Title: Alexandre Ayache Claims First National Title at 2025 French Dressage Championships

Alexandre Ayache became the winner of the 2025 French Championships for senior dressage riders held in Vierzon, France. Scheduled one month earlier than usual, these Nationals took place on 29 May – 1 June 2025.

The equestrian property of the Cambourieu family in Vierzon is the traditional venue for this event.

The Format
The senior Grand Prix riders had to battle it out in three rounds. Twenty-five combinations were entered for the Grand Prix, twenty-three for the Special, and nine in the kur. Of those 25 initial starters, 19 of them had officially declared to take part in the Championship and in the end 16 were ranked. Both Arnaud Serre (Dollar Dream) and Pauline Guillem (Lucky Gold) rode the Grand Prix and then pulled out of the championship. Anne Sophie Serre (Jibraltar de Massa) withdrew before the Grand Prix.

Quite a few prominent French riders were absent from the event, including 2022 champion Pauline Basquin, Olympian Corentin Pottier, his wife Camille Judet-Cheret (pregnant), and Olympian Morgan Barbançon (still suspended). Title defender Pierre Volla won the medium tour with Malcolm X de Massa. His winning Grand Prix horse from 2024 sold to Austria in March. Last year’s silver medal winning pair, Stephanie Brieussel and Fellini Du Soleil, was not entered.

Ayache Wins First Title
Winning his first national title in his career despite having ridden on the French team for almost a decade, Alexandre Ayache rode his second GP horse, Ruling Olivia to the gold medal and the highest step on the podium. With his 11-year old Oldenburg mare (by Olivi x Aletto) he won the Grand Prix with 68.761%, placed second in the Special with 67.255% and aced the freestyle with 74.105%.

"I’m quite happy with the final result, but I’m really angry with myself for my mistake yesterday (in the Special)," said Ayache. "I tried things in the canter that didn’t work. Today, I rode her more like I usually do, and it was immediately better. Now, we’re always happy to win a title; we take it with great pleasure. This is my first."

Ayache praised his mare Olivia. "Winning with Olivia has a special feeling," he said. "She’s a mare I’ve had since she was three, in whom I’ve believed for a very long time. She only started competing a little over a year ago, there are still plenty of things to improve, I’m very proud of her, more than of myself."

Liegard and Roussel on the Podium
The silver medal went to Bertrand Liegard on Claudia Chauchard’s 14-year old KWPN mare Ginger (by Tango x Don Primaire). He was third in the Grand Prix with 66.891%, won the Special with 69.277%, and finished second in the Kur with 73.370%.

The bronze was for Alizee Roussel aboard the 13-year old Oldenburg Bel Amour (by Bretton Woods x Donnerhall). The duo started off with a fourth place in the Grand Prix (65.587%) and in the Special (65.936%).

French team selector Jean Morel was pleased with the Championships. "It was very interesting to be able to see all the combinations," he said. "Our goal was to run the championship over three days, like at major events, to see how the horses behave. We saw some great things, and some pressure too, since the first two kept switching places. Alexandre was looking at Bertrand, Bertrand was looking at him… I found that quite nice. Today, Alexandre presented the test we asked of him, without risk, by riding his new mare forward. Bertrand showed great riding, his horse is a good horse."

Commenting on the general level of the field, Morel said, "Everyone rode much better today with lighter horses. It was a very good thing for the riders but also for the federal staff, that everyone was there at the French championship. (…) The weekend was instructive for everyone. Now we will get to work to maintain our place at the world level."

Results – 2025 French Grand Prix Championships – Vierzon

1. Alexandre Ayache – Ruling Olivia – 68.761 67.255 74.105 — 210.121
2. Bertrand Liegard – Ginger – 66.891 69.277 73.370 — 209.538
3. Alizee Roussel – Bel Amour – 65.587 65.936 72.775 — 204.298
4. Caroline Godin – Querida De Hus – 65.239 65.298 69.030 — 199.567
5. Bernard Bosseaux – Rilkadora Z – 65.369 65.723 67.710 — 198.802
6. Lena Thouvenin – Diamondgio Lth – 64.478 63.745 67.200 — 195.423
7. Mateo Barsotti – Mystery Boy – 63.283 62.532 67.605 — 193.420
8. Lana Portejoie – Last Minute – 62.630 63.596 66.180 — 192.406
9. Jean Philippe Siat – Lovesong – 64.413 61.745 66.025 — 192.183
10. Marc Boblet – Jordan P – 60.413 64.872 — 125.285
11. Evelyne Fleck – Domino De Merlieux – 61.043 63.596 — 124.639
12. Eva Pagnotta – Fantastic Filomena – 61.696 61.511 — 123.207
13. Jean Charles Perrier – Archibald Haddock – 60.739 61.383 — 122.122
14. Annabel Delsert – Jackpot P – 60.739 61.298 — 122.037
15. Livia Gallego – Calypso De Massa – 58.935 60.383 — 119.318
16. Victoria Saint Cast – El Quaterback Du Coussoul – 57.696 — 57.696
    Anne Sophie Serre – Jibraltar De Massa – Withdrawn
    Arnaud Serre – Dollar Dream – Withdrawn
    Pauline Guillem – Lucky Gold – Withdrawn