Located exactly 50 miles from the heart of Paris, Haras Seabird is home to well-known French Olympian and ‘Jump for a Just World’ Advisory Board member, Herve Godignon and his wife, Olivia, who acted as the show’s directors. Their generous support gave JustWorld International, a not-for-profit, humanitarian organization founded to prepare and empower students to become visionary leaders and work for social justice, the opportunity to formally introduce the ‘Jump for a Just World’ initiative to the French show jumping community.

“I have been riding all my life and now it is time to give back,” commented Godignon, a member of France’s Bronze Medal Team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games. “I think that JustWorld is a great concept, I fully support the mission of the organization, and I think it is important to educate people and help to change their way of thinking.”

Fittingly, Godignon, 52, was the winner of the first ‘Jump Eure’ Grand Prix, jumping to victory with his partner of 12 years, the 14-year-old selle francais stallion, Calypso d’Herbiers. From a huge starting field of 56 competitors, only three riders mastered the track set by France’s own Serge Houtmann, also a member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’ Advisory Board. The first competitor back in the ring for the jump-off, Godignon posted another clear round, a performance that neither of the other two competitors could rival.

“Herve was so tired after putting all of his efforts into organizing the show that he was debating whether he was even going to ride in the grand prix,” explained Jessica Newman, Executive Director of JustWorld International. “Knowing that so many people came out from his hometown to watch him compete helped convince him. In the jump-off, there were 4,000 spectators all cheering for Herve! After he won, the first thing he said was that he didn’t know how he had done it, he was so tired from organizing the show!”

Godignon donated a generous portion of his prize money to JustWorld International. There was little doubt that the first edition of the ‘Jump Eure’ competition was a success – over 2,500 horses competed over four days of competition. And, although common in North America, the ‘Jump Eure’ horse show was unique in that it offered divisions for amateurs as well as professionals, a rarity in Europe.

In addition to Godignon, ‘Jump for a Just World’ rider representative Eric Navet was also in attendance and enjoyed a top ten finish in Sunday’s Grand Prix. The newly crowned French National Champion addressed the crowd at a special cocktail reception held Saturday evening to introduce ‘Jump for a Just World’. Navet gave a sincere and moving speech about his reasons for becoming a rider representative, saying that he truly believes in the mission of the organization and that it was time that the equestrian community got involved in helping the world around it. He focused his appeal to the youth of the sport, encouraging them to follow his lead and get involved.

Rhonda Rioux of Canada, a member of the Advisory Board, spoke about the tremendous progress the ‘Jump for a JustWorld’ initiative is making, with successful movements now underway on both sides of the Atlantic. Rioux traveled from Quebec City specifically to take part in the European launch, and was thrilled by the tremendous support extended to JustWorld International by the French equestrian community.

During a presentation in the grand prix ring on Sunday, several ‘Jump for a Just World’ Junior rider representatives, aged 10 to 16, spoke to the crowd about their reasons for getting involved, including the commitment and enthusiasm they were determined to bring to the organization.

As a fundraising initiative, clinics with some of the top names in the sport were raffled off for the benefit of JustWorld International. Trainers who donated their services included Eugenie and Florian Angot, who will represent France at the 2004 CSIO Aachen, Reynald Angot, Jacques Bonnet, Roger-Yves Bost, Robert Bruel, Patric Caron, Frederic Cotier, Herve Godignon, 1996 Olympic individual bronze medallist Alexandra Ledermann, Eric Navet, Philippe Rozier and ‘Jump for a Just World’s’ most recent rider representative, Olivier Guillon.

“I can’t tell you how much Herve did for Just World, it was beyond our expectations,” noted Newman. “Herve managed to hold a show with great personality and class on his first attempt. Everyone who attended had the time of the their life, and I have no doubt that it will quickly become one of the best horse shows in the world! In 2005, it will be a first-class CSI event and I am sure the top riders will agree with me, especially given the beautiful facility and the great attention that is paid to every detail. I am so thankful to Herve for giving us this unbelievable opportunity to promote JustWorld International and raise our profile on the international stage.

“I am also grateful to Eric Navet who, during the ‘Jump for a Just World’ cocktail reception, announced that the French Riders Association (ACSOF), of which Herve is the President and Eric the Vice-President, unanimously supports JustWorld International and all its actions around the globe,” continued Newman. “We were also honored to present Olivier Guillon of France as the newest member of the ‘Jump for a Just World’ team. Several juniors followed in the footsteps of their idols, presenting themselves at the JustWorld International booth to request an application to become a JustWorld International Junior ambassador. And, touchingly, all of the juniors donated their winnings from the weekend!”

Founded in 2002, JustWorld International offers fellowship programs for students from around the globe to learn leadership skills, the tools that they can use to make a positive difference in the world. With several project sites already located in such underprivileged nations as Cambodia, Honduras, Senegal and Tanzania, students have the opportunity to work for change in a wide variety of environments on behalf of JustWorld International.

“I grew up in the horse industry and wanted to find a way to connect my love of the sport with the ability to fundraise in support of JustWorld International,” explained Newman, a former grand prix rider. “As a student, my life was transformed after I spent a semester working with street children in Honduras. I founded JustWorld International in order to give other students the opportunity to change their own lives by helping those in need and, in turn, become ethical global leaders. I am pleased that so many well-respected members of the show jumping community support our cause and that we have the opportunity to educate and raise awareness within the industry.”

Several other riders including Irish Athens Olympic Team member, Kevin Babington, two-time World Cup Finalist Ray Texel of the United States and current Canadian Show Jumping Champion, Eric Lamaze, have taken a strong interest in the humanitarian efforts of JustWorld International. Through a variety of initiatives, including donating a portion of their prize money or giving clinics to benefit JustWorld International, riders are able to support the organization. Several additional ‘Jump For a Just World’ events are currently being planned including, pending funding, a project site visit to Honduras with the ‘Jump for a Just World’ rider representatives in October to give the athletes direct contact with the projects their efforts are helping to fund.

For further information on JustWorld International, please visit www.justworldinternational.org.