HorsePower

The annual show-jumping event Saut Hermès beautifully illustrates the brand’s enduring equestrian legacy

 

THE GRAND PALAIS IN PARIS may have played host to some of the most prestigious events the city has seen in the last century—the Universal Exhibition of 1900 and Henri Matisse’s first major retrospective after his death, in 1970, amongst them—but every year for eight running, it has come alive with something special. Horses.

Saut Hermès, an annual show-jumping event created by the French luxury brand Hermès, sees participation from top international riders, and for three days in the early part of the year, Champs Élysées is home to some of the most stunning stallions and mares transported here from the world over. The event is a definitive ode to the maison’s equestrian heritage, which goes back to 1837 when the brand was established as a specialist in harness- and saddle-making. This leitmotif defines the brand even today—be it riding boots, jackets, helmets, or bridles, the horse is at the heart of Hermès.