three horses born in the English Channel medal winners

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Even their breeders didn't know it: three horses born in La Manche allowed French and foreign athletes to pick up three medals (gold, silver and bronze) in pentathlon modern during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Élodie Clouvel in silver thanks to Fly de Vesquerie

Because the horses participating in these events in the prestigious setting of the Palace of Versailles were loaned to the athletes by the prestigious Republican Guard.

Four allowed their riders to win medals: one in gold for Hungarian Michelle Gulyasone in silver by Frenchwoman Élodie Clouvel (who had already been Olympic vice-champion in modern pentathlon in Rio) and two in bronze.

During the ceremonies of November 11, 2024, in Paris, these four horses of the Republican Guard in turn received a distinction: the bronze military medal of national defense .

Three of these four Selle français horses were born in Manche: Dallone of the Dunes in Moitiers-d’Allonne at Yves-Marie Drouet, Fly de Vesquerie et Saying of Vesquerieat the Gaec de la Vesquerie of the Coulombier family, in Sartilly-Baie-Bocage. These two farms are witnesses to a long Manche tradition because they also watch over, and even above all, herds of dairy cows.

The fourth is from a Manche stallion

The fourth musketeer is called Fast du Pré. He was bred by Sébastien Laforge in… Calvados. But, consecrating the excellence of horse breeding in La Manche, his father Efle de B'Néville was raised by Jean-Baptiste Thiébot, in Benoistville. This Manche breeder gave birth to two horses that won gold medals at the Olympic Games in eventing: Piaf de B'Néville in Rio and Amande de B'Néville in Tokyo.

Yves-Marie bought Dallonne's grandmother when he was 15 or 16 years old!

If they had not been warned before the competitions, the breeders of the three Manche horses were invited to the ceremonies on November 11, a few days before by a rider from the Republican Guard. Yves-Marie Drouet and his family did not have time to make themselves available. They experienced this moment in photos.

“We are proud to have a crowned horse,” recognizes Yves-Marie. He and his brother Jean-Noël took over the family dairy farm. But their father was also one of the most renowned breeders of Norman Cob draft horses. In addition to managing the dairy cows with his brother, two employees and two apprentices, Yves-Marie continues to breed horses and not just a little: around forty Cobs, ten French Selle and as many Shetland ponies!

“I have always loved horses”, recalls Yves-Marie who bought his first filly, at the Lessay fair, when he was only “15 or 16 years old”, a little against the advice of his father. Her name was Genette, she came from the Morel breeding farm in Brécey. And she is none other than the grandmother of Dallonne des Dunes.

Yves-Marie presented this foal to the Republican Guard 8 years ago during a purchasing gathering in Ravenoville. He joined the Célestins district. “It was the first time we sold to La Garde,” remembers Yves-Marie, of whom he still has Dallone’s mother, Précieuse des Dunes, among his broodmares.

The Coulombier family delighted with this beautiful moment

For its part, the Coulombier family is used to selling to the prestigious mounted gendarmerie unit: “We sell very regularly to the Guard. We offer it to them when we think we have what suits them. We know their expectations,” explains Jérôme Coulombier.

“We were invited to go. It was my wife Carole, my sister Lydie and my mother Liliane who went. They had made a car and two gendarmes available to follow the procession on the Champs-Élysées. There was a true recognition of breeders-calves. »

However, this is far from always being the case. “The medal ceremony was in the guard enclosure. It was protocol. But they brought the horses out of the ranks to take photos with the breeders. They told us they were delighted. It was a beautiful moment, a moment they would never experience again. »

“Dicton participated with the Hungarian and allowed her to win the gold medal and Fly allowed Élodie Clouvel to obtain the silver medal. We found out during the tests because people who were there sent us photos of the screen with the names of our horses,” says Jérôme.

“Three out of four from La Manche, even if it’s not the flagship discipline, it shows the quality of the horses from La Manche. Afterwards, we are the French department where there are the most births of Selle français horses,” explains the breeder who is also a rider to train their young horses over obstacles. “It was also a satisfaction for the Guard because it was the last time that horse riding was part of the pentathlon event after the controversy of the Tokyo Olympics. It will leave a good image. »

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