Jura horse show celebrates 100th event

Equestrian competitions at Saignelégier. saignelégier.ch

The 100th national horse show takes place this weekend in the small town of Saignelégier, in canton Jura.

As part of the celebrations, special events will aim to raise the profile of a local breed of horse that is fast becoming the star of the show.

A long-standing tradition, the event has grown from humble beginnings as a small agricultural show to a sell-out bonanza of performances, competitions and races.

Last year, the Marché-Concours drew in crowds of between 40,000 and 50,000. For this year’s centenary event, organisers are expecting to beat previous attendance records.

And, for this milestone show, the organisers have pulled out all the stops.

Traditional costumes

The usual equestrian demonstrations and competitions will take place, including a time-honoured parade with young girls dressed in traditional canton Jura costumes riding bareback.

“But on Sunday, the final cortège will contain a new element dedicated to ‘Vaillant’, the stallion considered the founder of the [local] Franches-Montagnes breed of horses,” explains the president of the Marché-Concours, Jean-Pierre Beuret.

The spectacle will contain theatrical elements, as well as music and pyrotechnics, intended to promote a more contemporary image of the Franches-Montagnes breed.

Evolving role

The Franches-Montagnes horses cannot afford to rest on their laurels. Previously used for work on the land or by the military, they need to find a new place in society, as their old jobs become part of history.

Beuret says it is important to promote the horse’s changing role in society.

“Horses are no longer seen as just a farm animal: they now have a stronger bond with people and are often seen as a close friend by children.”

In a bid to carve out a new role for the horses, the Franches-Montagnes are now being promoted as a docile breed, ideal for riding.

Through selective breeding, the breed has become slimmer which, professionals say, makes the horses more suitable for riding.

Tourist attraction

The new attributes of the Franches-Montagnes horses have not escaped the Marché-Concours, which has adapted its line-up over the years to promote the breed.

So much so that the horses now steal the limelight at the show and are also considered by some to be the number one tourist attraction for the region.

The horses’ appeal has generated increased profits, not only for the event itself, but also local businesses.

“This year the [show’s] budget has gone up to the exceptional amount of SFr1.5 million ($1.1million),” Beuret told swissinfo.

“We estimate that three-quarters of the money generated by the show falls into the pockets of regional businesses – a sum of between SFr3 and 4 million.”

Urban appeal

The Marché-Concours’ departure from its low-key agricultural show beginnings was mainly prompted by increasing numbers of visitors coming from outside the area, particularly from towns and cities.

“The Marché-Concours attracts more urban dwellers than horse breeders these days,” says Beuret. “So the show has become a more modern affair to satisfy the new clientele.”

As a result, he adds, the show has gained increasing prominence over the years.

swissinfo, Vanda Janka (translation: Joanne Shields)

Key facts

The first Marché-Concours took place in 1897.
In the first few Marché-Concours were agricultural shows, incorporating other livestock events with the horse shows.
In1901, the show was pared down to horse-only events, for budget reasons.