A Golden Weekend in the Heart of Pau 2025

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In the autumnal calm of the French Pyrenees, the equestrian elite gathered once more at the Domaine de Sers in Pau for France’s only five-star horse trials. From 23 to 26 October 2025, Les 5 Étoiles de Pau delivered a masterclass in precision, heritage, and high society. When the final jump was cleared beneath clearing skies, Tim Price of New Zealand stood triumphant. Claiming his second Pau victory and reaffirming the event’s position as one of global eventing’s crown jewels.

A Stage of Tradition and Prestige

One of only seven CCI5*-L competitions worldwide, Pau holds an aura that blends elite sport with aristocratic history. Since its 1990 debut and its 2007 elevation to five-star status, the event has joined the ranks of Badminton, Burghley, and Kentucky in defining equestrian excellence. For four days each October, this tranquil corner of Nouvelle-Aquitaine transforms into a theatre of athletic grace and refined spectacle.

The 2025 Competition

Weather proved the early adversary, with heavy rains softening the cross-country terrain. Yet when the clouds lifted, so did the competition’s spirit. The technical course, fast, punishing, and exquisitely designed. Re-ordered the standings before the decisive show-jumping phase. Out of 53 starters, only 39 completed, underscoring Pau’s reputation for uncompromising difficulty.

Tim Price guided the chestnut gelding Jarillo with trademark poise, finishing on 30.9 penalty points to secure victory. His balance of elegance and precision across all three phases embodied the artistry of five-star eventing. “With Jarillo, all you have to do is lower your heels and put your legs on, and he jumps,” Price said, modestly crediting the horse for a performance that appeared effortless.

New Zealand rider Tim Price celebrates his win at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau 2025, surrounded by family, supporters, and his horse Jarillo after an outstanding performance at France’s premier CCI5*-L equestrian event. — Courtesy of Laura Dupuy

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Britain’s Tom Jackson staged one of the weekend’s most dramatic comebacks. After sitting 31st in dressage, he and Plot Twist B delivered a faultless cross-country and show-jumping double to climb 29 places. Finishing second on 33.2. The result equaled his best career finish at Burghley 2022 and showcased his resilience under pressure.

A rider and horse clear an obstacle during the show jumping phase at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau 2025, France’s prestigious CCI5*-L equestrian event held at the Domaine de Sers in the French Pyrenees. — Courtesy of Laura Dupuy

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Completing the podium, American Olympian Boyd Martin demonstrated remarkable stamina after placing third at Maryland’s five-star the previous week. Riding Cooley Nutcracker, the Irish Sport Horse fresh from the Paris 2024 Olympics, Martin produced a polished, rhythmic round to take third. His back-to-back podiums across continents captured the global dimension of modern eventing.

A rider in a red jacket competes in the show jumping phase at Les 5 Étoiles de Pau 2025, soaring over colorful horse-shaped obstacles before a captivated audience at France’s premier five-star equestrian event. — Courtesy of Laura Dupuy

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French fans had their own reasons for pride. Benjamin Massié and Astier Nicolas, both piloting young French-bred horses, finished seventh and eighth, earning admiration for composure on home soil. Though the tricolore flag did not top the podium, the performances reinforced France’s emerging strength as it looks ahead to next season’s world championships in Aachen.

A rider and horse soar over a cross-country obstacle designed as a miniature house during Les 5 Étoiles de Pau 2025, showcasing precision, strength, and control at France’s premier five-star equestrian event. — Courtesy of Laura Dupuy

The Price Legacy

For the Prices, Pau is almost a family heirloom. Tim Price has now completed the event a record 12 times, winning in 2021 and again in 2025, with additional podiums in 2015 and 2020. His wife Jonelle Price, winner in 2022 with Grappa Nera, finished tenth this year on Señor Crocodillo. Together, they have etched their names into Pau’s modern history. A dynasty of consistency and grace emblematic of the sport’s highest ideals.

A Theatre for Sport and Society

Pau is as much a social ritual as a sporting one. Across the weekend, more than 40,000 spectators descended upon the Domaine de Sers. From seasoned equestrian followers to cosmopolitan guests in cashmere and tweed. The VIP Village served as the event’s social nucleus: champagne breakfasts, tasting menus curated by regional chefs, and private terraces overlooking the main arena. Conversations drifted from bloodlines to Bordeaux vintages, as guests mingled with riders and patrons in an atmosphere both intimate and elevated.

Evenings in Pau are legendary. The 2025 edition revived its traditional Saturday soirée. An al fresco fête blending Béarnais charm with cosmopolitan glamour. Elsewhere, the Exhibitors’ Village offered a curated marketplace of luxury saddlery, fashion, and fine jewelry, while local vineyards poured grand crus beside artisan delicacies. Sponsors such as Forestier Sellier, Crédit Agricole, and the City of Pau underscored the event’s blend of craftsmanship, culture, and community. The pillars of its enduring prestige.

Meaning Beyond the Arena

Beyond the medals and the pageantry, Les 5 Étoiles de Pau encapsulates something elemental about equestrianism: a dialogue between power and poise, risk and refinement. It is France’s sole five-star, a status that carries both responsibility and romance. Each year it reaffirms that eventing, at its zenith, is not merely competition but culture. A living expression of tradition and taste that resonates with a global audience attuned to excellence.

As the sun set over the Pyrenean foothills and the applause faded, Tim Price and Jarillo took their victory lap before a crowd still luminous with admiration. For them, and for Pau, 2025 was more than a triumph; it was a celebration of what happens when heritage meets perfection. When sport becomes art.

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