Claire Lefort and the team, it’s a long love story. Already multiple champion of France in pony driving, she has just won her first title with a horse.
When we love, we don’t count. After five French championship titles with her pony (now retired) the Montalbanaise has just taken a new step by winning gold, on horseback this time with Ed. “I still lead a pony but I decided to take the model above (smile). I am also part of the France team “notes Claire Lefort. Two years ago, she decided to join forces with Ed, a Dutch horse: “I think it was a logical development in my career. It was a new challenge (smile)”. But going from a pony to a horse is far from easy for a leader, especially when you are a woman. “A horse obviously has more strength, it has a different character from a pony even if our ponies are small horses. Overall the horse category is more competitive and more professional. Afterwards, the competition remains the same since we always have the dressage, marathon, and maneuverability events. Simply a horse passes certain obstacles less easily than a pony but it also goes faster in a straight line. You have to adapt (smile) “. And Claire Lefort, always associated with her companion Yannick Crasnier in the car, has adapted perfectly to this new role by beating all the competition in mid-October during the last French championship, which took place in special conditions, in respecting sanitary measures: “The team is rather user-friendly and for the competitions to continue we must respect special measures. Fortunately the horses are not affected by the disease; at least we are quiet on that side. (smile)”.
The Mondial on pony in 2021 and on horseback in 2022
After this national title, it is now the winter break and sure that next season the objective will again be to aim for the title but also to participate in the world championship which will take place in 2022. “Of course it is a challenge. objective for us. France is well placed at the world level and has a real role to play. This year I did not participate in the world championships in Pau because I was only reserve. The DTN made its choice and obviously it was judicious because the French crew finished vice-world champion. I hope that one day we can be selected. The international competition is tough. Since the Worlds on horseback are every two years, in 2021 we will aim for the Pony World Championships. We’re very busy “. The young woman is never satisfied: “It’s always a real pleasure to train and compete at the highest level. The motivation is always present and it is not over. There are always goals to be achieved. , I haven’t finished (smile) “. For now Claire and Yannick are content with one horse. Why not therefore aim for a four-horse team (authorized at the World Equestrian Games)? “These are first of all serious financial constraints and then a work multiplied by four. Four horses means at least six horses in the stable, some being more specialized in certain events than others. A single horse can do. all the tests, it is a little easier to manage. Ed has already done two and four teams so he was already educated. He still had to put it in hand because previously it was men who were leading him (smile). Now it’s okay because he lives at home with us “.
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