CHERRY CREEK CANADIANS

2. Brio de La Victoire Bloodline

This line is also often referred to as the "Fox" line.

Brio de la Victoire (#3665) was a small chestnut stallion foaled June 2, 1958. His breeder was Ernest Sylvestre of St. Hyacinthe QC, and he was owned by Maurice Sylvestre also of Hyacinthe QC. Brio stood 15 hh, and weighed 1,000 lb. His speed, agility and endurance were renowned. His sire was Quito Boy de la Victoire (#2974), a chestnut, and his dam Brunette 3ème (#3583), a black. Brunette 3ème was a very influential mare who can be found in the pedigree of many of the foundation stallions.

Brio de la Victoire sired only one breeding stallion, La Gorgendiere (LG) Brio Alto (#3976), also a chestnut. Alto in turn sired two sons, LG Alto Fakir (#4121), who sired one son with no surviving male offspring, and LG Alto Fox (#4124,) who sired 52 offspring, 13 of which went on to stud.

This line is becoming very prevalent, and is now the most common bloodline in the Canadian Horse breed today. It frequently produces foals which are nice looking, athletic, good movers, and often black. In addition, horses of this breeding sometimes seem to be taller than those seen with the other lines. In recent years, this line has been used extensively; of the 522 horses registered from 1990 - 1992, nearly half, or 41 % were sired by a stallion of primarily Fox breeding. The increased use of this line has perhaps played a role in why the Canadian Horse breed appears to be increasing in height and size now.

Although many Brio or Fox horses are very calm, according to some, the Fox line does have somewhat of a reputation for occasionally producing horses which are a bit more "hot" or "spirited" than the other lines. Perhaps this is why horses of this breeding are often quite striking looking, as well as athletic. With this tendency however, occasionally these horses may not be quite as calm and docile as are those from some of the other bloodlines.

Other Information:

For photos of some of the horses from the Brio bloodline, see the Canadian Horse Stallion website set up by Anne Belanger of Ferme Franchere:  http://groups.msn.com/2p0/lignfox.msnw