French artist Christophe Dumont created the art, which features giant 2.3 by 2.5 metre horses' hoof prints in a "100" shape, along with a team of 20 people who had to act quickly to beat the tide and take a photograph of the design - inspired by the tracks made by horses on the beach - before it got washed away by the waves.

"The giant hoof prints on the beach at the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel is a beautiful way to mark the 100-day countdown to the start of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, as it captures the free spirit of our wonderful partner, the horse," Princess Haya, the President of the FEI, said.

"And everyone who rides horses knows that we spend a lot of time training in circles.

"With just 100 days to go before the start of the Games, excitement is really building.

"The world's best horses and riders will be going for gold in Normandy so we can expect absolutely top sport.

"We are looking forward to these being the best Games yet."

This year's World Equestrian Games, which take place from August 23 to September 7, is the seventh edition of the sport's flagship competition.

It will feature athletes from a 72 countries - a record number of nations for the event - competing in the seven FEI disciplines of jumping, dressage and Para-equestrian dressage, eventing, driving, reining, vaulting and endurance.

Competitions will take place in Caen's Stade Michel d'Ornano, Zénith concert hall and La Prairie racecourse, in Orne at the Le Pin National Stud founded by decree of Louis XIV and known as "the Equestrian Versailles", and in Sartilly, with part of the endurance course running across the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel.



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