The legendary Oldenburg stallion passed away yesterday (Tuesday, 13 October 2026) at the age of 27. Right up until the end, he remained in superb health and thoroughly enjoyed his retirement.

Bred at Gestüt Lewitz in 1999, Balou du Rouet was sired by the iconic Baloubet du Rouet, a stallion who wrote sporting history by securing Olympic individual gold in 2004 alongside three consecutive World Cup Final victories between 1998 and 2000.

Royalty ran just as deep on his dam’s side. Balou du Rouet’s dam, Georgia, was sired by Contender—another absolute titan of modern breeding. She also produced Cornet’s Balou, who claimed the German national title for five-year-old show jumpers in 2011.

Following his licensing in 2001, Balou du Rouet first made his mark in the arena. He won his qualifying round at the Bundeschampionat with an eye-watering score of 9.2, before going on to compete successfully at Advanced (S) level.

An Indelible Mark on the Global Sport

That Balou du Rouet cemented his status as a true breeding legend is backed up by his stellar standing in the official WBFSH sire rankings:

  • WBFSH Show Jumping Sires: Ranked 15th worldwide

  • WBFSH Eventing Sires: Ranked 31st worldwide

He passed on his phenomenal scope, lightning reflexes, and golden temperament with pinpoint consistency to countless offspring competing at the pinnacle of the sport. From major international Grand Prix fixtures to the Olympic Games, Balou du Rouet’s name is woven into the very fabric of modern equestrian history.

A Breeding Titan

Among his most outstanding progeny are Balzaci and Balance, who both enjoyed stellar careers under Felix Hassmann, as well as First Class van Eeckelghem. The latter helped Daniel Deusser secure team silver at the Olympics before passing away far too soon in 2017 at just twelve years old.

Baloutinue has likewise soared to great heights with Laura Kraut, finishing runner-up in the prestigious Grand Prix of Aachen in 2025 and bagging Olympic team silver for the United States in both 2021 and 2024. Meanwhile, Baloutaire PS continues to fly the flag for Gestüt Lewitz under Patrick Stühlmeyer. All told, around 200 of Balou du Rouet’s offspring are competing at top-flight international level.

Thank you for everything, Balou. Your legacy lives on through your offspring, but your unique character will stay in our hearts forever.