Intensity and excitement all the way at the 63rd CHI Geneva

Geneva is once again set for an intense few days of competition, with the world's leading riders and drivers due to gather for the 63rd Geneva International Horse Show (CHIG) on 11-15 December. The event boasts the kind of exciting programme that only equestrianism can deliver and just to top it off, this year's CHIG will celebrate the recent Olympic Games in Paris.

Taking place on the evening of Thursday 12 December, the Trophée de Genève will feature the best riders on the planet as they battle it out for world ranking points and a place in the Rolex Grand Prix. As if that were not enough to whet the appetite of the Geneva crowd, the riders will have a second chance to qualify for Sunday's big event in Friday afternoon's Prix des Communes Genevoises. The top-quality action will continue with the last jumping event on Friday, the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, with the world's top ten riders duking it out for the coveted title. The reigning champion is Switzerland's Steve Guerdat, a winner last year on Venard de Cerisy.

Then, on Sunday, comes the aforementioned Rolex Grand Prix, one of the most eagerly awaited competition of the week and one quarter of the prestigious Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Switzerland's Martin Fuchs is among the leading contenders following his win on Leone Jei at the Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary in September. A two-time Rolex Grand Prix winner already, in 2019 and 2021, can he handle the pressure that will come with the opportunity to claim a EUR 500,000 bonus for winning back-to-back majors and with jumping in front of his home crowd? He will not be short of competition either, starting with his friend and compatriot Guerdat, who has made a fourth Rolex Grand Prix victory an end-of-season objective, having won the event in 2006, 2013 and 2015.

There are two world ranking events for the Geneva crowd to enjoy on Saturday evening. First up is the Grande Chasse, which will boast a course designed by Gérard Lachat and his acolyte, Grégory Bodo – the man behind the show jumping courses at the Olympic Games in Paris – and which makes elegant use of the Palexpo arena's mound and pool. Then comes the UBS Challenge, a Table A event that will allow some of the riders to enjoy one last lap of the arena before the event's closing day.

On Thursday evening, the organisers will pay tribute to the major sporting event of the summer, staging a celebration of the Olympic Games before the Trophée de Genève (19.50). The ceremony will look back at the highlights of Paris 2024 and will feature several jumping and eventing medallists. Maintaining the Olympic theme, a couple of obstacles from the Paris Games will also be set up in the arena.

Young talents in the spotlight

All eyes will be on the next generation in the Grand Prix Discovery on Saturday. Following two qualifying events on Thursday and Friday, the competition will give riders under the age of 25 the chance to shine on a demanding course, allowing them a unique opportunity to test themselves against elite global competition standards.

The national Jockey Club events that make up the Prix UBS will again take place on the Wednesday, when admission will be free. The best riders will go forward to Saturday's Coupe UBS du Jockey Club, a relay competition involving teams made up of two national riders and a cross-country rider. This year's event will also see dogs join each team and take on an obstacle course.

Pure adrenaline

Entertaining the crowd in the countdown to Friday's Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final will be Indoor Cross, presented by La Tribune de Genève, a spectacular event in which riders and horses take on a course that covers the main arena and the training paddock.

Driving lovers will have not one but two events to enjoy at the CHIG, with a competition late on Saturday afternoon and presented by the Institut International de Lancy allowing drivers to find their bearings before the main event on Sunday: the only Swiss round of the FEI Driving World Cup, presented by RTS.

Tickets will be available from the start of October at www.chi-geneve.ch and www.ticketcorner.ch. Alternatively, you can call 0900 800 800 (line open seven days a week from 8am to 8pm).

Press Release