Ambassadors

"Je suis ravie de porter les couleurs Au Delà des Pistes avec QUAI. Je trouve formidable que l’association puisse prendre en charge la reconversion et offrir une nouvelle vie à ses chevaux incroyables après leur carrière de course. Mais je trouve surtout important de montrer tout ce qu'ils sont capables de faire. Le public pense beaucoup aux sports équestres classiques mais oublie que les pur-sang sont présents dans d’autres disciplines comme le polo ou le horse-Ball pour lesquelles la France est championne du Monde ! Je trouve que la mise en lumière de mon sport et mon équipe grâce aux pur-sang et à ADDP entre autres c’est vraiment chouette ! Merci !"

"I have always been drawn to thoroughbreds and I have ridden several ex-racehorses that I retrained myself. The retraining of thoroughbreds is a good thing for the equestrian world. However it must be remembered that these horses are naturally quite highly strung and sensitive, so they cannot be retrained by everyone. Often the retraining process is dependent on the horse, but they remain very good horses, with great potential and a lot of personality."

A rider from a young age, Clara participated in a number of different equestrian disciplines before specialising in eventing. At 17, she started training at the Ecole Nationale de l’Equitation de Saumur, and this propelled her to the highest competition level. Today she takes part in many top level competitions in France and internationally like Badminton, Lumuhlen and Pau, all with retrained thoroughbred horses.

The number one in French Polo for more than 10 years, Brieuc Rigaux has become one of our Ambassadors! He’s a great admirer and a big fan of the qualities of thoroughbreds. With a range of horses in his stable made up of Argentine horses as well as thoroughbreds, Brieuc is a committed supporter of the retraining of racehorses. Aged 14, he had his first taste of riding and polo at the “Ferme d’Apremont” in the Domaine de Chantilly. A football fan, polo seemed at the time the ideal compromise between a team sport and his love of horses. He will share videos with you of the training of a top-level polo pony as well as other elements of the sport. Welcome and thank you to Brieuc. He is shown here with H'Amour de Mélodie, a three-year-old thoroughbred.

"As a three day event rider at the top end of the sport and a huge fan of horse racing, it seemed logical to me to accept to be an ambassador for the Au-Delà Des Pistes charity, which promotes the retraining of racehorses. I am also convinced of the potential thoroughbreds have to succeed in the eventing world as well as other equestrian sports."

Astier took up riding at the age of 7 and he started to compete at the age of 10. At the age of 15, Astier became part of the French Pony eventing team and he participated in the European Pony Championships, the Juniors and the Young Riders at European level for 6 consecutive years. After becoming professional, he moved to England in 2011, where he took a degree in Equine Management. In 2012 he became a World Eventing Champion in the under 25s category. In 2013 Astier became part of the French Seniors team for the first time and he took the bronze team medal at the European championships that year. After several wins including the Blair Castle CCI 3* and the Pau CCI 4*, Astier took team gold and an individual silver in the Rio Olympics in 2016.

"I think it is very important that we all join together within the bloodstock industry to ensure we give a second chance to a maximum number of racehorses, to guarantee they are rehomed appropriately. They give us so much, every day, during their race careers that we should be there for them, to help them find a new life once their careers are over. It is a very important issue."

Born in Belgium, Christophe Soumillon has established himself as one of the best flat race jockeys in France and internationally. At only 20 years of age, Christophe won his first classic when taking the Gr. 1 Prix du Jockey Club aboard Anabaa Blue. This win started a long series of victories at the top level, given Christophe now numbers over one hundred Group 1 wins throughout the world. He has also been Champion Jockey in France on eight separate occasions. Christophe is currently the retained jockey for His Highness the Aga Khan with whom he has won numerous top races.

"I have often had the opportunity to ride ex-racehorses during my career. They are athletes that are gifted with great temperaments. At the same age as sport horses, they are often more advanced which gives them a huge capacity to adapt to various situations."

Nicolas Touzaint is a well-known and established eventing rider. An Olympic Champion, a European Champion and a World Junior Champion, Nicolas was the first French rider to win the mythic Badminton Three Day Event in England. His achievements speak for themselves. Even though his career is focused on eventing, Nicolas has not forgotten his passion of horse racing. An amateur rider, breeder, owner and permit trainer of racehorses, he shows a real appetite for all things relating to the racing world.

"I am passionate about equestrian sports and horse racing. I would like to put the horses first and those that respect them. This is why I am happy to assist the Au-Delà Des Pistes charity in their mission."

Kamel Boudra is without doubt one of the most popular presenters for the Equidia television channel. He is the host of Equestrian Le Mag and Profession Crack as well as the commentator of all the major equestrian events covered by the channel. Furthermore he oversees many documentaries produced by Equidia about the biggest flat, jumps and trotting races. However above all, Kamel is a real horseman. He has ridden and bred sport horses for a long time and he is passionate about all the various equestrian disciplines. Most recently he has obtained his silks at France Galop and he is due to have his first runner soon in his own colours, as he has formed a racing syndicate with a group of friends.

Milord Thomas, un crack que l'on ne présente plus et dont le palmarès est exemplaire. (Vainqueur de 8 Groupes avec JACQUES RICOU dont Le Grand Steeple Chase de Parus et La Haye Jousselin. Ses éleveurs l'ont confié à Maëlys, une amie de la famille pour entamer sa reconversion. Work in progress : suivez le sur sa page Facebook ... Nous avons hâte de le retrouver lors d’une journée de la reconversion sur un hippodrome pour qu’il nous devoile ses prouesses !Bravo Milord Thomas et sa cavalière Maëlys Duval !

Wont Wait is a thoroughbred that was born and bred to race. After several runs over hurdles and on the flat, it became evident he was not a gifted racehorse and he was retrained by Clara Loiseau. His racing trainer, Yannick Fouin, recalls he was “a surprising horse that jumped really well in the mornings. He was both generous and concentrated. A real athlete.” However, he did not enjoy racing in the afternoons. Wont Wait qualified for the Young Horse Eventing finals at both 5 and 6 years of age and he has progressed annually to reach the highest level of the sport. In 2018 he finished 3rd in the CCI 4* at Pau. He is set to continue his eventing career in the most prestigious events of the sport, notably Badminton for example.

Eagle Hunter ancien pensionnaire de Francis Henri Graffard et représentant Al Asayl France (placé Listed,) rejoint l’équipe de Au Dela Des Pistes en tant qu’ambassadeur. Vous pourrez désormais suivre son évolution avec sa cavalière Clémentine Bouvier Mc Cutchen dans la discipline du dressage. Clémentine travaille également en tant que manager pour Al Asayl France (Pur Sang Arabes et CSO.) l’équipe Al Asayl est très engagée concernant le bien être de leur chevaux après leur carrière sportive, et est ravie qu’un ancien représentant puisse devenir ambassadeur pour notre association.

Cadeau Du Roi was an unraced thoroughbred born in Normandy. He was an unremarkable racehorse but he has since regularly established himself as one of the leading three day eventers in France. Most notably he finished 2nd in the French National Championships at Pompadour in 2014, as well as competing in the World Equestrian Games. Cadeau Du Roi recently finished 3rd in the renowned Burghley Three Day Event. His proud rider is International Eventer, Cédric Lyard.

Following an outstanding race career during which Cirrus Des Aigles won numerous Group 1 events throughout the world, this champion racehorse has now retired from the tracks to spend his time in between his ex-trainer Corine Barbe's stables and his regular jockey Christophe Soumillon's Normandy home. Cirrus and Christophe took part in the inaugural Rehoming of Racehorses Day organised by Au-Delà des Pistes at Deauville last summer and they were the star attractions.