Halifax du Barquet, the promising eight-year-old stallion who has steadily risen through the ranks under Sofian Misraoui, is leaving France for a new future in the United States. After a series of solid performances at 1.40m and 1.45m, the Selle Français, bred by Benjamin Ghelfi, has been sold to what Misraoui describes as “a top American program.”
Halifax du Barquet has built an interesting and consistent competition record over the past years. Bred by Benjamin Ghelfi in Calvados and owned by the Rulquin family, he first entered the ring in 2021 on the French four-year-old cycle with Audrey Paris. A brief period with Cédric Bellanger followed before the stallion moved to Sofian Misraoui’s stable in 2023.
The pair progressed quickly. In their first season together, they secured fourth place in the French Six-Year-Old Championship in Fontainebleau. One year later, they continued their upward trajectory with an eighth-place finish in the Seven-Year-Old Championship and a selection for the WBFSH Studbooks World Championships in Valkenswaard, where Halifax again demonstrated his reliability and scope.
The 2025 season brought further confirmation of his abilities. Halifax collected several placings at 1.45m, including a thirteenth place in the Grand Prix of Mâcon (Chaintré). His final appearance with Misraoui came on 19 October in Gassin, where they finished fourth in the CSI2* Grand Prix. Earlier in the year, they also jumped an impressive clear round at 1.40m during the CSI2* Jump’Est in April.
Misraoui expressed his gratitude to the Rulquin family and the Cheval Liberté team for their trust throughout the partnership.
