Horse riding: Caroline Mazoyer, work and tradition

Whatever the event, Caroline Mazoyer wears the guardian's outfit. Here, dressage. – MORGANE ROCHE

Near the Remparts of Aigues-Mortes, maneuverability test for Alegria de l'Oustau. – MORGANE ROCHE

Le couple formé par Caroline Mazoyet et Alegria de l'Oustau performe depuis huit ans. – JODIE PHOTOGRAPHIE

Accustomed to continental competitions, the Saint-Gilloise is pre-selected for the French working equitation team with a view to the European Championships in October in Uzès.

Since 2017, this has become a habit for her. ''This will make my eighth European Championship in a row in which I participate, relates Caroline Mazoyer, 46 years old, international tricolor in working equitation. In addition to being a rider, I am also a trainer of young people, like Enzo Malaval and Maelys Carlotti, who will also participate in the European Championships in their category, young riders aged 21 and under.&#39 ;'

The tests of speed and sorting of livestock… it’s their hobby

At the La Reprise stable, in Saint-Gilles, things work pretty well. In all areas. And particularly in the career, when it comes to so-called “speed’’ and “sorting of livestock’’, where Camargue traditions work wonders, as Caroline Mazoyer  explains: ''Let's say that, in these last two tests, we generally catch up on the delay in the first two, dressage and handling, where Camargue horses have less good locomotion than certain horses from ;rsquo;other breeds, with a fuller and more elastic gallop.''

Third in the last French championships

At 14 years old, Alegria de l’Oustau nevertheless has a bit of all that. ''She's a champion'', slides, affectionately, the Saint-Gilloise , which saw the birth of the one who won, in 2019, the “Prix Fanfonne Guillerme’’, reserved for the best females.
Having reached the third step of the senior podium at the French championships, in Aigues-Mortes, on June 15 and 16, Caroline Mazoyer, like seven other riders from Gard, will be on the track at the Haras national d’Uzès, where the European championships of the specialty will be held, from October 16 to 21.
''As for the location of the competition, it rotates every three years between France, Italy and the Netherlands, she explains. At the European level, we are generally just behind Italy in the rankings.''

Sure to participate in the championship, not to be in the French team

From the dressage event, which opens the competition, where the couple is evaluated in front of a jury, to the sorting of cattle, the Camargue specialty, through handling (course with obstacles) and speed (same course, against the clock), the Gardoise will try to shine.
Will she also be ranked with the French team France ? The question remains unanswered : ''On Wednesday, we pass the medical examination and, after, we only know if we are retained with the selection, or not. Out of the eight, four are. Even without being selected, we still participate.  '' At work…

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