As every month, Hippomundo offers a retrospective of an event that took place ten years ago. Today we go to France, to Fontainebleau, where the French young horse championships are held every year. Discover what became of the horses who finished the 2016 French 7-year-old championship.
A wealth of top-level horses
The year 2016 was thriving for the horses in this 7-year-old championship, many of which went on to compete at the highest level. Of the 37 horses that started this final, 15 went on to compete at 1.60 m.
The Top 10 in 2016
| Place | Horse | Sire | HLR | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vip Du Forezan | Berlin (Caspar) | 79 | 1,60m |
| 2 | Volnay Du Boisdeville | Winningmood (Winningmood van de Arenberg) | 120 | 1,65m |
| 3 | Vinci De St Simeon | Lauterbach | 50 | 1,45m |
| 4 | Vahine de Bieville | Robin II Z | 64 | 1,50m |
| 5 | Vipper du Lavoir | Castronom Z*De Hus | 62 | 1,55m |
| 6 | Violine de Montsec | C Indoctro | 24 | 1,50m |
| 7 | Virus des Cabanes | Lupicor | 54 | 1,50m |
| 8 | Cordial | Casall ASK | HR112p | 1,60m |
| 9 | Vangoth des Besnards | Quartz du Chanu | 53 | 1,50m |
| 10 | Viva du Grizzly | Quarto Mail | 31 | 1,45m |
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The 7-year-old French champion, Vip du Forezan, ridden by Julien Gonin at the time of his title, continued his career under the Mexican rider Paola Amilibia. Together, the pair were 2nd in the World Cup stage at the CSI4*-W in Guadalajara (MEX) and 5th in the Grand Prix of the CSI3* Monterrey La Silla (MEX) in 2019. He last competed last year under the Mexican Federico Fernandez.
The 2016 runner-up, Volnay de Boisdeville, continued his career under his trainer rider Alexandra Francart, including a participation in the 2018 World Equestrian Games in Tryon. The pair had multiple Nations Cup placings with the French team: 1st in St. Gallen (SWI), 2nd in Dublin (IRE). The horse then spent two years under Teddy Vlock (ISR) before being ridden through the end of his career by Irishman Darragh Kenny (cover photo of this article). Together, they recorded many strong results including: a win in the CSI4* Grand Prix of Wellington (USA) in 2022, 2nd in the CSI5* Grand Prix of Wellington (USA) in 2023, and 2nd in the CSI5*-GCT Grand Prix of Monte Carlo (MON) in 2022.
Bronze medallist at 7 with Titouan Schumacher, Vinci de St Simeon then competed at 1.35 m under Monica Guillon (BRA) before finishing his career under Jean Philippe Bosnet (FRA).
Renowned horses in this French 7-year-old championship
Like Volnay de Boisdeville, other horses later made their mark at the very top international level. Examples include:
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Cordial (8th at 7 with François-Xavier Boudant) continued his career with the young rider Morgane Moissonnier (FRA), earning many placings in GPs and Nations Cups. We remember his double clear in the Nations Cup at the CHIO5* in Aachen in 2022. The stallion then enjoyed a brilliant career under Denis Lynch (IRE). The pair shone repeatedly on the GCT: 2nd in the CSI5*-GCT Grand Prix of Riyadh (KSA) in 2025, 2nd in the GCT Final in Prague (CZE) in 2025, 3rd in the CSI5*-W Grand Prix of Basel (SWI) in 2024. This year the stallion competes under Sarah Lynch (IRE) in CSI*.
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Vivaldi des Meneaux (11th in 2016) continued with his lifelong rider Olivier Robert (FRA). The pair competed in Nations Cups, notably participating in the 2021 European Championships in Riesenbeck and finishing 15th in the final.
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Victorio des Frotards (13th at 7 with Raphaël Goehrs) later performed under Swiss champion Steve Guerdat. Together they were 6th in the World Cup Final in Leipzig in 2022. Among other wins, they took the World Cup stages in Bordeaux (FRA) and Basel (SWI) in 2020, and the CSI5* Grand Prix of Saint-Tropez in 2020 and 2021.
Steve Guerdat & Victorio des Frotards in Basel in 2020. © FEI/Richard Juilliart
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Venard de Cerisy (15th at 7 with Axel Van Colen) made an international name for himself under Swiss rider Steve Guerdat. The pair continue to compete at a high level, recently finishing 5th in the Grand Prix of the CHIO5* in Aachen. In the past the pair participated in the Tokyo Olympics Games (JPN) in 2021. They also won the CSIO5* Grand Prix of Calgary (CAN) in 2021, the CSI5* of Calgary (CAN) in 2019, the CSI5* Grand Prix of St. Tropez (FRA) in 2021, the CSIO5* Grand Prix of St. Gallen (SWI) in 2019, and contributed many times to Swiss team victories in Nations Cups.
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Vangog du Mas Garnier continued at the top level under his long-time trainer rider Olivier Robert. The pair won the CSI5*-GCT Grand Prix of Rome in 2021, finished 6th in the CSIO5* Grand Prix of La Baule in 2019, and 6th in the Grand Prix at the CSI5*-W in Helsinki (FIN). They helped France’s Nations Cup placings in Aachen (GER) and Calgary (CAN) in 2019. The stallion, by Cornet Obolensky, died suddenly in 2025.
While these horses became true ambassadors, others from the 2016 French 7-year-old championship reached the 1.60 m level. Think of Valkyrie de Talma (by Diamant de Semilly); Vegas de la Folie (by Castronom Zde Hus), Jewel de Kwakenbeek (by Cicero Z), Virtuose d'Eole (by Panama Tame), Spike Vd Withoeve (by Sting Van de Withoeve), Celine LS (by Quintero), Valentino d'Elte (by Castronom Zde Hus), Prestigio LS*La Silla (by Presley Boy).
This French 7-year-old championship once again proved to be the antechamber for future international top-level horses, some of which have gone on to make history in show jumping.
