to Bowie’s “Let’s Dance” or Stromae’s “Alors on danse”, Pauline Basquin and her horse swung at the dressage competition

The potpourri chosen by Pauline Basquin was on the theme of dance for the last event of the individual dressage competition, the freestyle to music.

Pauline Basquin and her horse, Sertorius, entertained the audience on Sunday, August 4, who came to the Palace of Versailles to watch the individual musical final which concluded the Olympic dressage events.

Their number ended with the catchy Then we dance by Stromae. The 14-year-old gelding and his rider were warmly applauded at the end of the performance. A rare reaction during dressage events.

Then we dance is not the only hit in the medley created for the Games by the rider of the Cadre Noir of Saumur (Maine-et-Loire), an elite riding corps. In an interview published on the website of the French Institute of Horses and Riding, she explained that she had chosen music “related to dance” on the theme “Show me darling that you can dance“.

The songs were then adapted “with the appearance of Sertorius”. “We find for example David Bowie, but also Dalida, and I dance the mia from the group I Am. This is a little dedication for Rodrigue (Guyon), Sertorius competition groom. [le professionnel en charge du cheval]who listens to a lot of rap!“, confided the French rider in July 2024.

Its new soundtrack has been a hit ever since it was unveiled. “I’m told that people find it much more catchy. It makes you want to dance. That was kind of the goal, to have lively music, which resembles me and which resembles those around me.”

This choice was also validated by the public, less so by the judges. Pauline Basquin and Sertorius, the only French representatives qualified for this final dressage event, came 16th in the general ranking. However, the rider’s enthusiasm remained intact.I’m happy, really, that was the goal to be there and make Versailles dance,” reacted Pauline Basquin in the columns of Horse Mag.