Helios de la Cour II (29 May 1995, Moyon – 19 July 2019) was a bay stallion registered in the Selle Français studbook. He was owned throughout his career by his breeders, Emmanuelle and Jean-François Couetil. After a serious accident in 2006 that interrupted his sporting career for several years, he achieved a notable distinction by becoming, with rider Alexis Gautier, the first horse in show jumping history to win the French championship twice, in 2010 and 2011.
After establishing himself as a prominent breeding stallion, he died of colic in July 2019. He sired more than 700 foals, including the champion mares Qui vive de la Tour and Urhelia Lutterbach.
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History
Helios de la Cour II was born on 29 May 1995 at the Haras de la Patoyère in Moyon, in the Manche department of Normandy, France, to Michel and Colette Couetil. He remained under the ownership of his breeders throughout his life, who gave priority to his breeding career over his sporting career.
He was ridden exclusively by the rider Alexis Gautier. In 2006, he suffered a serious paddock accident that resulted in a torn kneecap, which led to his withdrawal from competition for three years. He returned to show jumping in 2009 and subsequently achieved, with Gautier, the first double victory in the history of the French Pro Élite Championship.
By the end of 2010, Helios was approaching the age of 16, which is considered advanced for a show-jumping horse. His last recorded competition was a three-star international show jumping event (CSI3*) held in Royan on 2 August 2012. He was officially retired from competition in 2013. Helios died of sudden colic on 19 July 2019 at the home of his breeders, Emmanuelle and Jean-François Couetil, at the age of 24. Following his death, his breeders expressed their sorrow at the loss of a horse regarded as the most accomplished they had owned.
Description
Helios de la Cour II was a bay stallion registered in the Selle Français studbook, classified as a "Selle Français originel," meaning that he had no crossbreeding with horses of other origins.
He displayed the morphological type of his sire, the stallion Papillon Rouge, with a square and expressive head, a stocky build, strong leg action, and temperament, but sometimes an excessively low balance over fences. He stood 1.67 meters tall.
Competition record
In 1998, Helios de la Cour II was crowned French champion in the three-year-old show-jumping category. In 2001, the pair formed by Helios and rider Alexis Gautier finished sixth in the national championship for six-year-old horses.
2010 season
In March 2010, ridden by Alexis Gautier, he won the Grand Prix of the Auvers show-jumping competition in the Pro 2 category with a faultless round. The pair were considered strong contenders for the 2010 French Show Jumping Championship. Gautier competed using a wild card, as the horse was not qualified for the championship. After leading the speed class, the pair completed a clear round on the following day.
In November 2010, the Helios–Gautier pair were among the headline participants at the Équipondi competition in Pontivy. They won the Pro Élite Grand Prix at 1.50 m after completing a double clear round in 45.47 seconds, placing pressure on their rivals with their performance.
2011 season
During the 2011 French Championship, the Helios–Gautier pair finished second after the Saturday speed class and subsequently placed first on Sunday over the two rounds of the Pro Élite Championship, ahead of Patrice Delaveau (Ornella Mail), Philippe Rozier (Randgraaf), and Michel Hécart (Ninon des Loulous). The pair completed a faultless round, receiving a half-point penalty for exceeding the time allowed.
In 2011, Helios achieved a show-jumping index (ISO) of 172, which remained his highest sporting year.
Origins
Helios de la Cour II was sired by the Selle Français stallion Papillon Rouge, out of the mare Sisi de la Cour, a daughter of Uriel. His pedigree included 33% Thoroughbred ancestry.
His major ancestor was the stallion Ibrahim.
Progeny
Helios de la Cour II was approved for breeding in the Selle Français studbook in 2000. According to Lucas Tracol in Grand Prix magazine, he had a significant impact on French breeding, siring 708 foals. In L'Éperon, Éric Fournier described his success as a sire as limited, noting that his offspring were considered relatively heavy for show-jumping horses.
Helios sired several notable horses, including the mare Qui vive de la Tour (ISO 161), as well as Urhelia Lutterbach, Pommeau du Heup and her sister Qadillac du Heup, Par Trois, Noa de la Chaise, Parenthese Tame, Quabelle, Quenelle de Normandie, Quassiope de Tivoli, Quinette du Quesnoy, and Rye Val de Mai.