AUS-Christopher Burton lights up the dull day with a cheeky grin: SCHOOLING PAU CCI**** HORSES:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"FALL APPLES - THIS IS A PONY'S PARADISE"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
SCHOOLING PAU CCI**** HORSES:
AUS-Christopher Burton: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SPLASH PALACE"
2012 FRA-Pau CCI**** BOUND: NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE) and NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON): Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"STUNNER"
SCHOOLING PAU CCI**** HORSES:
AUS-Christopher Burton: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"HIGH FLYER"
SCHOOLING PAU CCI**** HORSES:
AUS-Christopher Burton: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
AUS-Lucinda Fredericks:
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses while awaitng departure to their ferry's back to the UK...
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"ALL SMILES"
AUS-Lucinda Fredericks:
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses while awaitng departure to their ferry's back to the UK...
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"GORGEOUS GROUNDS - IT IS SUCH A TEASE"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"WHOOPS"
NZL-Caroline Powell re-straps AUS-Christopher Burton's reins:
NZL-Mark Todd quips "hmmm - and you were meant to be on the Cross Country today - is someone trying to tell you something"!!!
SCHOOLING PAU CCI****: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
AUS-Bill Levett and Christopher Burton check out the action:
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"ATTENCIÓN TO DETAIL"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"AND IT JUST KEEPS RISING...
"Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"BEAUTIFUL VENUE"
"Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"THERE'S NOT MEANT TO BE AN EXTENTION OF THE WATER JUMP HERE"!!!
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"UNDERWATER HOUSING UNIT NEEDED FOR MY GORGEOUS CANONS!!!"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"TAKING THE WATER JUMP TO EXTREMES"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"WADERS NEEDED!!!"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"REMINDS ME OF THE MOVIE"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"STUNNING FENCES"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"TRADE VILLAGE STILL HUMMING"
The traders still traded on Saturday, and the auctions still went ahead to a packed house,...
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"PANORAMIC ON SOME SAD FLAGS"
Taking a look around the course - it is completely waterlogged but still incredibly STUNNING - I cannot wait until the 2013 competition:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"GREAT GEAR"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"CLOSE-UP"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"STYLISH BOUTIQUES"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" AND OF COURSE: BEAUTIFUL VINEYARDS DISPLAYING THIER STAR WINES - GREAT TO WARM THE SOUL!!!"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" CAFE-CULTURE-TENT-STYLE"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"THE POWELL CAMP HAS RELOCATED TO THE TRADE VILLAGE FOR HOT COFFEE AND DELICIOUS FRENCH DELICACIES!!!"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"THE AUCTION HALL WHERE LAST NIGHT AND TONIGHTS SALES ARE HELD"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SHOWCASING THE YOUNG STARS"
It was fabulous to see this room packed last night, and it will be again tonight. A full dinner is an option while you listen to live music, and then see the youngsters for sale being paraded along the " Black Carpet" - they are really very well behaved through the noise, loud music and the big screens displaying videos taken of them during the day showing thier moves!!!
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"YUM"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"HOW DO THE FRENCH STAY SVELTE WITH ALL THESE DELICIOUS OPTIONS???"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"DETERMINED AND POSITIVE"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the trade village open and popular:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" SHOWCASING THE TALENT"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the display from the Républican Guard:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SCHOOLING PAU-PONIES"
NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON) and AUS-Christopher Burton:
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week: 2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
SCHOOLING PAU CCI**** HORSES:
NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON):
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SPLASH PALACE"
2012 FRA-Pau CCI**** BOUND: NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE) and NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON):
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"LOVING YOUR SMILE MR TODD"
NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE)
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"LOOKING FABULOUS"
NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE)
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"FRENCH SUPERSTAR"
FRA-Nicolas Touzaint signs autographs for fans:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" HOT STUFF"
NZL-Caroline Powell is so HOT she fogged up my lens!!!
Here she signs autographs for her many fans in France:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SUPERMODEL"
NZL-Caroline Powell heads in to help the others school their horses:
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" FAB ATTITUDES - WHEN YOU CAN'T COMPETE - HAVE FUN ON COURSE ANYWAY"
2012 FRA-Pau CCI**** BOUND: NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE) and NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON):
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"LOOK AT THEIR FACES!!!"
2012 FRA-Pau CCI**** BOUND: NZL-Mark Todd (MAJOR MILESTONE) and NZL-Alice Montgomery (GORDON):
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - Riders make the most out of the facilities schooling their horses who will run at Pau CCI**** next week:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
" GOOD SHOW"
Even thought the competition has been cancelled - the rest of the show continues with the display from the Républican Guard:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SUPER-STAR"
"Making the most out of a wet Le Lion" Says Mark Todd - here signing autographs for his many fans in France:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"LIVE-LOVE-LIFE - A VERY HAPPY CLICKER HERE!!!"
"#1 FAN FOR SURE!!!! It's all in the facial expression - I adore this man!
I nip in for a quick pic after Mark and Caroline sign a Mondial du Lion poster for yours truely - it shalt be framed for my Little Turtles "Wall of Fame"!!!
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
"SUPERSTARS OF THE MEDIA CENTRE WITH SUPERSTAR OF EQUESTRIAN"
"Making the most out of a wet Le Lion" Says Mark Todd - here with Press Organisers: Robert Adenot and Chloé Chesneau:
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion: FEI World Championship for Young Horses this afternoon (Saturday)
2012 FRA-Mondial du Lion FEI World Championship for Young Horses
Saturday 20 October
THE EVENT MAY BE CANCELLED, BUT THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF ACTION ON THE GROUNDS HERE
What happens when an event cancels and you have both the horses that were meant to be competing today in the Cross Country, and also the horses bought with you to go on to Les Etoilles du Pau International Horse Trials-CCI****/CCI** next week?
YOU TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE STUNNING GROUNDS TO SCHOOL AND PREPARE FOR IT!!!
TOMORROW WE HEAD SOUTH, BUT FOR TODAY, WE ARE ENJOYING THE SURROUNDINGS...
Even though the atmosphere was heavy with dissappointment yesterday which then filtered into action-stations for the riders organising what they were going to do!
Today dawned with a few less lorries in the Stable area due to early departures - however, a lot of riders have stayed on here at Le Lion as they are travelling directly from here to Les Etoiles de Pau International Horse Trials.
In one way, it was a welcome sight to see it still drizzling this morning, it would have been a nightmare if the day had dawned beautiful and sunny after yesterday's tough decision to cancel this magnificent event!
I luxuriated in having a wee sleep-in until 8am (VERY happy about that!), had my VERY IMPORTANT morning coffee, then prepped my beautiful Canons to head out and catch the action-that-happens-when-an-event-is-cancelled-mid-competition!!!
AND THERE'S A LOT GOING ON!
One of the many things I LOVE about this incredible sport, is that you are surrounded by people who understand the game, who get knocked around left-right-and-centre, AND GET BACK UP - DUST THEMSELVES OFF - AND KEEP GOING!
YES - everyone is disappointed in the event being cancelled - this is one of the most prestigious events of the season, riders have focused their 6 and 7 year olds on this event and have travelled the distance to get here, traders have set up incredible stands and organisers, sponsors and media have poured a lot of energy and time into preparing for this... and even today, there is a positivity that is catching!
I will definitely be excited to get back here next year - the whole venue is a photographer's paradise - what a tease not to be out capturing the action over those gorgeous cross country fences right now!!!
Instead - I have done the best thing I could think of and hit the galloping lanes, trade stands and arenas to see what was happening:
Take a look through the album to see:
Ponies-for-Pau were out and about stretching their legs:
AUS-Christopher Burton having a mishap with his steering-gear!
NZL-Mark Todd and Alice Montgomery going for a splash in the Water-Jump-Extension!
AUS-Bill Levett checking out the action;
FRA-Nicolas Touzaint with his fans;
Stunning smiles amongst the dull weather conditions;
Autographs - Displays - Trade Village and more...
The venue is still open and there is still plenty of action...
Click on any image to veiw at a larger size or in a slideshow...
LIBBY LAW PHOTOGRAPHY - NZL
