French equitation added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritages.

The United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has added “Equitation
in the French tradition” to its list of outstanding examples of intangible
heritage. The list was selected from a pool of 107 nominations by a committee
made up of 24-members from different nations and aims to protect unique
cultural traditions.

This year’s
additions to the list were announced on November 27 from the Convention for the
Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage on the Indonesian island of
Bali.

The nomination
for Equitation in the French tradition stated:

Equitation
in the French tradition is a school of horseback riding that emphasizes
harmonious relations between humans and horses. The fundamental horse-training
principles and processes are guided by non-violence and lack of constraint,
blending human demands with respect for the horse’s body and mood. Knowledge of
the animal itself (physiology, psychology, anatomy) and human nature (emotions
and the body) , are complemented by a horseman’s state of mind that combines
skill and respect for the horse. Fluidity of movements and flexibility of
joints ensure that the horse participates in the exercises without coercion.

The nomination highlighted the Cadre Noir of Saumur at the
National School of Equitation, considered one of the world’s most prestigious
schools of horsemanship.

Click here to see the full list of inscriptions on the list of Intangible Heritage.