The sire line of Brio de La Victoire (Quito Boy de la Victoire X Brunette 3eme -pictured left as a two year old) is one of the most prolific and widely dispersed Canadian Horse bloodlines today. Brio de La Victoire, foaled in 1958, was a proud, agile, bright dappled-chestnut stallion with an abundance of energy and joi-de-vivre. He was bred by long-time breeder and director of the CHBA, Ernest Sylvestre, and purchased as a youngster by Orrie Dobbs to do to the rural mail route. “ The steep hills up and down from the lake and village demanded a sturdy horse as the roads were often too difficult to navigate with a car in fall, winter and spring. Brio loved to trot but hated stopping at all those mailboxes, so Mr. Dobbs sold him. His new owner trained him for western riding, and Brio became renowned for his speed, agility and endurance, and won a great many trophies and ribbons for his proud owner.” (Gladys Beattie). Others who knew Brio recall that he had a playful, mischievous character and would retrieve things, such as a towel, thrown for him to fetch.

Even at 25 years old (pictured right at 26), Brio was still doing reining demonstrations, as fast and full of heart as any young colt. He could also work hard when asked. Gilles Racette recounts that a blacksmith who once had Brio in his stable when he was a young lad and Brio a young horse, told that in the spring, during sugaring time, if the snow conditions were so bad that the heavy drafters had a hard time with the water tub, their father would say 'lads, go get Brio'. Apparently, he was the only horse that could get the job done.

As a privately owned stallion and working horse, Brio did not sire as many purebred foals as stallions on the government farms. He sired only one purebred stallion who bred on, La Gorgendiere Brio Alto #3976, who in turn sired two sons: Alto Fakir #4121 and Alto Fox #4124. ALTO FOX is considered the father of the FOX line and he was used extensively, siring more than 50 registered offspring (GB). LG Fox Julo and LG Fox Lalou, are the most prolific Alto Fox sons. ( Pictured left Du Coteau Dynamo Mermoz, a son of Grande Meaulnes Julo Mermoz, and grandson of La Gorgendiere Fox Julo.

La Gorgendiere Fox Lalou (pictured right) was the highest selling horse at the auction held on closure of the last Quebec government farm in 1981, and he was classified in 1993 as a Class A stallion. While sometimes criticized for over use as a sire, it is important to remember that Lalou has had one of the longest careers at stud of any Canadian stallion. He sired his first foal in 1983 and continued siring foals until his death in 2007. Like Brio himself, progeny of this line continue to prove themselves as outstanding, athletic and talented performance horses in all disciplines, and are very much in demand by competitive horsemen and women. As breeding stock, descendants of Brio’s son, La Gorgendiere Alto Fox, include more 'source horses' or original foundation Canadian Horses, than progeny from any of the other eight designated sire lines. (Source horses link is to Alan Decato's work and website).

Back to Breed Profile Back to Sire Lines