As a sign of friendship, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, has decided to offer “Vésuve de Brekka,” a horse of the Republican Guard, to Chinese President Xi Jinping, said the Elysee as he begins his first visit to State China.
Emmanuel Macron , which began Monday his first state visit to China, will offer to Chinese President Xi Jinping, a horse of the Republican Guard, a “diplomacy of the horse” and unprecedented friendship toward its host gesture, said the Elysee AFP.
“During his visit to Paris in 2014, President Xi was escorted around the Invalides at the Elysee by 104 horsemen of the Republican Guard and was fascinated by the expertise of excellence”, explained the president.
“Eager to forge friendships with foreign heads of state, more than a gift, Emmanuel Macron wanted to make a diplomatic gesture”, said the Elysee. This action responds to the “panda diplomacy” of China, Beijing in 2012 by which lent to France a couple of pandas, whose baby was baptized in November by the president’s wife, Brigitte Macron.
Note that the transcription of Mandarin name of the French president is “MAKELONG“, which means “the horse defeats the dragon” .
Valuing the excellence of French horse industry
Dubbed “Vésuve de Brekka” This bay gelding of 8 years old comes from a small farming Channel and joined the Republican Guard in 2012. Emmanuel Macron will also offer its harness and an engraved sword of this sentence: “Mr. Emmanuel Macron – President of the French Republic – Beijing – January 2018 “ .
The horses of the Republican Guards represent excellence and Honorary Chairman at the home of heads of state, said the Elysee.
France also concluded “a partnership agreement between the Republican Guard and the Chinese authorities, building on excellence of the French horse industry has many assets to support the development of this sector in China” .
Vésuve de Brekka, born 10 June 2009 in Colomby chez M. Le Boulanger, is a typical horse of the Republican Guard. He made his last presidential escort November 11, 2017 on the Champs Elysees.
Stay in quarantined farm
The horses of the Republican Guard remain fifteen years on active duty. They are bought at the age of three years from private breeders.
They must meet the size criteria (minimum 165 cm at the withers to three years) and have a frank dress (chestnut, bay or gray).
The horse has traveled to China in a special plane, accompanied by the chief veterinarian and rider healer of the Republican Guard. They arrived on the 4th January and will take care of the horse in a quarantine farm until his official Monday night appearance. He will join the presidential team of Xi.
Meanwhile, Mr Macron will present Monday night at Xi, during their first meeting in Beijing, a photo of the horse he has autographed it.
General Damien Striebig, commander of the Republican Guard, accompanied the official delegation. The weapons saddle offered with Vesuvius dates from 1874 and equipped the cavalry regiments of the French army. Only the Republican Guard uses stool of this type today.
The partnership agreement between the Republican Guard and China plans an expert mission to China and training activities in France.
