From 1901 to 1957, the Grand Palais was a regular outing for Parisian high society with show jumping competitions that became immensely popular. In fact, it was to stage this type of event that the Nave was originally designed, with no supporting pillars to obstruct the view or the horses! Carriage driving, speed, show jumping and other equestrian events were guaranteed to draw sell-out crowds to the grandstands erected around the arena.
After a 53-year break, equestrian competitions were back in the Nave. Saut Hermès, an event organised by the world-famous harness-maker turned fashion house was staged from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 April 2010.
During the week before the show the Grand Palais morphed into a glass-roofed race course-cum-arena, with 4,000-seater grandstand, 1,200 tons of polytrack (a sand and fibre mixture) and decor signed by Hilton McConnico, featuring wooden horses in the mignonette green livery of the Grand Palais. Workshops devoted to saddle-making and silk, along with photographic exhibitions, gave the public insights into what life is at like at Hermès' luxurious downtown headquarters on nearby rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré.
Thirty of the world's top riders competed for the new 5-star Hermès prize. On Sunday April 4, of the riders to emerge from the qualifying rounds, it was the German Marcus Ehning who picked up the Grand Prix Hermès, worth 200,000 €.
In addition to the competition, legendary horse trainer Bartabas gave two representations of a sumptuous show entitled "Charivari équestre" set to music by Philip Glass and featuring the Versailles Equestrian Arts Academy.