Baladin's pedigree is one of the most interesting in American sport horse breeding today. This talented stallion was bred by Bernard Chevalier, master horseman, and individual Olympic gold medalist in Eventing at the London games of 1948 aboard the mare Aiglonne. Baladin's heritage speaks to a versatility and tradition of excellence seldom encountered in this country, and represents a unique opportunity for the discerning mare owner to use these time-tested bloodlines to secure a distinct advantage in the American market.

Sire Flox has produced many outstanding athletes including Grand Prix jumpers Arum (dam of Epigone, 7th in the French National Endurance Championships and selected for the French Team) and Virage de la Vie, as well as National Stallion Compa de'Lage. Flox has also been responsible for many of the top show hunters in France, either directly or through his progeny.

Paternal grandsire Demon Dissipe II is well known for his excellent daughters in France. He is the broodmare sire of Happy Vergoignan (one of nine National Stallions currently recommended for dressage breeding), international Grand Prix jumper and Nations Cup member Cook du Midour and features in the pedigree of the Trakehner stallion Konvoi, among others.

Dam Forteresse is by Fayriland II, one of the most highly decorated Anglo-Arabian sires. Fayriland II sired world-class foals successful in all Olympic disciplines, as well as flat, steeplechase and endurance racing. Among his most notable progeny are the international eventers Castelland, Hobby du Mee, David de la Brunie, Belouga de Seys, and El'iot, showjumpers Graves and Alban A, both chosen as State Stallions, and the dressage star Figaro x, exported as a stallion to Holland. He is also the sire of top French racers Hase and Feerie Blue. Fayriland II is the half-brother to another influential sire, Florestan II, who is featured in the pedigree of the outstanding Selle Francais stallion Amour Parfait, standing in the United States.

Above: Hobby du Mee, bred similarly to Baladin d'Oc (Fayriland II x Flox) - International eventer and longlisted for Athens Olympic Games.

Below left: Bentley, out of Dynastie d'Oc, half-sister to Forteresse, dam of Baladin d'Oc.Below right : Lambros, Champion Eventer in France and son of Derby d'Oc, half-brother to Baladin d'Oc

Baladin carries two crosses to the Arabian Djerba Oua, in both his direct sireline and his dam's sireline. Djerba Oua has had an immense impact on both French endurance and race breeding, and himself carries three strains of the immortal Denouste. Denouste is a common denominator in the pedigrees of Anglo Arabs seen in modern warmbloods today - Nithard (and thus Inschallah, Matcho, Iago C and Upan la Jarthe) and Arlequin (sire of leading jumper sire Zeus, Kwartet, dressage sire Quik du Rouet, etc.) carry multiple crosses to Denouste. Denouste also heavily influenced Russian breeding, through his son Kann and daughter Dikarka. Thus, Denouste can be found in the breeding of many American Arabians of the modern day, most notably through the leading sire *Padron and the immortal Polish mare Monogramma.

Baladin d'Oc represents a unique outcross for the American breeder, with an internationally-proven background in all aspects of equine sport. We predict his foals will prove to be equally versatile.