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Virgine Coupérie-Eiffel is organizing the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping for the 8th year from June 24 to 26, 2022, in the heart of Paris. For a weekend, no less than 250 horses will tread the land of the Champ de Mars with the best riders in the world competing. At the foot of the Eiffel Tower, for her it is “the infinitely personal that becomes universal”.
Paris Match: Former professional rider, horse breeder, now vice-president of the French riding federation and organizer of the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping, what makes you get up in the morning today?
Virginie Couperie-Eiffel: Passion ! The passion for horses that drives me every day and makes me want to build this competition, but also to be on my property in Bordeaux to breed. It is really the love of the horse that we try to transmit.
So it’s the 8th anniversary of the Longines Paris Eiffel Jumping, what was the trigger at the time to organize the first edition?
We had created the Gucci Master, which used to be in Villepinte, and François-Henri Pinault asked me during a conversation why I didn’t do that in the center of Paris. And it was a very good idea! Moreover, I had the memory of the jubilee of Jappeloup and Pierre Durand here, in 1991, at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. So I liked the idea that the competition could be here first because I descend from Gustave Eiffel on my mother’s side and because on my father’s side it has always been a passion for horses. I was born with horses, I have horse blood running through my veins. Today it is the infinitely personal that becomes universal. In addition, the Champ de Mars is a former racecourse, at the end of which is the military school also marked in the equestrian tradition. This is the land of horses and putting them back in the center of town was a big challenge.
The track is also built above the basin of the Champ de Mars, a technical feat, isn’t it?
Before, we were on Place Joffre, but the ephemeral Grand Palais moved there, so we were moved to the center of the Champ de Mars. It’s truly a feat of engineering because since horses are so grounded, it’s impossible to just put a floor and jump them on a vacuum. It was therefore necessary to fill the pool, and put a completely hard platform to then build a technical floor with sand so that they could take their marks and jump.
Today we are very concerned about animal welfare, does the Eiffel show jumping make it one of its main concerns?
This is the subject of our time. Above all, the well-being of the horse is animal knowledge, knowing why the horse feels good, and how it will feel good in its body and its head. I wanted to highlight it, so there is animal communication, massages, physiotherapists, areas for walking on the grass. They are competitive animals, in order for them to perform, they must be pampered and feel good. Also educate people and make it clear that horses are not motorcycles. A good rider is someone who loves his horse and understands it.
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Next year the plan is to come back here
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What do you think of the French riders competing this year?
First we are lucky to have the reigning Olympic champion in Tokyo, Ben Maher. It’s a great field with a high-performance French team and in particular the rising star of our sport, Edward Levy who won everything last year. Kevin Staut a great hope for Paris 2024 who has risen to tenth in the world. But also Pénélope Leprevost, reigning champion in Rio, since we are the only mixed sport at the Olympic Games.
We recently tackled the subject of the security problem at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. Was the organization of the show jumping particularly difficult this year?
We have tightened security. The idea is always to have an event free and accessible to all, it is extremely important so that the inhabitants of the district do not suffer only the bad sides. It was topic number 1, and I think that since we’ve been here, there’s been so much security everywhere, at every entrance, that the tranquility of the neighborhood is much more assured than usual.
What are the future plans for the event?
Next year, the project is to come back here but the subject is mainly about the year 2024 since the Champ de Mars will be an Olympic ground so we will have to find another site. Then either return to our place of origin in front of the military school, or continue on the current site, but it is certain that the DNA of the competition is here with Eiffel.
It is obviously a special place in your eyes, what are you most proud of through this event?
The happiness people have when they come here to see the horses and their smiles in front of the tower. It is a symbol of joy, wonder and also of surpassing oneself because it testifies that everything is possible. Horse riding is the same thing, on horseback everything is possible if you believe in yourself and in the animal. So giving happiness is my greatest pride.