This stallion has been one of the most successful in France in the past ten years – both as a performer and now as a sire. As a young horse, Apache was sensational – at three years of age, he won the stallion grading in Normandy {and coming from the Vendéen region was the first horse bred outside Normandy to do so!} and then went on to finish 7th in the World Young Jumping Horse Championships in the seven year old class, Ridden by Jacques Bonnett, the stallion won Grand Prix in Madrid, Barcelona and Lisbon, Nations Cup classes in Rome and La Baule and World Cups in Bordeaux and Bercy. He was retired at the age of 14 after being long listed for the French team for the 2000 Olympic Games.
Apache d’Adriers out of the the mare, Joyeuse de Choisy by the Thoroughbred Felix. Felix was by Moutiers who descends from Prince Rose, a regular name on jumping pedigrees (and a descendant of the Bay Ronald on his dam line}. On his dam sire, Moutiers is out of a Nasrullah mare (Phalaris} and on the female side, traces to Ballyferis with Son-In-Law/Dark Ronald on his sire line.
Her dam, Violette O was by Invincible who was by the Thoroughbred, L’Alcazar. Violette O was the dam of a series of well performed jumpers and the stallion, Harris (by Arquebusier}. Her full sister was the legendary Nouba D, who competed in French showjumping competition up until her twentieth year, competing in foal or with a foal at foot.
Joyeuse de Choisy commenced her breeding career at the age of four – and her first foal, the filly, Pivoine de Choisy – by Double Espoir – was a spectacular success, a finalist in the 6 year old championships and a top open competitor. Her second filly, Valkyrie d’Adriers (by Jabad} is now breeding in Belgium where she produced Idole de Rêve (by Quito de Baussy} a finalist in 7 year old class in the 2003 World Young Jumping Horse Championships. French team rider, Jacques Bonnet had been competing on Pivoine de Choisy, and recommended putting the mare back to Double Espoir – the result was Apache d’Adriers. However Apache was not a typical product of Double Espoir – his other sons, like the famed Flipper d’Elle or Fidelio du Thot, tend to be short and compact, where Apache was influenced more by his Thoroughbred grandsire, Felix, who stood for only two seasons.
After he won the three year old championship. Apache d’Adriers was sold to the National Stud where he career as a sire has been hugely successful. According to his breeder Henri Brugier, Apache d’Adriers has a good temperament: "You didn’t have to explain things to him twice, he would always try because he is clever and once he had been explained things he would learn fast. At the earliest age he showed power, and passes it down to his progeny. The best match is with very ‘elegant’ mares that carry blood. He also gives his offspring his very good bascule. His offspring are fit, have muscle tone, and his very good temperament. Three-quarters of his offspring are chestnut like him, but he also breeds bay and sometimes grey foals."
According to Jacques Bonnett: "Apache d’Adriers does not mark his offspring with a specific conformation but he passes down to them his great temperament, winning spirit and great jumping ability. He is a generous horse and a great competitor that gives it all when he is in the ring. His offspring are of good overall and homogenous quality and I have never seen a bad one. His weaker point is maybe a slight lack of engagement which hinders his canter. For me, Apache is among the five best sires in France."
According to Patrick Clerin, Assistant Manager at the National Stud of Bois, where Apache stands, "His best match seems to be with Thoroughbred mares and with mares with a lot of blood in their pedigree, the modern and sports type. His offspring don’t always carry his mark but usually inherit his great show jumping ability."(All these quotes are from Apache d’Adriers: Norman-Vendéen mix by Claire Lavaillez in the December, 2003 edition of Breeding News}
In 2002 Apache d’Adriers attracted 82 mares, making him the 38th most popular sire in France. He ranks 13th on the French Performance Stallion rankings (based on genetic indices in CSO performances} with an ISO of 181. In 2003 Apache d’Adriers had five finalists Fontainebleau with double clear rounds (only Urbain du Monnai was more successful with six}. Four of his oldest daughters: Gapache d’Adriers, Gazelle Sange, Gloria de la Roche and Héritière d’Adriers are very successful national and international competitors as is the stallion, Histrion du Serein.
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