First published in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue II December 2016.
Celebrating the Champions – IM Bayard Cathare.
One of the most popular stallions on the European and Middle East circuit in the past few years has been IM Bayard Cathare. He is a horse that makes people smile, especially when he turns on his powerful movement, and this rich chestnut stallion celebrated one of the biggest wins of his career at the European Championships in Lier, Belgium, at the end of October.
Bred by Richard Roques in France, ‘Bayard’ has been with his handler, Franck Cibois, since he was four years old and it is the bond between them that is part of the reason that they are so magical to watch. It was Franck that orchestrated the sale of Bayard to the Royal Cavalry of Oman and there, this 12-year-old stallion has continued to shine.
Sired by Padrons Immage, they dynamic son of Padrons Psyche (Padron x Kilika) and out of Scarlett Angaell (Ansata Omar Halim x Zelent Cadence), IM Bayard Cathare is out of the Russian-bred mare Shamilah Bagheera, a daughter of Nadir I (Neman x Neschi) and out of Britania (Menes x Karinka). Thus Bayard is predominately Russian with an infusion of Egyptian and Polish bloodlines.
As a show horse, Bayard has enjoyed an impressive career, with titles including the Gold Senior Male Championship at the Vichy International Show in 2012 as well as the Bronze Senior Male title at both the European Championships in Moorsele and the Elran Cup that same year. In 2013, Bayard started the season in the Middle East, taking a delighted Bronze Senior Male Championship at the Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships. Later that year, he would take three Silver Senior Male titles at the Menton Mediterranean & Arab Countries Arabian Horse Championships, the UK International Arabian Horse Show at Addington, and the European Championships in Verona.
IM Bayard Cathare choice two. Credit Anette Mattsson.
Having suffered colic surgery in early 2014 and, thankfully for all concerned, recovered, Bayard returned to the show-ring at the Abu Dhabi International Arabian Horse Show in 2015, taking the Silver Senior Male Championship.
People are always happy to see Bayard in the show-ring – especially as he is not a stallion that is over shown. If anything, Franck is very protective of his charge, and he will only take him into the ring when everything is right – and that includes the horse and how he feels.
That said, Franck has always had huge belief in Bayard and this year, he wanted to campaign him once more, aiming for the coveted Gold European Championship title. First stop was the beaches of Menton, where he took the Bronze Senior Male Championship in good company. Then, it was time to wait, for October and for the European Championships.
“I just really felt that this was his year, his year to win the Gold,” Franck tells me. “He has placed twice in the championships at the Europeans before, first Bronze and then Silver. Surely this had to be his year.”
And it certainly was! Having won his class with ease, Bayard came into the ring for the championship showing his usual power and charisma. As the results were called, IM Bayard Cathare was crowned unanimous Senior Male European Champion! Franck was delighted, as were all the team from the Royal Cavalry, but it was Franck’s daughter who won our hearts, gently kissing and hugging ‘her’ stallion while the National Anthem of Oman was played.
Bayard will now go on to Paris for the World Championships, a place where he has been named World Top Ten previously but this just may be the year that he takes home a very deserved title. I think that there would be just a few tears among his fans if he did…
First printed in The Arabian Breeders’ Magazine Volume I Issue II December 2016. To enjoy further content such as this, please visit The Arabian Magazine Shop.
