Yesterday I was standing on boulevard Henri IV in front of the Garde Républicaine.
The cavaliers come out (just for 5 minutes it turns out)
To celebrate their patron saint,
Saint Georges, symbol of courage, bravery and loyalty.
Saint Georges embodies the chivalrous spirit.
Like him, the Garde républicaine guard with honor and dedication the public’s safety. I read that off their Instagram site
Don’t you love the long horse’s tails that hang from their golden helmets?
Ponytails/queue de cheval are in this season as well as riding boots. Or maybe they are permanently IN in France.
In France you don’t have to be Jackie Kennedy to have ridding lessons as a kid.
French children are introduced to ponys practically from birth.
With many chances to ride.
On Saturday I went to see the ‘trotteurs’ at the unpronounceable
Another big drawing card was all the food trucks.
I ate TWO German baked potatoes 🥔 very hard to find in Paris. That’s organic sprouts on top.
Going to the track/faire la course in Paris
Is like stepping into a Degas painting.
The rond de presentation, where they show and exercise the horses before and after the race.
Dress code here is more classy/classic. You can get away with anything quilted or bleu marine.
I was trying to paint the race horses all week and wasn’t happy. Till nice, steady Garde républicaine showed up nearly on my doorstep. They are good at holding still.
There is a lot to be said for spending a Sunday at the races France Galop-Live in Paris. Beautiful animals, green grass, plenty of excitement, mostly low calorie. Consider it ❤️ 🐎
I'm curious about the checkerboard pattern on the horses' rumps. Do you happen to know what it symbolizes?
ReplyDeleteI would love to know myself. Some research 🔬 is in order. The Garde’s horses are done up to the teeth. Absolute perfection reigns. They are a great distraction from the rest of the world.
DeleteThe checkerboard does not symbolize anything as far as I know. It is a common bit of grooming flair often seen on show horses and race horses.
DeleteBeautiful horses, such an interesting post. Too bad though for the dragon killed by Saint George! Such a beautiful beast. Rooting for the pagan here.
ReplyDeleteThank ou.
DeleteI hadn’t though much about the dragon’s welfare.
Don’t forget the fair maiden who could have been the dragon’s 🐉 dinner.
Do the French not bake potatoes 🤔?
ReplyDeleteRarely. Pomme purée = mashed a big favorite.
DeleteOr pomme frites
I have yet to see it on a restaurant menu. There once was a place on rue de Rennes where you could get American style baked potatoes with different fillings…Yum Yum
I believe Le Petit Cler still makes a delicious baked potato with sour cream sauce that you can order with their bavette. We have not been there in a while though, not since the manager said he did not see anything wrong with his waiter soliciting a tip on top of the 15% for "service." While it is true that the 15% goes first to management, and is not the same as leaving something extra on the table (which we always did), I find it the height of nerve for any French waiter to deliberately tell English speakers that the "tip is not included." Poff! May yet go back for a baked potato though....
DeleteI do love the idea of the trotteurs...!
ReplyDeleteFabulous post, Carol! Would love a day at the races…in Paris bien sùr! Amusing food truck, ‘Cabane Cape Cod’. Your potato looks yummy!
ReplyDeleteAdorable photo of Jackie, reminds me of Ann Mah’s book ‘Jacqueline in Paris’. She wrote of Jackie’s lifelong love of horses. And, many of us remember Caroline with her pony Macaroni.
Food, fashion, horses, your terrific sketches; fun post!
Hmm…maybe PB should offer racing 🐎 tours of Paris?
DeleteHow to read a racing sheet
How not to lose your shirt betting
Which Champagne 🍾 to buy or bring 🥰
Fabulous! Thanks for a fascinating post and giving me one more set of events to add to my list, as I've always been a horse-lover and following racing in various countries.
ReplyDeleteNeed a companion?
DeleteIt would be nice to know the deets.
Ce n’est pas n’importe quel derrière!
ReplyDeleteI love these beautiful horses Lynne
ReplyDeleteYou live such an exciting life! And in Paris! Sigh…
ReplyDeleteParis is an exciting place to live and to visit. Much more fun going on here than in NYC imo 🎉
DeleteI was afraid when you wrote on the cover letter that you were "madly trying to draw the horses' behind" that when I clicked to read the rest you were going to tell us that the horse "did his business" while you were drawing. WHEW!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynne, I will be more careful with my opening sentences 😂
DeleteThe Garde’s helmets are a work of art! I love how France 🇫🇷 keeps up it’s traditions with great attention. It’s what makes France so special.❤️
ReplyDeleteem2schwartz@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteYou capture the equistrians perfectly whether garde or trotteurs or the steeplechasers with their breathless pose! I imagine you yourself are no stranger to the saddle! Thanks for another great post!
ReplyDelete