L’arc de Triomphe

Color: dark bay

Born: 1999

Height: 170cm

approved for: Oldenburg, SF, SI, Zangersheide

The young Landor S stallion that was to become known as L’Arc de Triomphe, was licensed in Oldenburg before he topped the Fences Auction in France, where he is now a successful young sire.

L’Arc de Triomphe on his dam’s side carries the blood of Pilot and Gotthard.

Once again, L’Arc shows the importance of a solid mare line, descending from five generations of States Premium mares. His dam, Praeludium is by Pilot, still one of the greatest of all jumping sires. Before L’Arc, she produced the Landadel son, Latin Lover who won an S class before being exported to Ireland; with Sandro, she produced Simona, with Lanciano, Laser 12 and with Quattro, Quattrophonie, classified as an elite foal at Vechta in 2001.

Praeludium is out of Gybsi, who competed with Gert Wilfang. Another of her foals by Pilot, competed in the USA as Prior. Gybsi is by the Gotthard son, Goya who only served two seasons, but appears on the dam line of two superstar stallions, Graf Grannus and For Pleasure.

In the 2007 season in France, L’Arc was the second most popular stallion with 307 mares, three times more than he served the previous year with a predicted 400 customers for 2008. This despite a problematic temperament and miniscule sporting career!

Let Bernard le Courtois tell the story in his inimitable fashion:

“This is a horse that I know well, having selected him with my Fences associates at the age of three, when his loose jumping naturally impressed me… Then for having followed him as a 4 year old in Bruno Souloumiac’s stables and then finally two years later during an unsuccessful competing period of a few months with Patrice Delaveau and the help of a ‘whisperer’… This over-gifted horse has a more than borderline temperament and has never taken kindly to competing. This was to be expected, as his breeding by Landor S, as well as Pilot, is reputed to produce quality horses, but of a difficult temperament. Maybe L’Arc has been under too much pressure since a very young age due to his exceptional aptitude. But then his breeder says that L’Arc was strong-willed from the very start. Contrary to the rumours explaining his unmanageable temperament he was not a bottle-fed orphan. His mother is still alive and kicking!”

L’arc de Triomphe -> Landor S / Pilot / Goya

“Neither force nor whisperers were to reason with him. This horse, probably far more intelligent than his counterparts, has always done what he wished. Whether in hand, ridden or serving. He once again gave proof of this at the stallion show in Poitiers in February 2008, when he refused to enter the ring to be presented to the public. And his sporting career was effectively very short and delicate, he in fact only really jumped as a 5 year old. In that year he was qualified for the final (and thus approved as a factor of SF-B). L’Arc preceded by the trumpets of his record price has been successful at stud, since the age of 4, and without any performances. Not even his reputation as a difficult horse was to change his popularity. He has always served over 100 mares. He was the recipient of a huge marketing manoeuvre and his very young production was largely put to task in the 2 and 3 year old shows, to promote their sire. And they were successful. This investment was to bear fruit as in 2007 when his first foals were 3 year olds, L’Arc served over 300 mares, three times more than the preceding year and is in constant increase.”