ACCOR ARENA, 2ND DECEMBER 2026

Horse GP, a five-star FEI show jumping competition set to take place on December 2 at the Accor Arena in Paris, has announced an exceptional line-up of riders for its inaugural edition.

Olympic, World and European champions, alongside the highest-ranked riders in the FEI World Rankings, will line up for the SPRINT and the Grand Prix de Paris, marking the highly anticipated return of equestrian sport to the Accor Arena.

AN EXCEPTIONAL LINE-UP OF INTERNATIONAL RIDERS

Among the headline names, Germany’s Richard Vogel, the current world number one and team gold medallist at the World Championships last August, will be one of the most eagerly anticipated riders. He will be joined by British stars Scott Brash (N°6) and Ben Maher (N°7), both two-time Olympic team champions at London 2012 and Paris 2024. Maher also claimed individual Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020, held in 2021.

Switzerland will be represented by two of its greatest champions: Steve Guerdat (N°4), individual Olympic champion at London 2012, silver medallist at Paris 2024, European champion in 2023 and World Champion in 2026; and Martin Fuchs (N°15), individual European champion in 2019 and winner of more than thirty five-star Grands Prix throughout his career.

Germany will also field a formidable contingent, featuring Daniel Deusser (N°9) and Sophie Hinners (N°11), who will celebrate her 29th birthday on December 2. A rising star of the sport and the second-highest-ranked female rider in the world, Hinners was part of the World Championship-winning team in Aachen a few months ago, alongside Deusser. Philipp Weishaupt (N°42) and Christian Ahlmann (N°46) complete the German line-up.

Another major name on the start list is Sweden’s Henrik von Eckermann, individual and team World Champion at Herning in 2022 and Olympic team champion in Tokyo. He also holds the record for the longest consecutive reign at the top of the FEI World Rankings, having spent 33 months as world number one between August 2022 and spring 2025.

Belgium will bring a strong delegation led by Pieter Devos (N°12) and Nicola Philippaerts, both members of the European Championship-winning team in 2025, alongside Grégory Wathelet, Gudrun Patteet and Jérôme Guéry, Olympic team bronze medallist in Tokyo and individual World Championship silver medallist in 2022.

Ireland will be represented by Cian O’Connor (N°23), Conor Swail and rising talent Tom Wachman.

The star-studded entry list also includes the Netherlands’ Harrie Smolders, Austria’s Max Kühner (N°24), Luxembourg’s Victor Bettendorf (N°28), Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci (N°16) and Emanuele Gaudiano, as well as Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa, the event’s Sporting Director, individual Olympic champion at Athens 2004 and three-time FEI World Cup Final winner (1998, 1999 and 2000), and fellow Brazilian Stephan de Freitas Barcha.

Argentina’s José María Larocca and Spain’s Armando Trapote round out the international line-up.

THE FRENCH RIDERS READY TO SHINE

Competing in front of their home crowd, the French riders will be determined to shine in a venue that has played a significant role in the history of show jumping in France.

The French contingent will be led by Julien Épaillard (N°13), widely regarded as one of the fastest riders on the international circuit and a team bronze medallist at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, alongside Olivier Perreau and Simon Delestre (N°21), who will also be competing. "The Accor Arena is an exceptional venue, and having the opportunity to compete there again is a real privilege, especially for us French riders, in front of our home crowd," says Simon Delestre. "Any sporting event held in Paris has a special dimension, and it is really important to have a competition of this calibre in the city."

The Accor Arena crowd will also welcome back Roger-Yves Bost, Pénélope Leprévost and Kévin Staut, all three Olympic team champions at Rio 2016. "We have been waiting a long time for a five-star competition in Paris during the winter," explains Kévin Staut. "We need to experience those electric atmospheres again, where the energy of the crowd inspires both riders and horses to reach new heights. And this venue is absolutely perfect for that."

The French colours will also be represented by Marc Dilasser, Edward Levy, Charlotte Leoni and Nicolas Sers, alongside a new generation of talent including Antoine Ermann, Mégane Moissonnier and Lara Tryba, all determined to make their mark on the Accor Arena’s history.

AN INNOVATIVE FORMAT COMBINING WORLD-CLASS SPORT AND ENTERTAINMENT FOR ALL AUDIENCES

Inspired by the world of Formula 1, Horse GP will introduce a short, fast-paced format

with simple, easy-to-follow rules, designed to appeal to both equestrian enthusiasts and newcomers to the sport.

The competition will kick off with the 1.50m Sprint, a speed class that will determine the starting order for the evening’s 1.60m Grand Prix de Paris, which will be broadcast on france.tv, among other platforms.

Beyond the sporting competition, Horse GP will deliver a complete entertainment experience, featuring an opening performance by the prestigious Cadre Noir de Saumur and an After Show with DJ Mosimann.

With its inaugural edition, Horse GP aims to revive the Accor Arena’s legendary equestrian heritage while ushering in a new era for international show jumping.

SEE YOU ON DECEMBER 2 AT THE ACCOR ARENA!