Courage “The Fench Nobleman,” picture-perfect and tuned for performance, clearly typed with great personality, exceptional ridability, striking gaits and forward motion. He has great jumping and dressage ability. Körung: Oldenburg 1985. At his HLP in Medingen 1985: Courage proved to be right at home in the jumping ring. Although he scored 97.07 for rideability, and 99.51 overall (22nd of 33), his jumping index was 118.32. Courage shined in the jumping ring, with wins and placements in tournaments (Turniersport) and jumping horse tests (Springpferde-prüfungen) at Klasse L and M, and then in M level jumping (M-Springen).

Of the 14 foals from Courage's first year at stud (1986), were several auction foals and the filly Cinderella who became a States Premium mare and was Champion of her grading in Hohnstorf 1990, she sold for 27,000 DM in a high quality auction for dressage talent.

Other offspring include: Cointreau, one of the most noticeable young dressage horses out of German breedings, a Bundeschampionat 5-year-old finalist, and dressage horse under owner Marion Henkel in Warendorf 1995, he is heading toward a large dressage career in his future. Cointreau, qualified for the Bundeschampionat twice, and was in the forefront at the Hanoverian Springpferdechampionat in Dobrock three times.



Courage comes from an elite family with age-old performance genes from high-blooded French breeding.

Sire: Karaté was a Star at the Haras National (state stud) in Roche-sur-Yon and one of the leading Springpferde-vererber of the younger generation in France. He classified étalt (?) in 1985. His offspring include 2 young stallions which entered stud in 1980 and sires of 4 winners in CSO.

Karaté's sire Canapville was a grandson of the very remarkable Mourne, a famous racehorse who was involved in a railway accident that ended his racing career after only 6 races (and 3 wins). Mourne recovered to become one of the greatest sires (Vererber) of French thoroughbred breeding and a foundation sire of sport horses with excellent jumping ability. He produced several thoroughbred CSIO winners (including Alcatraz and Croquette), while some of his stallion sons produced very talented CSIO and CSO winners (including the top stallion and international champion Laudanum). According to a statement made in 2004 by France's leading horse breeding journalist Bernard Le Courtois “the line of Mourne is one of the best to produce showjumpers.”

One of Mourne's best sons, and the sire of Canapville, was Snob, who won 3 races (including Prix de La Forêt, and Prix de Lutece). Snob became France's leading sire in 1969. He was both a champion sire and a champion broodmare sire in France. He was stationed at Haras du Quesnay 1964-1972, and then in Japan 1973-1978, where he also was a good sire.

Karaté's mother Chiquita is a daughter of the famous Ibrahim who sired the universally known Almé as well as the Spitzenvererber Elf III, Double Espoir, Tanael, and Quastor. She was also full sister of the Nationalbeschälers Ukase, and the half sister of Atout Coeur and the mother the Beschäler Hébron in Switzerland. She belongs to one of the best mare families of France, which produces numerous Beschäler and international Jumping horses.

Courage's dam and granddam both represent serious jumping success.

Dam: Virgule A daughter of the thoroughbred Invincible whose grandfather Apelle was one of the first great international racing horses of Italy. Apelle's breeder was the brilliant Federico Tesio, who also bred from an Apelle daughter the Italian Derby winner Tenerani, who, in turn, sired the legendary racehorse Ribot.

L'Alcazar and Ibrahim were also respectively dam-sire and sire of the jumping horse maker Kibrahim of Holland.

Dam's dam: Elegant made breeding history with her outstanding son Carrousel, France's best jumping horse in 1977 who, among other things, won large prices in Hickstead, London, Madrid and Barcelona as well as over 530,000 FF.



Courage is approved for Hanoverian, Oldenburg and Hessen... “all breeding areas except Trakehnen,” in Germany...