It has to be said that the stakes are high: 350 horses are expected at the Parc de Versailles to compete in the various events! Some will travel by truck, others by cargo plane.
What measures have been taken to welcome them in optimal conditions? How can we ensure their well-being? Here's an overview.
The prestigious park of the Château de Versailles will be the setting for the equestrian events of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. This historic event will bring together some 200 riders and 350 horses. To take part in the Olympic events, some of the equines will come from the 4 corners of the world and travel... in cargo planes. But not just any planes! Specially fitted out as “flying stables”, they can carry around twenty horses in comfortable boxes. During the flight, grooms are responsible for their well-being, providing water, straw, hay and even snacks! Once at their destination, our “VIP travelers” are taken to their training center, with some teams even planning a period of acclimatization to help them recover before the competition.
It has to be said that horses are considered to be true “high-level athletes”. As such, they benefit from impressive logistics, with dedicated staff on hand throughout the Olympic Games. No fewer than 89 veterinarians will be on site, alongside osteopaths, farriers and grooms. Assisted by some fifty veterinary students, they will be able to provide first-aid treatment in a temporary clinic equipped for rapid and effective interventions.
A horse welfare committee!
But that's not all: for the first time in the history of the Games, an “Animal Welfare Committee” has been set up to ensure that the horses' “Olympic stay” takes place in the best possible conditions. At the same time, a “Horse Welfare Officer” will work closely with FEI* veterinarians and competition officials, from the moment the horses arrive on site until they leave. With a common goal: to ensure the care and well-being of these exceptional athletes.
A parliamentary report in 2022
All these measures show that animal welfare is now a major social issue. By 2022, a parliamentary report had already made 46 recommendations for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. These measures included the size of stalls, relaxation areas, feeding hay several times a day, equipment, etc. Whether theoretical or very concrete, these recommendations have had the merit of initiating reflection, raising awareness among federations and equestrian centers and, above all, changing mentalities.
After all, equine well-being must be a central concern not only for all Olympic teams, but also for all riders, whatever their level of experience or discipline. The efforts made for the Paris 2024 Games illustrate this priority, testifying to a strong commitment to horses, the real protagonists of these international competitions!