The Selle Français

The French school of the jump

France merged its regional half-bred studbooks into the Selle Français in 1958, but the horse is older than the paperwork: Norman mares under Thoroughbred and trotter blood, bred around the national stud at Saint-Lô with one destination in mind — the jumping ring.

The modern breed is a who’s-who of the sport. Baloubet du Rouet, Mylord Carthago, Quick Star: sires whose names appear in the pedigree of grand-prix horses the world over. The type runs bolder and bloodier than the German schools — quick off the floor, careful, and full of running.

Buyers should know the market is priced accordingly at the top, and the range within the studbook is wide. The French grading system helps; so does remembering that the best of the breed were bred to gallop to a fence, and appreciate a rider who lets them.