which has great confidence in its rider always makes things easier.,Therefore, by adjusting several parameters such as their speed, balance and direction, the riders and their horses will jump the cross-country obstacles with more or less difficulty.
What will be the new things in terms of the building of the obstacles for the cross country course?
P.M: First of all, we will change the direction of the course: this is a way of confusing the riders and horses which are used to competing in Fontainebleau's international competition in March. For a few years they have been accustomed to riding the course in the same direction and have adapted their technique to make it easier for them. As the direction will change, this is a way of making the course difficult as the riders will lose their bearings. On the other hand, on the Salamandre ground, a new water crossing will be built and new obstacles will be designed for the Championship and will installed on the entire cross-country course.
What are the principal hindrances for building the cross country course at the Grand Parquet ground in Fontainebleau?
P.M: Each site has some hindrances, but the distinguishing feature of Fontainebleau is the variety of its grounds. The cross country course begins in the main arena, and then continues on the Salamandre ground, it goes through the forest and goes back to the main arena again where it finishes. I do not consider these different phases as a hindrance, in fact I even find this rather enjoyable. It is obvious that the change of surroundings may or may not suit horses and this is the reason among others, that I must adapt the obstacles in relation to the grounds used by the cross country course and the places through which it passes.
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