Cor de la Bryère is the stallion that revolutionised jumping horse breeding. His is the name astute breeders like to see, especially on the mare line for ‘Cord’ tends to give great form over a jump.

His sire – the French Thoroughbred, Rantzau, was bred to be a jumper. Rantzau was a descendent of the enormously influential Bay Ronald. A serious racehorse, Rantzau,  was the third ranked three year old of his year - in nine races between 2000 and 3000 metres, he won two and was placed five times.

Purchased by the National Stud, he arrived at the stallion depot of Saint-Lô on January 5th, 1951.
Of Rantzau, the stud inspector noted: ‘good front extension, remarkably built through the shoulder and fore-arm, long haunches, this classy stallion of rare nobility, also has low-placed joints and covers ground'.

Contrary to legend, the breeders in the area were quite enthusiastic about this well-bred, well-conformed and well-performed young horse, so much so that between 1951 and 1962, he bred between 40 and 49 mares a year.
In those days French state stud stallions were only allowed to breed 40 mares a year, plus the National Stud director’s cards used by him ‘in the interest of breeding’.

In 1976, when Rantzau had been dead for five years, he was still 3rd on the jumping sires rankings, by 1980 he had moved into 4th place. He remained for many years one of the leading sires of broodmares.
Cor de la Bryère almost never made it to the breeding barn. In 1970, the selection committee of the Haras du Pin visited his owner, Xavier Ribard and suggested ‘that is not breeding stock, he’s too much of a sport horse. Better geld him; he’ll make a useful gelding.’

The horse was now on the market – and it just so happened that the Holstein Association was looking for French blood, having seen the success of Furioso II and Futuro in Oldenburg. Oldenburg breeder (and showjumping ace) Alwin Schockemöhle was looking for a stallion star, and leased the Furioso xx son Urioso – however he was prepared to sub-lease the stallion to the Holstein Verband. Hence a Holstein inspection committee travelled to France to evaluate Urioso and in doing so, discovered Cor de la Bryère. Urioso ended up standing two forgettable seasons in Holstein while ‘Cord’ left an indelible mark on the Holstein breed, and jumping the world over.

He was not only a sire himself but a sire of sires. The full brothers, Caletto I, II and III were stars, as were the brother quartet of Calypso I to V.  Corrado has been a star for Franke Sloothaak, while Cordalmé Z with Gilbert Böckmann has also been successful at international level.

In his first season, Cor de la Bryère covered 70 mares at Siethwende and four colts from his first crop were licensed.

He was a stallion of great vigour, and as late as 1977 served a full book of 111 mares.
Although best known as a sire of jumping horses, Cor de la Bryère was also the sire of Corlandus, a World Cup Dressage Champion in 1989, and his sons Calypso I and Calypso II have proven useful sires of dressage horses.
Current German Olympic team member, Chacomo ridden by Alexandra Simons de Ridder is by Calypso I, as was Alexandra’s other FEI star, Champus.

In Australia the influence of Cor de la Bryère has been strong through his son, Contact imported in 1976. Although subject to a vicious campaign of vilification by established breeders (with stallions of their own), Contact produced a number of international level competitors: Corroboree (Grand Prix dressage) and the show jumper, Talkind, ridden by Colleen Brook at the first WEG in Stockholm in 1990, and sold on to Italy. The Contact son, Northern Congress is the sire of Australian Grand Prix champion and World Cup representative Charisma.

Calypso Classic (by Calypso II) was imported by Barbara Burrows, and after quite a successful dressage career, he has now gone show jumping. In Western Australia, Barrabadeen Stud imported two own daughters of Cor de la Bryère.

 In the latest WBFSH ratings, Cor de la Bryère is ranked 18th with 28 points earning progeny, but there are a staggering 20 own sons on the rankings: Calando I, II, IV; Caletto I, II; Calvados I, II; Calypso I, II, III; Cantares, Carneval, Carte d'Or, Casanova, Cavalier Royale, Cinzano, Constant, Contact, Corrado I, Cortez 679, Cosinus. There are also 12 grandsons of Cor de la Bryère in the standings - not to mention important stallions like Cathago Z and Burggraaf - who are out of Cor de la Bryère mares.