The acclaimed French breeder Germain Levallois has sadly passed away at the age of 81. Levallois was the man behind the famous Semilly-horses, and the father to French rider Eric Levallois who had many successes with the fantastic stallion Diamant de Semilly which he won team gold with at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera.

In 1977, Germain Levallois discovered the now legendary Le Tôt de Semilly as a foal at his breeder’s farm. Although the breeder did not want to sell Le Tôt, Levallois did not give up and could in the end buy Le Tôt. His son Eric Levallois has had many successes with the chestnut stallion, and as a sire Le Tôt became one of world’s best.

Germain Levallois' legacy lives on through the stallion Diamant de Semilly, a son of Le Tôt. Diamant de Semilly nowadays leads the WBFSH sire rankings.

Our thoughts go out to the entire Levallois family. 

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij // Source: semilly.com // Pictures © Dirk Caremans/www.hippofoto.be.