“The city must be proud of its athletes and sports. A horse riding, the assistant to associative life Alain Morlier could not miss the silver medal of the Aytresian Justine Ruffin, 23, won in dressage with her horse Brando de la Courance at the French championships disputed in Lamotte-Beuvron (Loir-et-Cher), on July 23 and 24.
A first national medal for the one who started horse riding at 4 years old in Aytré and who abandoned the full competition a year and a half ago on the recommendations of his Capucine Noël coach, six times French dressing champion.
Circuit du Grand National
Member of the Puy-du-Lac equestrian club, Justine Ruffin explains the conditions for this change of test. “Capucine Noël lived eight years in Germany where there is this dressage culture that we do not have in Charente-Maritime,” says the one working in a riding store in La Rochelle. I started to do it with Capucine for the full competition and she then told me that there was something to do in dressage. It was a bet, a whim, but I decided to get started and we work super well together. »»
How to explain these results? “Brando is stable, and always has the same rate, the best looks. As it is very clocked, we can thus distinguish figures. The horse presents well, ”explains Justine Ruffin. In free resumption, the costume rider also seems very convincing, especially on music of the violinist and American composer Lindsey Stirling.
This medal opens the appetite to Justine Ruffin and Brando de la Courance, aged 14 and who still has a few great years before him, probably up to 19 or 20 years. “This medal proves that we are capable of something in dressage, and that makes us want to go to do competitions on the Grand National circuit to see how it can happen,” finishes Justine Ruffin.
