The riding stadium, built in 1887, was developed through a partnership between the Société Hippique Française, the Cercle International, and the City of Vichy, each of whom likely imposed their own architect: Albert Thomas for the development scheme, Henri Despierre for the stands (1,800 seats), stables and offices, and, ten years later, Henri Décoret for the entrance pavilion.
Since then, the stadium has undergone regular improvements, including the construction of a vast stables with 136 stalls in 1988, a reception pavilion in 1999 during the renovation of the entire facility, and then, in 2022, replacement of the grass track with a fibre-reinforced sand track, making it possible to hold longer competitions at a faster pace.
Since 1887, the stadium has hosted several prestigious horse-riding events, including pre-Olympic events, as well as being the setting for many other events such as bullfights, cycling races, and major public festivals. It has also experienced darker times, with the reception of 30,000 refugees in 1940 and the imprisonment of 753 people arrested by the French Liberation Committee during the purge in 1944.
Currently, Vichy hosts the oldest show jumping competition in France.
