"Trésors de Champions" Raises €36,238 for French Riding Schools

On May 8th, the French equestrian community mobilized en masse on The Auction by Arqana’s online auction platform. More than 560 bidders fought until 11:30pm to acquire their “Treasures of Champions” and collect 36,238 Euros to benefit the emergency fund launched by the French Equestrian Federation in support of riding schools and pony clubs hit by the Covid-19 crisis.

The top price was reached by Philippe Rozier’s “treasure”, the first nomination to his Olympic stallion Rahotep de Toscane, owned by Christian Baillet. Frédéric Pérouse forked out 8,500 Euros on this unique mate to his daughter’s mare.

In second place, the winner’s rug won in 2019 by the mythical couple Simon Delestre and Hermès Ryan in the Grand Prix du Saut Hermès, was acquired by Océane Finet for 4,009 Euros as a moving tribute to her mother.

Rounding out the podium is the Hermès saddle of Olympic champion eventer Astier Nicolas, winner of team gold at Rio in 2016. Stéphane Colas laid out 2,580 Euros for this special birthday present for his daughter.

The “Treasures of Champions” on offer appealed not only to equestrian fans but also to Philippe Guerdat, former coach of the French national team, who acquired Kevin Staut’s rug from the Final of the 2014 Barcelona Cup of Nations, where France finished 3rd under his direction, as well as Thierry Rozier’s French team polo shirt worn during the World Equestrian Games in Tryon in 2018.

Eric Hoyeau and Christophe Ameeuw, founding partners of The Auction, warmly thanked the bidders, the 21 champion riders representing the disciplines of show jumping, eventing, dressage and para-olympics; the photographer Jessica Rodrigues; Alexandre Bekka, the riders’ agent at the initiative of this sale; as well as all the volunteers who took part in this charity auction.

A special thank you also went out to: Patrice Delaveau, Kevin Staut, Philippe Rozier, Julien Epaillard, Simon Delestre, Thierry Rozier, Félicie Bertrand, Nicolas Delmotte, Olivier Robert, Edward Lévy, Geoffroy de Coligny, Camille Condé Ferreira, Astier Nicolas, Maxime Livio, Nicolas Touzaint, Lieutenant-Colonel Thibaut Vallette, Jessica Michel-Botton, Morgan Barbançon-Mestre, Anne-Frédérique Royon, Michel Robert, and Pierre Durand.