Cor de la Bryère

Origins

Cor de La Bryere, affectionately known as Corde, is an Anglo-Norman native born in May 1968. Despite his French origins, his career took a major boost in the 1970s when he was transferred to Schleswig Holstein. In 1971, Corde distinguished himself in the stallion trial standings, earning top scores due to his outstanding agility, elegant jumping gesture and good leg technique, showing courage in every trial.

The committee that examined him in 1971 described him as follows: “An enthusiastic worker with lots of energy and a golden temperament. An intelligent and alert horse who shows above-average jumping potential, as well as perfect technique and behavior, completes his jumping well, has a quick front and excellent use of the back.”

The qualities of Cor de la Bryère

At first, his name sounded a bit complicated and at a time when stallions were larger and more structured, his appearance was criticized for his slender frame, but breeders of the time quickly recognized Corde’s potential as a modern and athletic subject. He had a nice gesture on the jump, being able to bring his forelegs very close under him, he was very energetic and responsive typical of the thoroughbred horse, it was to be improved instead the power in the hindquarters .

Rantzau XX

Corde’s sire, Rantzau XX, proved in time to be a progenitor of excellence in the world of sport horses. He produced well mated to very heavy Holsteiner mares. His offspring were initially considered difficult to handle, but with patient and focused training they expressed their potential to the fullest. Through the dedication of the breeders, these foals exhibited superior qualities, thus winning the esteem and admiration of the industry. Rantzau thus gained prestige over the years as the sire stallion athletic champions and was a testament to the importance of good training and perseverance in equine breeding.

The inspector who observed Rantzau described him thus, “Good front extension, remarkable build of shoulders and forearms, long hips, this elegant stallion of rare nobility also has low joints and covers the ground well.”

French Thoroughbred lineage

Rantzau was bred for show jumping and descended from thoroughbred stallions such as Foxlight, Foxhunter, Foxlaw, Son-In-Law, Dark Ronald and 1983 Bay Ronald (son of Hampton), who became an influential stallion and continued Hampton’s bloodline. Bay Ronald was a fairly good racehorse who unfortunately, unlike his sire Hampton, failed to achieve important results. This stallion did not have a brilliant racing career, but he created very talented individuals and passed on his hardiness to them. He passed on the genes of the Hampton male line to subsequent generations. Thus two influential thoroughbreds were born: Bayardo and Dark Ronald.

Quenotte B

His mother, Quenotte B, a very tall mare, was descended from Lurioso (Lurioso x Landau x Clovis C), son of Furioso 1939 . Furioso produced the very famous Furioso II in 1965. Her grandmother Vestale du Bois Margot was destined for slaughter; she was purchased by Mr. Lenoir who made her a broodmare, who then sired Quenotte in 1960. Quenotte had five foals including Corde, Friday A, Hollywood A, Jehole and Quinoa de Jalesnes. When Corde was born she was eight years old.

Cor de la Bryere in the breeding

Cor de la Bryère represented, for the breeders of the time, a winning choice as a stallion thanks to an extraordinary combination of qualities that were reflected in his offspring. Among the strengths that made him an undisputed protagonist of the equestrian scene were undoubtedly his modernity and athleticism, characteristics always sought after in a stallion.

His foals were distinguished by impeccable leg technique, a round gesture on the jump and an incredible ability to use the back stroke, which gave them extraordinary power in the execution of complex jumps and movements.

Prominent among the descendants of Cor de la Bryère are names such as Calypso I, II and III, sired by the broodmare Tabelle of Heissporn, who produced five approved individuals. Another significant specimen is Calando I, the result of a cross with the broodmare Furgund, with whom she sired 14 foals, as many as five of which were approved. Caletto I, II and III, sired by the broodmare Deka, also marked an important path in modern breeding.

We cannot forget Corrado I, under the saddle of world champion Franke Sloothaak. Still today great progenitor of Holsteiner horses. Who passed away in 2018.

Curiosity

Corde as a foal was called a “horse with too sporty a line,” his breeder Xaiver Ribard was advised to geld him by the selection committee of the Haras du Pin . One day Mr. Maas J.Hell (head of the Holstein German studbook from 1971 to 1982), saw him from a distance in the paddock at the age of three and proposed to Ribard that he buy him. Ribard influenced by the committee’s evaluation, received a few days earlier, decided to sell him. Hell bought the foal, which at that winter time was not even that good-looking, it showed up with long hair and muddy dirt. That foal would later become the stallion of the century.

He is known as the “Reserve Stallion of the Century,” second only to Landgraf I.

Death of a star

During the night of April 26, 2000, the equestrian world mourned the passing of a great progenitor, Cor de la Bryère. This extraordinary stallion, who would have turned 32 in May, left an indelible mark on the history of breeding. His influence extended far beyond his lifetime.

Cor de la Bryère was a symbol of modernity and athleticism, characteristics increasingly in demand in the marketplace. His descendants helped develop horses that were not only beautiful and elegant, but also highly performing in competition.

His legacy lives on in the competition fields and stables, where horses related to him continue to shine, testifying to his unquestionable genetic value. In an industry often influenced by passing fads, Cor de la Bryère remains a beacon of stability and innovation, a pillar on which many breeders have built their success.

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