A few tips on developing a traditional horse activity

Perhaps you’ve dreamt of being a horse whisperer like Robert Redford’s character in the eponymous film… In any case horses are surely one of the most beautiful animals you’ll see in a French field! But you don’t need to be a farmer or be specialised in animal livestock to cope with a horse activity. In France, many people living in the countryside fond of horses benefit from their extended land by buying some…

Where’s the best place to develop a horse activity?

There are two main regions particular renown for all things equine:

–          The department of Orne: as evident from its official logo (a joker and its racehorse running to success) the department of Orne is particularly attached to its equestrian centres and everything to do with horses. Normandy even has its own breed of horse: the Percheron. Known for their intelligence and willingness to work, Percherons are well-muscled horses that are very impressive.

–          The department of Dordogne: in the quieter, sparsely populated areas which constitute holiday paradise for those who need silence, horses will enjoy their freedom if you own a property with large, flat land.

In Ile-de-France, you will find hippodromes such as Vincennes, Maisons-Laffite, Chantilly or Longchamp. However, it is not adapted to a traditional activity as it’s all about racehorses, polo games and sports bets; and has little to do with the simple pleasures of horse riding in the countryside. Nevertheless, establishments called ‘haras’ (the equivalent of a stud farm) are places where breeding horses are looked after. These were instituted under the most famous king of France, Louis the XIV, who wanted to expand cavalry horses in the army.

What sort of outbuilding should you have?

Of course, you cannot plan to have at least one horse without any shelter, not only for the horse but also for its food and material (saddle, horseshoes …). If you’re converting a small building, remember a horse does not need that much space at night. At least a 20-30sqm surface just for the box is sufficient. An ideal stable could be seen like below

Note that this diagram is suitable for one horse only.

Two main things should appear in a stable: the horse box and a locker for equipment. As you may have noted, it is worth having two doors in a classic stable:

–          One normal entrance

–          One door for the box itself as horses could have unpredictable behaviour during potential unforeseen events (a thunderstorm, a fox in the box, heat…). A door to the box is safer especially if your horse is very excited.

One thing remains very important: never put 2 horses in the same box as fighting in a very small space can occur.

How much does a horse cost?

Prices for horses remain high. For a ‘hongre’ or a ‘pur sang’, prices start at €3,000 going up to €13,000 depending on its age and its size. A ‘double pony’, a ‘pony’ or a ‘shetland’ are generally sold from between €1,000 and €3,000. If your pocket cannot afford such a horse, you can buy a ‘poulain’ which is priced similar to a pony, or even below!

You can find the horse of your dreams on websites such as www.chevalannonce.com.