ENGLISH TEXTS real canters, riding on the bit. It was really enjoyable, especially with many young horses that we trained over obstacles. You could see real progress in these youngsters. The excellent atmosphere that prevailed in the yard was certainly not unrelated to this success. Jehan had a head lad who was very close to the staff. There were many of us young people, aged between 25 and 35, with genuine emulation among the riders, who were very keen to share their views and discuss the horses’ career prospects. It was truly great and constructive.
G. How did you earn his trust?
D. B. Things went well in the mornings. I think he really liked my way of riding and how I explained my feelings after the work. When I joined the team, there was a two-year-old colt who was very“ hot.” As soon as he had another horse in front of him, he tried to climb on top of it. I then suggested to the head lad that I ride him. I was the only one riding him in the mornings, and that colt went on to win his race in Paris. That was very rewarding.
G. Which horse made the biggest impression on you?
D. B. Jehan gave me a tremendous boost by trusting me in a Prix du Président de la République. He had prepared a horse called Encore Un Peu for this coveted race. Even though I had never ridden him before and was rarely associated with the yard’ s horses, I found myself at the start of this prestigious handicap. The owner was surprised to see my name linked to Encore Un Peu, but Jehan reassured him by saying that I had experience and that I had already jumped the rail-ditch, which was not at all true … In reality, I had never ridden horses of that quality. To find myself in a Prix du Président de la République with so little experience was something special for me, and I owed it to Jehan. We finished second at big odds, only beaten by Algan, a“ Doumen-Moratalla” ridden by Adam Kondrat. After Denis Leblond retired and Yannick Fouin had his accident, I rode more and more, as it was the era of stable jockeys rather than freelancers. That’ s how I was notably associated with the career of Le Sauvignon, winner of the Grande Course de Haies d’ Auteuil( Gr. 1) in 2000 and 2001.
G. In a few words, how would you describe Jehan Bertran de Balanda?
D. B. Jehan is a true horseman with a method that worked very well. I didn’ t take everything into my own training approach, but I was obviously inspired by it. We see things in much the same way.
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TOLD BY HIS FRIEND
BY CÉCILE ADONIAS
MARCEL ROLLAND
JEHAN BERTRAN DE BALANDA, A FORTHRIGHT AND LOYAL MAN
Between Marcel Rolland and Jehan Bertran de Balanda, a friendship has been going strong for more than fifty years!
They first met at François Boutin’ s yard in Chantilly. Jehan was an apprentice at the time. He would later continue his path in Lyon with Étienne Mazoyer before settling there as a trainer.“ We have always stayed in touch, both professionally and personally. Our families became friends, and we went on holiday together several times. And all of this, thanks to horses!” explains Marcel Rolland.“ I can’ t say that we speak very often, but regularly, from time to time. Jehan is a true horseman, a loyal friend and, even if one might not suspect it, someone who is sensitive to life’ s events. He doesn’ t show his emotions much, but he takes great pleasure in winning a race, for example. We were able to see this during his final victory at Auteuil in the Group 3 Prix Sytaj with Ocre.” The two friends have shared many moments together. One particularly fond memory that left a lasting
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