France and horses. This connection is stronger than the Eiffel Tower. It was here that horse sports transformed from a military necessity into an art and then into a major sport. The French invented the concours, bred the best racehorses, and created the most elegant tournament in the world. Let's find out why France can be called the cradle of modern equestrian sports. History: from knights to the Olympic Games Horses in France have always been a symbol of power. Under Louis XIV (the Sun King), there was a Royal Stables at court where aristocrats were trained in riding. In the 17th-18th centuries, the French cavalry was considered the best in Europe. But the real breakthrough happened in the 19th century. After the revolution, equestrian sports democratized. The first hippodromes appeared (in Paris — Longchamp, 1857). Société d'Encouragement was founded — a society for the development of harness and racing sports. In 1900, equestrian sports were included in the Olympic Games (Paris). Competitions were held in dressage, show jumping, and eventing. The French won the first gold medals. Today, France is one of the leading countries in equestrian sports. In terms of the number of Olympic medals (more than 20), it is only surpassed by Germany. The French school of riding is included in UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. French horse breeds: pride of the nation The most famous French horse is the Selle Français. This is a sport horse for dressage, show jumping, and eventing. Bred in Normandy. Large, powerful, and endurance. Used in the Olympics. Price from 20,000 to 100,000 euros. The second is the Percheron. A heavy draught horse. Bred in the province of Perche. Used for forestry, on farms, in tourism. Calm, strong. Weight up to 1200 kg. The third is the Arabian horse (although it is not purely French, but it has been bred in France since the 19th century). A national stud was established in Pompadour. The fourth is the French trotter (Trotteur Français). Br ... Read more