Louis and Florence Couteaudier have about ten AQPS broodmares at Fours in the region of Nevers.The mares, which all descend from the bloodlines of Louis' father Hubert, cohabit with 100 cattle on 185 hectares. The Couteaudiers also breed sport horses for their son Luc who is based in Normandy.

Four generations of the Couteaudier family have been involved in horses in this tiny village close to the stallion station of Cercy la Tour, where most of the mares have been covered over the years.

The first mare Quennevières (by Gilbert PS and Hortense) was born in 1916 at Chalmoux. She was bought by great-grandfather François Mathé in 1920, who passed her to his son in law Louis Couteaudier.

Quennevières produced jumps winner Gamine du Rousseau (Gala PS) in 1928, who later gave birth to Dalila in 1947. In 1952 the latter produced Idole du Rousseau (Vermeil), Hubert Couteaudier's first mare.

Idole du Rousseau was an excellent broodmare. Her first offspring Tobrouck II (1963 Verdi) won 8 races. She also produced Baroud II, winner of the Grand Steeple Chase des Flandres.

The story continues thanks to Vodka II, the full sister of Tobrouck II, who gave birth to Prix du Président de la République hero Martinet II (1978 Cap Martin).

Another branch of the family gave another Président de la République winner Perceval (1981 Saumon), a grandson of Idole du Rousseau. An 8-time winner, Perceval was the best AQPS of his generation on the flat.

Val d'Alène, a great grandson of Idole du Rousseau, won 9 races including the Prix Lutteur III, Montgomery, Racing Post Chase, and 2nd in the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris.

Louis Couteaudier continues to produce numerous winners from this AQPS family. His best current horse is Ocarina d'Alène, winner of 4 races at Auteuil.

Ocarina d'Alène is out of Joliette d'Alène (Garde Royale), on of three daughters of Moldau which Louis Couteaudier kept unraced when taking on the family breeding operation.


Private breeding operation
185 hectares
10 AQPS broodmares
Biggest winners: Val d'Alène, Cabernet, Klarine d'Alène, Pipelette d'Alène, Ocarina d'Alène, Long Courrier, Opatiga, Quissac, Utanova, Scala IV, Colombia, Haïfa du Noyer, Laïka du Noyer.