Biography

It will be a first Badminton for French rider Sebastien Cavaillon (35) who is based in Normandy. With Badminton entry Sarah D’Argouges he made his four-star debut at Pau last year completing in 15^th place.

Sébastien started riding aged eight at the Vélizy Pony Club and was soon competing. In 2001 he was the French champion of the team clubs in eventing. He then competed in jumping and dressage while pursing further education. In 2006 he passed his instructors exams and for two seasons was a rider at the yard of former French team rider Frédéric de Romblay. During this time he acquired  Only One Du Reverdy with who he gained 13^th place in the CCI2* at Le Lions and competed in his first three star competitions. In 2008, he moved to Normandy, as the manager of a small sports stable. In 2011 he was selected as top athlete receiving support from the Haute Normandie Region and the Department of Eure. In 2017 he received serious injury and was hospitalised and operated on to repair damage to his pelvis after a fall with Sarah D’Argouges at Bramham.

Sebastien, who trains with Theirry Touzaint is married to event rider Julie Bordenave. The couple has a three-year-old daughter and runs its own training and competition yard, Equi-Complet at Haras de Montmal, 100k east of Caen.

Sarah D’Argouges is a 13-year-old Selle Francais mare. She is a daughter of the stallion Quite Easy (a son of Quidam de Revel) out of Uranie des Halles who is by the thoroughbred Count Ivor. Uranie Des Halles is also the dam of the licensed stallions Volodia D’Argouges and the better known Doris des Halles sire of event horses including the four-star horse and Badminton contestant Lully Des Aulnes (Joris Vanspringel). Sebastien has ridden Sarah for six years in 2013 competing in the seven-year-old World Championships in Le Lions. She is described as ‘the queen of the yard’.