Missions
The SHF is an association under the 1901 French Associations law, an officially recognised non-profit organisation and is the Ministry of Agriculture-approved parent body for young horse and pony competitions in France.
Bringing people together
The SHF brings together all the stakeholders involved in the breeding, development and marketing and sales of sport horses and ponies:
- Breeders, riders, drivers, owners of young horses and ponies
- French National Breed Associations
- French Regional Breeders’ Associations
- Judges, technicians and leading figures recognised for their expertise.
With its new broader remit as a governing body, the SHF carries more weight and legitimacy when it comes to dealing with public authorities and the institutional sector both in France and abroad.
Developmental approaches and actions are decided through consultation on behalf of the sector as a whole and take into account the interests of all involved.
Organising
Proposing the breeding policy
Managing actions undertaken by the sector
Reinforcing synergies.
Developing
Bolstered by this strength in unity, the Société Hippique Française’s task is to help achieve excellence in the sector.
Production
Coordinating breeding programmes
Harmonising evaluation criteria
Defining priorities for state aid
Development and promotion
Reconciling and harmonising regulations
Improving quality and rationalising costs on current circuits
Marketing
Making current actions coherent
Developing new events
Using new technologies
And also…
Coordinating innovative technical, scientific and promotional programmes and projects in the interests of all involved.
Designing and providing support for tailored training for technicians, riders and breeders.
The circuit
The National Circuit
The SHF’s objective is to select and prepare horses and ponies for high-level competition in 6 disciplines:
- Show jumping
- Eventing
- Dressage
- Driving
- Endurance
- Hunter
Competitions on the regional circuit act as qualifiers for the annual National Finals in each discipline and age group:
- Lamotte Beuvron / Show jumping for ponies
- Fontainebleau / Hunt seat show jumping
- Pompadour / Eventing
- Saumur / Dressage
- Compiègne / Driving
- Uzès / Endurance
In show jumping, eventing and dressage, the SHF runs two inter-connecting parallel circuits:
- the cycle classique, mainly aimed at "professional" riders,
- the cycle classique, designed for "amateur" riders.
The circuit in figures:
- 15,000 horses and ponies
- 7,000 entrants
- 600 organisers
- 200 judges
- 5,300 competitions
- 1,200 regional competitions
- Seven interregional showjumping competitions (Auvers, Le Lion d’Angers, Pompadour, Rosières-aux-Salines, Cluny, Compiègne, Saint-Lô)
- Six national finals
The Future Elite Circuit
These competitions are run in partnership with the FFE for six-year-old horses and are held during specific CSI*** shows.
The CSI** of Vichy
The SHF upholds the tradition of the Jumping International de Vichy, the oldest international show in France.
The Young Horse World Championships
Every year, the SHF selects national representatives to compete in the Young Horse World Championships for show jumping (Lanaken, Belgium), dressage (Ermelo, The Netherlands), and for eventing (Le Lion d’Angers, France). The SHF also helps select participants for the Young Horse World Championships for endurance and driving