Groom, course designer, volunteer... These enthusiasts who also do the Cannes Jumping

In the stables set up in Place Saint-Jin-Jin, Margaux Guilluy pampers the bay Cayman Jolly Jumper and the gray mare Acatitla, the horses on which the 43-year-old French rider Simon Delestre is competing until Saturday.

A groom for nine years, the young woman from Chambéry has been working year-round at her stable in Lorraine for the past year and a half. With twenty-five horses to care for, she's a passionate profession.

"I've been riding since I was six. I did a bit of competition in a club, but it's the relationship with the horses that fulfills me, more than riding them. I dreamed of being a groom, but at a high level, because I've always been attracted to competition." The daughter of a graphic designer and a bank employee, the Savoyard woman has managed to make her mark in the industry.

A good groom? "It's simple. The horses come first." From dawn until the end of the night races, Margaux watches over her two athletes, whose salary is close to a million. In Cannes, she lives, like the other grooms, in a truck. She gets up at 6:30 a.m. to feed the horses. She ensures preparation before entering the arena. And she picks up the animal after the effort for a shower, icing, massages, etc.

Which sometimes takes her until two in the morning. But her Galop 7 also allows her to ride these cracks if necessary in competitions in training on the flat. "It's intense, with sometimes seven weeks of competitions in a row." But rich in emotions. Her best memory? "The Paris Olympics. It was a goal for me to go there, and Simon [bronze medalist] had been chasing it for so long... The only regret is that Cayman was injured a month before, we couldn't take him. Other highlights were when he won two grand prix last March in Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands and the Saut Hermès a week later."

A life in a truck between two cargo planes, from Doha to Mexico City, from Paris to Monaco. "It's fantastic to be able to travel! " While Simon Delestre is a regular at the Cannes Show Jumping, this is a first for Margaux. Stressed? "No, you have to stay calm. Cayman is very timid and can become aggressive. When he trusts us, everything goes well." Dreams for the future? "The next world championships in Aachen [Germany] and then, the 2028 Olympics, we're thinking about it..."

Simon Delestre tours with seven horses. Work for Margaux...

Jessica Heitz, 18: Volunteer and amateur rider

We find her at the entrance to the track, wearing sunglasses, a cap, a Longines T-shirt, and a big smile. Her mission? To open and close the cordon as the riders pass through the various events. But that's not all. "We also pick up droppings on the access road," Jessica smiles. The young woman from Antibes is one of the handful of volunteers for the event.

Small hands that work in the shadow of the champions but are essential to the smooth running of the event. This is her second time at the Jumping. And it's always a great pleasure. On the bridge from 10 a.m. until late in the evening, she savors her chance. "Being in the middle of this big event is great. It's the opportunity to talk with riders like Julien Epaillard. He rides so well! At the Jumping de Monaco where I also volunteered, I was able to chat with Inès Joly. We also talk with the grooms, it's interesting."

A passionate rider for six years, Jessica learned quickly and honed her skills at the Villeneuve-Loubet club with coach Amandine Fulconis. With her sport horse acquired three years ago, the young woman competes in horse shows at Galop 7, with great results: French Elite Club Champion in July 2024 in Lamotte-Beuvron (Loir-et-Cher).

High-level training? "It's not possible, it's too expensive. But my goal is to start CSI next year and get my instructor diploma." Her dream? "To be a young horse rider." This means buying young hopefuls, training them, and selling them. There's no doubt her current BTS in business will be useful...

Uliano Vezzani, 68 years old: wetsuit boss

His tall silhouette, his blue shirtsleeves, reigns over the track. His work! This Italian from Emilia-Romagna is establishing himself more and more each year as the world's number one course designer. For 35 years, this former rider (he rode Pavarotti's horses!) has been designing the courses for the greatest equestrian competitions around the world.

For the Global, the master also officiates at the London and Monaco stages. "Cannes is one of the most beautiful competitions in the world. I love it! It's fantastically organized," he says in perfect French, laced with a transalpine accent. But what's his secret for crafting combinations and other complex sequences? "The first day is a test to get the horses on the track and gain confidence. Every day, we raise the level. I build the courses on the computer but often modify them on the spot. I watch the horses jump to make decisions about the next course."

He also designs the 12 or 13 obstacles that culminate at 1.60m in 5-star competitions and 1.70m in width for the oxer. Those in Cannes are new, made in France. A swarm of golden seahorses, a slew of multi-colored lollipops, a big clock for the "sponsor" bars, nothing seems forbidden in terms of shape and color. "The obstacles must combine technical and aesthetic conditions. We always manage to renew ourselves ." After Cannes? "A 3-star competition in Italy. I do 45 a year!" He's also continuing!