Swans, mushrooms and a great big spider: take a peek at the 2024 Pau cross-country course
Pierre Michelet’s Pau Horse Trials five-star cross-country course is prepped and ready for Saturday (26 October). The CCI5* track covers a distance of 6,500m and has an optimum time of 11 minutes and 25 seconds.
We spotted swans, mushrooms, an ice-cream stand and more among the fences on the 2024 Pau Horse Trials cross-country course.
Take a look at the fences horses and riders will tackle this year…
*Update* Friday 25 October 8pm – following wet weather on Friday, fences 17, 28 and 29a have been removed. The other elements at fence 29 (29bcd) remain on the course. The route between fences nine and 10 has also been modified, to cut out a loop.
Pau Horse Trials cross-country course 2024
Fence 1: Maison du Département des Pyrénées Atlantiques
Fence 2: Bergerie
Fence 3: Over de haie RFM
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Fences 4, 5 & 6: Maisons béarnaise du Crédit Agricole Pyrénées Gascogne
A house on top of a mound, followed by a slope down and two more house fences on a sharp left-handed turn
Fence 7: Table de pique-nique de la Ville de Pau
Fence 8abc and Fence 9: Gué Forestier: Bullfince/contrebas/contrehaut and Haie barrée Forestier
The direct route takes competitors over fence 8a, followed by a quick right-handed turn to a log-drop into water (8b). This is swiftly followed by a left-handed turn to a step (8c) then an angled brush (9). The long route avoids the step out – instead, competitors jump an angled brush fence (alternative 8c) and then circle to get to fence 9.
Fence 10abc: Demi-lunes & brushes ronds de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
A curved brush fence on top of a mound, followed by either one skinny fence (10ab) on a related distance – or two separately lettered skinny fences
Fence 11ab: Gué Cityz Media: briouette & cygne
A big table (11a), followed by a splash into water and over the swan (11b). H&H is seeking clarification as to which fence the ‘b’ element on the left of the picture relates to.
Fence 12: Bergerie
Fence 13ab: Gué Cityz Media:: tronc & cygnre (options: abris canard)
The direct route is over the hanging log into water (13a) to the swan fence in the water (13b)
Fence 14: Tables des courses
Fence 15ab: Bullfince & pointe de la Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
A big fence on top of a mound, down a slope to a corner fence
Fence 16: Haie de laurier
Fence 17: Trakehner This fence has been removed from the course owing to ground conditions
Fence 18: Vertical MIMs
Fence 19ab: Stères
Fence 20: Le Palois de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées
Fence 21: Butte du centenaire: tronc de l’ours LocExpo
Fence 22ab: OEil Flex-On & pointe
An owl hole, followed by a corner on a related distance
Fence 23: Palombière Bates
Fence 24ab: Gué de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: billes de bois
Fence 25: Table tonneaux du Département des Pyrénées Atlantiques
Fence 26ab: Gué de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées: oxer de haie & Pointe
Fence 27: Mur de pierre
Spot the spider hiding under the tree…
Fence 28: Oxer – This fence has been removed from the course owing to ground conditions
Fence 29abcd: Butte Loc Expo: bullfinch & triple brushes – NB: element a of this fence has been removed from the course owing to ground conditions
The direct route (pictured) would have taken competitors over a fence on top of a mound (29a), followed by two skinny triple brushes (29bc and 29d), but fence 29a has been removed. The longer alternative features extra jumping efforts.
Fence 30: Oxer MIMs
Fence 31: Pointe MIMs
Fence 32ab: Champignons de la Communauté d’Agglomération Pau Béarn Pyrénées
Fence 33: Bullfinch 5 Etoiles de Pau
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Lucy is an experienced news journalist, reporter and presenter. Since joining the Horse & Hound team in 2015, Lucy has reported from major global sporting events including the Tokyo Paralympic Games and multiple European Championships, as well as Badminton, Burghley and London, to name a few. She has covered current affairs and sports news across the full spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, as well as human and equine welfare, industry news and court cases.