Located at the crossroads of Europe and the Mediterranean, Cheval Passion is the equestrian crossroads of the south and one of the first equestrian events in France. For more than 30 years, the show has offered the latest equipment, innovations and services in the sector to sport and leisure riders, as well as to all fans of the equestrian arts.
An attractive and versatile program capable of seducing all riders: competitors, touring, beginners or experts. The exhibition is divided into 6 covered buildings accommodating 250 booths for exhibitors, 6 other buildings equipped for competitions, shows and events and outdoor areas with exhibition areas and boxes.
For 5 days, more than a thousand horses will stop in Avignon to take part in the main events of the show: Golden Manes Festival, Pony Passion Shows, Equestrian Competitions (Western disciplines, dressage, stock sorting, etc.), Grand Federal Club, Equestrian Cabaret, Congresses, etc. .
Date of Event
Legend has it that Cheval Passion was born on the Place de l’Horloge in Avignon from the daring idea of creating an equestrian and festive event in Avignon in the heart of winter. We are in 1985.
In La Civette Café, an unmissable crossroads of relationships, the little world of the city of the Popes gathers in the morning at the Café, and in the evening for an aperitif. A small group of friends passionate about horseback riding and Provençal culture, including Jean-Claude Jourdain, managing director of Le Provençal newspaper, lawyer, Pierre Lapouge, amateur horse rider and trainer, and Charles Anside, director of Sem mUNICIPAL RMG. Design a big party around the equestrian tradition. Mayor Jean-Pierre Roux wants to create a grand event that is likely to animate Avignon during this quiet tourist period in January.
The dream fulfills the will of the municipality, and on September 29, 1985, a constituent general meeting gave birth to the Organizing Committee of Cheval Passion. The first board of directors consisted of Pierre Lapouge, Jean-Pierre Ponchi, Jean-Claude Jourdain, Charles Anside, Yvan Amoros and Nicole Leroy. The city has entrusted the mixed economy company RMG with the task of carrying the first edition of the event, to be held at the Parc des Expositions in Avignon. Maurice Galle, Michel Baqui, Gérard Chaminand, André Benazzo, Victor Millet, Didier Ozé, Michel Maridette … quickly joined the ranks of the organization.
And so on January 23, 1986 in Avignon, horses rode up the Avenue de la Republique to the forecourt of the Palais des Papes. They announce the opening of Cheval Passion’s first show. The first edition took place over 3 days – Friday 24th, Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th January 1986 – and gathered 40 horses, 30 exhibitors and a few thousand visitors at the Parc des Expositions. The event is mainly organized around equestrian shows (Camargue horse, dressage, Cossack vaulting and hunting crew), two shows of “Grand gala d’Art équestre” and also a Portuguese bullfight.
Cheval Passion’s first show called Les Manes d’Or was not yet. This “great festival of equestrian arts” took place on Friday, January 24, 1986 in “covered and heated” arenas set up for this occasion in Palace A. Thus, four thousand spectators attended the Gwen Academy gala with Carlos and Daniel Pinto.
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