Jean- Marc Varillon and the excellent moustache
The weather may have provided a few challenges for the organisers of the eventing venue at Le Pin with heavy rain in the past few days creating a bit of mud. Eventers are used to a bit of mud and wet but when you mix in creating a mini Games village and big trucks bringing in not just horses but TV equipment and big screens, things can get a bit slushy. Eventing director Jean-Marc Varillon however took it all in his stride (literally) as he took some of the media on a tour of areas that are usually out of bounds
In fact most of the horse facility areas are in good shape and it is only in certain parts, mainly where vehicle access has churned things up, that things become a bit slippery; hopefully these will soon dry out when the forecast sunshine appears over the next few days (however at 7am on Thursday morning there is little sign of the sun with heavy drizzle still falling at Le Pin). Luckily the stable area, housing 130 boxes with one tack room for every four horses, is situated on a large all-weather surface. In this area there is also a saddlery/leather repair area, a hay steriliser and the treating veterinary area.
Aussie flags are flying around the stables (left) and the treating vet area (right) is managed by Australian vet Chris Elliott (below)
This vet area is being managed by Australian vet Chris Elliott from Sydney. The boxes are prepared for any horses with problems - so far all has gone well but little is left to chance. The team of three treating vets, three FEI vets and six vet students greeted the horses as they arrived to check in every single one; from here on in the horses have their temperature taken twice a day and a careful eye is kept on them, not only by each nation’s team vet, but also by Chris’ veterinary team.
Who's for a snooze?
This stabling area is surrounded by the Snooze Boxes. The what??? 160 Snooze Boxes provide the riders with sleeping quarters and the lucky riders get private bathrooms included in their cute little houses; the grooms also have their own cubby houses but apparently they have to share bathroom facilities – we’ll definitely try and get feedback on this accommodation from the guys and girls!
The normal main arena is the first work arena (left) while a new grass arena has been created as the cross country warm-up
The existing two arenas which have been here for a while and are used during the usual 3* event held here, Le Grand Complet, are the two work/warm up arenas however a new area has been created as the cross country warm-up arena. The grass in this arena has been prepared in exactly the same way as the cross country track so that the footing conditions will be identical to the cross country itself. There is also an 800 metre gallop area across the road to enable horses to have a final blow out if required. On cross country day the main drive way leading into the venue will be closed off to create the cool down area for horses coming off the cross country and each of the little white tents currently lining the road like toy soldiers will be allocated to the riders from various countries
It seems like a pretty good set up and now all we need is the sun to shine ............
