The title of champion of France for “Lazeez” marks a real rebirth for Michel Combette. The breeder, a few years ago, after having lost everything, was thinking of stopping his career. It was without counting on the solidarity of his breeding friends and an ability to “feel” the potential of the foals.
A thoroughbred Arabian breeder for thirty years, Michel Combette is passionate about this horse: “I started with low-end horses, it was a long job,” recalls the breeder. He underlines: “I had opportunities… It seems that I have an eye. When you don’t have a lot of money, it’s essential.”
Recognizing the potential is its great quality. This is what happened with “Lazeez”. “He was a few months old, he was under the mother and belonged to Tamim ben Hamad Al Thani and he was not even trotting,” he testifies.
Medalist in Milan, Morocco and France
A few years earlier, the breeder had however lost everything. “I had gone to work in Morocco and when I returned there was no longer a horse, the bank accounts were emptied. I no longer even had access to my home,” explains the breeder. A trial is still ongoing. He was able to recover five mares and out of solidarity of the breeders offered him coverings when he thought to stop and turn the page of his passion.
Little by little, he was able to resume his activity until he was able to spot “Lazeez” at the age of 6 months. Six months later, he was a silver medalist in Milan and then in Morocco, each time taking the best place among the European candidates. Last year, he won the silver medal in France before taking first place this year. “When you are lucky enough to find an exceptional horse, things go much faster,” recalls the graulhétois breeder who, for the time being, does not have the necessary budget to participate in the next world championship.
Even if “Lazeez” will not be able to compete, his success reminds us how much Michel Combette always has “an eye” for these Thoroughbreds who still fascinate him as much.
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