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?It was sweet revenge for their third place finish in the World Cup Final in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, last year. Their recent victory has now also promoted Mändli to the elite top ten in the world rider rankings (9th).
To visit Jean François Noël you have to drive right across the La Manche department, up to the Cotentin region; pass through Ste Mère l’Eglise, the historical village where United States paratroopers landed during the Second World War and drive along the coast road to Réville village to reach “La Sauvagerie Farm”.
Here is the birthplace of the Noël family where Jean François’s grandfather and then his father built a significant reputation in producing top quality Norman cow bloodlines on the familial “du Thot Farm” during the fifties. “Just like most farms in Normandy, there has always been horses and broodmares at home, mainly dedicated to tough jobs in fields,” and naturally his father teaches horse riding to his eight kids.
Jean François soon became aware that there may be an opportunity for professional diversification as jumping competitions and breeding selection were growing steadily in Normandy under the impulsion of the Navet, Pignolet and Angot families......