GERMANY (by Adriana van Tilburg) During the recent European Championships in Aachen, the ‘Rouge’ brand was being promoted in the showjumping arena by Quartz Rouge – an 11-year-old stallion by Ultimo van ter Moude, out of Emeraude Rouge (Qredo de Paulstra). He is just one of a generation of international jumpers perpetuating the bloodlines that are synonymous with Haras des Rouge father and son Fernand and Xavier Leredde.
The two Lereddes have an exceptional eye for interesting stallions and mares, while Xavier has the added benefit of factoring his experience of jumping competitively at the highest level with many horses into the breeding equation. Where he once came to Aachen as a rider, now he came as a breeder to Aachen to support his friend and owner of Quartz Rouge, Andy Smaga.
Leredde and Smaga collectively contributed to this interview, prompting each other for clarity. When Leredde became very passionate he reverted to talking in French to Smaga, who provided a translation.
Quartz Rouge
Q What is the story of Quartz Rouge?
A guy from Saudi Arabia wanted to buy a foal and I in- vited him to our farm. He only wanted colts and said that two foals were ver y good. He wanted to buy two foals, a Darco x Caletto II and Quartz Rouge. My father said you should buy 10 foals and then I will let you buy these two foals, so he bought in the end eight foals!
AS: Three years later Quartz Rouge was at the Fences auction. He had an excellent pedigree. At the Fences auction they let the horses free jump and jump under saddle before the auction. My daughter told me that Quartz Rouge will be too expensive. The day of the sale he was very tired, the horses are five days away from home and he was not so well prepared for the auction, he was fat and had a thick coat. They needed to help Quartz Rouge a lot with the free jumping so the price didn’t go high at all. I got the horse for a very small price. He was just coming right out of the field and my daughter bought it with her first money she earned. I think we can agree that it was a good investment...
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