ACTUALITY
A new event made its début this year on the third day of the 2025 Printemps des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau: the International Pony Show-Jumping competition. One of the headline riders taking part in the event is Brune Faivre, a mainstay in the French pony jumping team. We caught up with her.
Brune Faivre is mapping out her route at the highest level, navigating between school classrooms and show-jumping obstacles.
Competing this week in the CSIP Élite at the Printemps des Sports Équestres in Fontainebleau, Brune Faivre has established herself as one the great hopes of French pony show-jumping. At just 16 years of age, the young rider has put in a run of great performances at major international events with impressive maturity. We caught up with this clear-headed yet determined young athlete, who is already well established in the world of equestrian sport.
Brune, you are taking part in the CSIP Élite in Fontainebleau this week, after a series of international competitions and just a few days after finishing third in the Pony Jumping Nations Cup. How are you coping with the hectic start to the season, while other young people your age are enjoying their holidays?
It's true that the last few weeks and days have been pretty hectic, between the first CSIOs of the year and my first selections in the team with my pony, Enigme des Prés. The holidays have been very sport (laughs), but we're enjoying being here at the Grand Parquet in Fontainebleau. This is a magical place for us, as riders.
Qopper Der Lenn – the pony that you had ridden in some of the top events retired a few weeks ago. Today, you are competing at the same level with Enigme des Prés. How did you manage this top-level transition from one pony to the other?
I'd already had my new pony for while, so the transition went pretty smoothly. We had already managed to gain a bit of experience together. Of course, it was a bit complicated at first, because the reference points are completely different. They are two completely different ponies. But from a competitive point of view, she more than lives up to my expectations. I wanted to get back to the top level very quickly, and she enabled me to compete in FEI World Cups earlier than I had actually planned. She's really got what it takes. She's like a panther. She has a lot of energy, she's very quick and expressive. Sometimes, it might seem as if the pressure is affecting her, but as soon as the bell rings, she's totally on the ball and focused on what she has to do. But I will never forget Qopper, who gave me my best memory at our first World Cup event. That took some doing! And even though I've been lucky enough to compete in other World Cups with my pony, those first experiences are always special.
You've made the transition from one pony to another, but you are nearly 16 years old now, so you will also have to deal with the transition to riding a horse in the not-so-distant future. How are you going to approach this stage?
I started preparing this transition two or three years ago with my old mares. But when Qopper and I started to do well at the top level, I preferred to concentrate on the pony circuit. I didn't want to regret not having lived those early years to the full. Now, I'm looking at moving to horses again. In fact, I have a horse entered here at Fontainebleau in the Amateur Gold Tour FFE - Vicomte A. to really kick-start this transition period. Perhaps next year I'll be riding horses as much as a ponies. I am already aiming to put in some good performances on horseback.
How do you manage everything with your sports career and your school life?
I'm lucky enough to be have good people around me, whether that be my parents and friends or my coaches. I have a special timetable, which allows me to follow a traditional school curriculum while riding in high level competitions. Even though I can't imagine myself being far from horses in the future, I don't know yet if I want to make a career out of riding. It's a huge commitment, and once you've started, it's hard to turn back. That's why I want to continue my general education at school, to make sure I keep all the doors open.
You seem to attach a great deal of importance to this balance. Why?
Because you never know what tomorrow will bring, especially in the riding world. And I don't think you necessarily have to sacrifice one side to succeed in the other. You can do both together. You have to be tenacious, both at school and when riding.
Which rider do you draw inspiration from today?
Julien Épaillard. I like riding quickly on the courses, and his style of riding really strikes a chord with me.
And which horse?
Without a doubt it's United Touch. I love horses that are nimble and that go for it. And him, with that spring in his jump... he's really extraordinary.
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Elyssa Tahri, riding Gwendolyn, won the AS tour - Prix CWD at 1.10m, the opening round of this international pony show-jumping competition.
"I'm really proud of my pony. It's a major competition here and it was a great class. It was a good start for the first day, but we haven't won anything yet, so we'll see what the next few days have in store. But today I felt she was in very good form and really attentive and relaxed. In the coming days, I hope we will continue along the same lines and that we'll put in good performances like today".