Unusual –
From Geneva to Horse Signellegier: the crazy bet of Alicia and Aurélie
Two teenage girls have traveled 240 km in fifteen days with their Franches-Montagnes to participate in the competition.
Aurélie Willimann (left) with “Caramel” and Alicia Tracogna (right) with “crunchy”. These two young riders have traveled more than 240 km to go to the Concours market, in the Jura.
Magali Girardin
- Two Geneva teenage girls traveled 240 kilometers on horseback to Signelégier.
- The rids crossed French-speaking Switzerland with their Franches-Montagnes, Caramel et Cute.
- During their fifteen days journey, they received the hospitality of farmers.
- Young girls have brilliantly participated in the Jurassic market races.
It all started with a piece of paper with a phone number, slipped into the 40 mailbox, route de Marsillon in Troinex. Owner of this area, Gabriel Pictet was necessarily affected by the message of a teenage girl of a dozen years, telling her that she wanted to take care of the two horses that grazed in her meadow.
“I had spotted them through the bushes!” recalls Alicia Tracogna, at the origin of this proposal, before it is recalled and that her friend Aurélie Willimann, 11, joins her in this project. This is how their love story with two Franches-Montagnes began…
La Ferme du Happiness
And it’s not just the horses that make these young girls happy, who know each other from the kindergarten! These lovers of nature also manage a small “happiness” farm in Gaillard (in neighboring France) from an early age. Since 2016, they have collected, in fact, abandoned or mistreated animals such as goats and rabbits. “I self -finance it by selling the eggs of my fourteen hens,” informs Alicia.
On the day of our meeting, the two friends, who dream of working one day in an agricultural environment or of becoming a veterinarian, still had stars in their eyes. How would it be otherwise after such an adventure?
From Geneva and travel 240 km by horse to reach the SAIGNELÉGIER CONCURS-CONCOURSin the Jura, the region of their two animal accomplices. Twelve steps in fifteen days on the roads or paths of French -speaking Switzerland with Caramel (12 years old) and Cute (9 years old). It is the crazy bet succeeded by these two Geneva.
120e edition
However, before they were welcomed as queens and participated in the procession with the Geneva delegation, a host of honor of this 120e edition (Editor’s note: the equestrian police brigade, the company of 1602 as well as the Old Grenadiers had been invited)only beautiful memories.
From the Pont des Bergues or Île Rousseau, before stopping in Vaudois and Neuchâtel farms … in Begnins, Saint-Prrex, Dommartin, Essertines-sur-Yverdon, Corcelles-Près-Concise and Cernier, which anecdotes to tell.
In hay boots
“We were entitled each time to an exceptional reception among farmers,” smiles Alicia, who will never forget to have slept once in a tent on hay boots.
If the two adventurers of Thônex and Fossard had prepared their journey well, there were necessarily little unexpected. “We had just left Geneva and, after about fifteen kilometers, the bags began to tear themselves apart,” sighs Aurélie, who, after a sewing evening with her girlfriend, is also the victim of poisoning …
Four days without saddle
A few days later, now it’s the turn of Caramel to suffer from an inflammation to one leg, with nodules under the belly when passing the straps. “The veterinarian applied him a disinfectant bandage and we had to climb it without saddle, in turn, to Signelégier,” adds Alicia. Better than a fitness session with this special breed, renowned for his docile temperament.
“At the beginning, I must admit that I did not know these Franches-Montagnes very well,” admits Alicia. But over time, we really realized with Aurélie how incredible, robust, hypergentil and versatile horses were. They can really do everything and both complement each other. ”
“We evolve together”
“You can believe that these are big horses that can do nothing but get heavy loads. But once they are taught to respect us, to jump or run, it is as if they had always done. I would say that we evolve together… ”
As during this last race on the Hippodrome de Signelégier to close the weekend of the Unitwhere, under a blazing and raw sun, Aurélie took a superb second place with her prince Cute.
Like a takeoff plane
“When he started, it was a bit of a feeling as a takeoff plane!” Exclaims the medalist, who does not hide that she was struggling to master him in the turns as his mount had juice. A feeling also felt by his teammate, also 2e The day before with this more explosive racing beast than Caramel.
Returning to Troinex in Van, the duo is already projecting itself towards the next edition: “In a year, we will go to a truck to be better rested,” says Alicia. “We will be able to train well!” they claim with one voice, as a conclusion.
The owner is considering, it is true, to create a small racing field in his field. It’s written on a piece of paper …
“Latest news”
Do you want to stay at the top of the info? “Tribune de Genève” offers you two meetings per day, directly in your e-mailbox. To not miss anything of what is happening in your canton, Switzerland or in the world.
Other newsletters
Did you find an error? Please report it to us.