Press invitation - Le Dorat, center of the equestrian world. On Friday 9th of August 2019, at 6PM, in Le Dorat (87) at the fairground, a press reunion will be held by Edith Monteiller, president of the association “Cercle Hippique de la Brame” as well as the members and all of the partners to announce the 52ndnational showjumping competition in Le Dorat, gathering both French and international amateurs and professionals. First the sheep, now the horses Pictures of the previous edition If the 18thworld shearing competition took place in Le Dorat, it echoes with the major action led by passionate and invested farmers. The same is true for “Le Cercle Hippique de la Brame”, composed by farmers and horses sellers, as well as all the volunteers coming from everywhere. The association was created on 25thof August 1967 and thus will celebrate, this year, its 52 years old. From its very beginning, the association got the whole support of the town that turned a field into a horse riding place in order for them to have a place to gather the equestrian events. The national showjumping competition, organized in Le Dorat for 52 years, gathers the fine equestrian national (and even international) elites. For the French breeders, their presence implies the chance to introduce their know-how to future selections or cessions. For the competitors, it is the ambition of getting qualifications that might lead them to even more important events as well as promoting their horses. But each and every one of them also come here to experience, each year, the friendly and convivial spirit that flies over the fairground where trucks, horse loose boxes, competitors, animations, food services are gathered, in a bright and light mood, without any level experience distinction or engaged budget. Even though the endowment given to the first 8 winners of each competition and the numerous presents given to every winner are appealing, it is the “jaunty mood and the love we give to our competitors that surely make the difference”, Edith Monteiller points out. The president highlights the “essential help that provides the partners that follow us, since many years, with a great loyalty and without whom nothing would be possible.” Le Dorat, birthplace of Anglo-Arab breed Le Dorat is a totally atypical town of 1800 souls! Nested in the middle of the Limousin, in the Gartempe valley, circled by natural fields populated by sheep, cows and other horses, Le Dorat shows a collective dynamic set in centuries of innovation. On this road where salt and iron transited from the East to the West of the country, Le Dorat founded a massive church that contributed, in the 12thcentury, in turning the village into a commercial and spiritual center. Its local markets that appeal dozens of local farmers and thousands of visitors, as well as the Ostensions[1]taking place in Le Dorat since 1659, fall within this legacy. This position at the borders crossings also led –at first for military reasons- to the creation of new breeds like the Anglo-Arab breed; and in contrary to what you might guess from its name, its features have French origins. Indeed, it is in the Limousin that the very first official crossing between English and Arab pure-bred was experimented, following the creation in 1833 of the French stud-book (including English, Arabs, and Anglo-Arabs). That is how the middle of the 19th century witnessed the apparition of horses manifesting the lightness, elegance and stamina inherited from the Arab, and the height, power and speediness from the English pure-bred. The Anglo-Arab was born and Le Dorat could become its kingdom thanks to passionate visionaries that would build both a racetrack and a horse riding place. With about fifty associations still in activity, its recent nomination for the Label “Petite cité de caractère”, its economic and touristic development plans, Le Dorat, 2h30 from Paris, acts as Tom Thumb. And we know how ingenious Tom Thumb was, don’t we? About: The national showjumping competition 350 riders 250 horses 750 signed up 14 events with 3 Grand Prix Preparatory for the youngest Amateurs Professionals Competition signed up to the Fédération Française d’Equitation’s calendar (French Horse Riding Federation) Animation village with food services, games for children, market Free access The National Showjumping Competition partners : Le Dorat, Crédit Mutuel, Mutuelles de Poitiers, Alliance Pastorale, SJL Bellac, Artael 16, Sellerie Devoucoux, Marlim boissons, Ostwind, Equiser France, AB Diag, Intermarché, Carrefour, Crédit Agricole, CC Haut Limousin en Marche, Art Côté jardin, ACGPL Assurance, Conseil départemental de la Haute-Vienne The National Showjumping Competition program : (P: Professionals ; A: Amateurs; C: Clubs) Preparatory: Preparatory (1,00m) [P][A][C] Sponsored by : Elevage de Dauges, Sarl GEMAS, Sarl MAZET Preparatory (1,10m) [P][A][C] Sponsored by : SJL Bellac, GAMM-VERT, Destrier-Natea, OSTWIND Preparatory (1,15m) [P][A][C] Sponsored by : Cdaas, Bricomarché, DP Nutrition, Agri Conseil Preparatory (0,95m)[P][A][C] Sponsored by: Vans Fautras, Garage-Jonquet, Mrs Farvacque Amateurs: Amateur 1 Grand Prix (1,15m) Sponsored by : Intermarché, Crédit Mutuel, Marlim Amateur 1 Grand Prix (1,20m) Sponsored by : Conseil Départemental de la Haute-Vienne, Crédit Agricole Amateur 2 Special Clock (1,05m) Sponsored by : Imprimerie de la Basse-Marche, Alliance Pastorale Amateur 2 Grand Prix (1,10m) Sponsored by : Eco Entrepot, Mutuelle de Poitiers, Boucherie BRUN Amateur 2 Grand Prix (1,05m) Sponsored by : Au cochon gourmand, BATOUFER Professionals (including 3 Grand Prix): Pro 2 Grand Prix (1,30m) A: Sponsored by: ACGPL, Carrefour Bellac, Firmin Joel, Elevage de la Gache Pro 3 Speed (1,25m): Sponsored by Toyota, Sellerie Devoucoux, Equicer Pro 2 Grand Prix (1,35m) A: Sponsored by : Communauté de Communes du Haut-Limousin en Marche, Art Cote Jardin, Equisol Pro 3 Special Clock (1,20m) Sponsored by : EARL Centre Equestre du Buisson, Ecurie de la Couronne, Ecurie de Grethy, Ecurie Thomas Gindreau Pro 2 Grand Prix (1,30m) A: Sponsored by : AB Diag, Artael, Le Dorat [1] Ostensions : Latin : ostendere (to show). In 994, within the Limousin, the rye ergot epidemic made many victims. Seen as a divine punishment, what we called “Le Mal des Ardents” (literally: The Ardent’s disease) led the clergy to helplessly let out the Holy Relics in order to chase away the evil. The ostensions became a religious and popular tradition rooted in the Limousin history. The ostensions take place every 7 years in Limoges and in more than fifty towns nearby, in the Haute-Vienne but also in Creuse, Charente and Vienne. From the 28th March to the 22nd may 2016 took place the 51th Ostensions of Le Dorat, during which are celebrated the relics of the saints Town Protectors, Israël and Théobald. These devotional manifestations, celebrated back in the Middle Ages, take place every 7 years in about 20 Limousin towns, following a well- established ritual, particularly respected by the Dorat population. During those festivities, the population is largely contributed to color up the walls of the town as well as acting up as guards, roman soldiers, musketeers and other emblematic characters of the procession. They also have to welcome everyone from the 4 doors of the town, and following a well-defined ritual, the delegations of the nearby parishes coming to honor the two saints and put in the reliquary their own relics and statues. Both a religious and folkloric tradition deeply rooted in the local Culture, the Limousin Ostensions, which, through their own very way, tell the story and the History of the region, have been saved in the “Patrimoine culturel immatériel de l’humanité de l’UNESCO” (litt: The immaterial Cultural Patrimony of Humanity). Contact Presse : Marie-Luce Bozom : 06 15 15 63 20 [email protected] .