Galloping over Grand Canal in Olympics test

A purpose-built pontoon was part of the test event in a "historic" part of preparation for the Paris Games

- LUCY ELDER

HORSES galloped across a purpose-built pontoon over Versailles’ historic Grand Canal in a pivotal moment for Paris 2024 Olympic preparations.

The Grand Canal, designed by André le Nôtre and built in the mid-17th century, was home to boats of kings and a place to skate in frozen winters. Some 305 years later, it will be a focal point for another sport – Olympic eventing.

The spectacular scene was part of the two-day operational test event (22–23 August) at the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which will host all equestrian events at next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Five members of the French youth eventing squad were the guinea pig riders, crossing the pontoon and jumping five fences on the cross-country track. The days also included testing emergency protocols, such as medical and veterinary team access – plus what to do in the “incredibly unlikely” situation a horse and/or rider ends up in the canal.

FEI games operations director Tim Hadaway told H&H the teams involved have applied much of what they learnt from delivering the Games at Greenwich in 2012 – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – to working at Versailles.