Are women the future of showjumping? Perhaps we should get used to the idea. The winners' circle of high-level competitions is strongly feminine. Jumping, it seems, has not escaped the phenomenon that has already overtaken eventing and dressage. There are currently four women in the world's top 10. And as for the French, never were there so many women riders aiding the French team. It's an affair to follow … the next stage of the prestigious Rolex FEI Jumping World Cup TM will take place February 6-8 at Bordeaux's Exposition Park.
Eliminated from the Super-league, the challenge of the French jumping team was to regain their « 1st division » in 2009. In order to do this, it is necessary to gain team points in the « Nations Cup Series ». The mission was accomplished thanks to a final victory in late September in Zagreb. On the team were three women: Alexandra FRANCART, Inès DE BALANDA and Pénélope LEPREVOST. The event was made more exciting because a French team has never been composed of three-quarters women. Some weeks later, Pénélope LEPREVOST, once again, was the best French rider at the Grand Prix of Lyon, where she finished 3rd behind two sure circuit winners… and another woman, Portugal's Luciana DINIZ. It never ends!
Until just a decade ago, female victories in major jumping tests were almost unheard of. One woman was world champion (Canada's Gail GREENOUGH in 1986) in one of the three sports to be mixed –the three equestrian disciplines are the only sports to put men and women on an equal playing field. Is it equal? It's clearly not. Since the first ever title won by a woman – in 1999 by France's
This year Germany has had a small revolution because for the first time in team history, Meredith MICHAELS BEERBAUM is in the ranks. Germany gains much though this petit blond, originally from California, who became the world's first #1 female at the end of 2005 ; she reclaimed that title in mid 2007 and at the moment she doesn't seem ready to let go ! Meredith has won the very difficult Grand Prix in Aix-la-Chapelle (in its 100 year history only two other women have won this title), a European title, two World Cups and a plethora of major Grand Prix.
Meredith has since been joined by three other women in the world top 10 : Beezie MADEN of the USA (two time Olympic team champion and 2 nd place in the World Championship), Jessica KUERTEN of Ireland (who just won the Global Champions' Tour) and Edwina ALEXANDER of Australia (who accumulated points thanks to her meeting French horse Ithot du Château). All except Beezie MADEN will be present in Bordeaux.
Who can explain this female explosion on the jumpping scene? To understand the phenomenon, we must first look at the evolution of the horse. European producers had spent decades trying to produce light, sensitive horses who retained their power to jump; in short, horses that would be easier to handle. And then, adds Meredith, female riders are « lighter and give the horses more freedom to jump. At the same time, I don't have the same legs as a man, nor the same strenth…so, there are advantages and disadvantages. » Is this any reassurance that a woman can't succeed without the presence of a man at her side? «Not necessarily. OK, I have a husband who follows my training, but rarely does he need to sit on Shutterfly in order to correct something! I am under the impression that I can fix the problems alone- as far as riding. » There was a time when one thought only men could win championships…
Other essential feminine qualities that cannot be under-estimated are intuition and will. « When a woman has determination, it can overcome a lack of phsyical strength, » says French national trainer Gilles Bertran de Balanda. « They compensate equally with their intuition and the confidence they give their horses. The highest level of riding today is proof; just look at the remarkable women present in the world's top 10. They are extraordinary women and France is certainly a part of this phenomenon! ».
The flagship event of the International Jumping in Bordeaux, the Grand Prix Rolex FEI World Cup TM , is putting up some resistance . For the moment, it is one of the few competitions not to fall into the hands of a woman. Jessica Kuerten came closest in 2005, the year she battled to the last second with France's Hubert BOURDY. Meredith Michaels BEERBAUM failed to win in 2007, but has high hopes for this year. In short, the battle of the sexes will be even tougher this year if France's Eugénie ANGOT and Pénélope LEPREVOST have any say in the matter!
And as if this were not enough, the Jumping in Bordeaux reserves three tests exclusively for riders struggling to find a place on the World Cup circuit. The organization has been inundated with requests of those wanting to participate. These women certainly know what they want ! |
