Wow, what can I say but when in France you have to see a display by the Cadre Noir!!!
We are just back from a trip to Saumur (via Chateau de Sauge, more of that later). The reason for the visit was to see the Gala Performance “Les Musicales du Cadre Noir”. I have never seen a performance by the Spanish Riding School but yesterday’s perfect mix of music and song choreographed with equine displays from classical dressage, Grand Prix dressage, long reining, quadrilles, the most perfect and emotional Pas de Trois ridden to Memory from the musical Cats and then include some jumping- a “skinny” made up of 3 wine casks (one behind the other!) a mix of verticals and pole spreads with handsome Frenchmen in their black uniforms as the wings – it was almost too much to take in😂
The sign leading us around to the indoor arena, we were lucky enough to fit in a tour of the stables etc before the performance.
Two of the performers. It was fabulous to get up close and personal and to see the variety of breeds, sadly our French is not good enough to follow all the guide’s information but plaques on each door gave the name, age and breeding. The majority being Selle Francais with a mix of warmbloods.
Labour saving mucking out! Essential when the complex can stable 500 horses. All carried along on underground conveyor belts to numerous muck heaps!
That uniform 😉
The tour took us through the stables, tack room and display area leading into the Grand Ménage.
A model prepared for a performance
Just one of the beautiful bronzes on display
Some of the artwork
Le Grand Ménage ready for the performance, sadly we were asked not to take pictures throughout the show (although I did sneak a quick one on the phone at the very end.) So here are a few photos from the official brochure.
Who wouldn’t like that for a grid !.😂
Quite a spectacle when under lights indoors.
My last minute photo as Les Ecuyers leave the arena after the final salute.
A performance I will never forget and highly recommend!!
October is set to be an equine month as next we head South for France’s major horse trials, the 5 Star at Pau. We have also started our “tour” of Chateaux on the tv series DIY Chateau with a visit to Donna and Paul’s Chateau de Sauge! Photos to follow 😊
You seem to have enjoyed it….. LOL
Hello Sue and Chris. As always it is so good to read your blogs and lovely photos. I may not always respond but I do so enjoy them. I remember going to the Cadre Noir some 40 years ago before I came to Australia. We also toured Saumur. I thought it was wonderful. Looks as though it has not changed much. I hope you are keeping safe in France and I must write a long email soon. We are both well. Liz
Hi Liz, I don’t imagine that Saumur has changed much in the last 40 years🙂 however the Cadre Noir are in different premises since those days. Life here continues on into Autumn with glorious sunny (if cool) days, should make the winter shorter hopefully.
A planned visit to the UK has had to be postponed unfortunately, but it may not be such a bad move with the Covid figures climbing again as winter approaches.
Trust all is well with you and I see that life appears to be returning to some “normality”? Take care xx