Discover our philosophy, how we work, live and evolve with our horses
and ponies ... all as naturally as possible ... The horses are horses they
like the others? How does it work without a bit ... and without iron?
The horse, a gregarious animal who needs the group ...

> The horses ... and others!
> Bitless ...
> Barefoot ...
> ... And the meadow, a herd

The horses and other ...

It often comes to me and talk about horses, people already passionate
these exceptional horses or others who are curious to discover. In general
the question that comes up most often is: "but, apart from the team ... what are they capable
do? . And fans are confident in coming to see me, to discover a farm
dedicated to driving, hauling logs, what do I know ...

Perhaps we should speak of "heavy horses" rather than horses, because
it's true, they are more impressive than a template just riding horses ... but they are
horses like the others ... can learn the same things ...

Our Ardennes do not know they are workhorses, they learned their craft horse
club and outside as the others. They have learned to make tight slalom, jump
obstacles, to gallop wisely as to the race when asked!

At the close of the red horse, each horse, the smallest (90 cm at the withers Titou) ...
the largest (for Junior 1.70m), is housed in the same boat. This is the most surprising,
I think, because the Ardennes do exactly the same work as the ponies. Obviously
each horse is different and all do not enjoy the same activities but you ...
'd be surprised as some of our "big" can have fun on the cross country courses!

Bitless ...

Attracted by the natural methods or "ethological" ... we are working increasingly without jaws. Most horses wear a bridle without a bit (type side-pull ") or a hackamore short and wide (the mildest possible). All horses were quickly adapted to these new mouths ... and happy. More battle to save the bit ... the horses are in the same nose hackamore! ... And are happy to snack on the move more freely!

Education was also amended to educate riders a new way to lead (in amount over the arms ...) and work (long rein for hackamore reins and more adjusted to the flanges without jaws).

Barefoot ...

Having horses in our heavy cavalry complicates things. Including the fitting is done mostly in a "work" a kind of metallic structure in which the horse is blocked from the time it is fitting to say, one hour minimum. It became more and more complicated because some horses do not support all struggle and get hurt ... I was forced to consider the fitting ...

Gradually, so I turned to natural methods of trimming and work barefoot. Here for cons, the transition has been long. I started by not breaking in ponies to my shoe and there, no problem. When the horse is working regularly, there is almost nothing to do and when it is idle or in spring when the horn grows faster, we adorn more regularly ("fire" means wholesale: cut your nails!).

For a horse that has been hooked, it gets harder. The adjustment period can stretch over one year with a course was more difficult when the horses work harder and wear the horn so quickly ... When the big, the only difference is they are heavier ! then for trimming, there sweating buckets ...

Today, all the cavalry (35 horses) walk barefoot. Riders also have adapted, they have learned to choose their ground and walk on the sides ...

... And the meadow, a herd

The horse is a gregarious animal that therefore needs to live in a herd. They need social contact, hierarchy, games ... he needs to monitor the group when he rests. The colt is also educated by the herd, he learns the hierarchy and respect for others. Life in the herd is essential to mental well-being of this great animal frightened the horse.

In addition, the horse needs to move, to use his shoes and having food to nibble continuously for morale ...

... For all these reasons, our horses and ponies graze and live in herds. In summer they have to contend with the flies and horseflies voracious and winter, they must be transformed into teddy fight against the cold ... but this is nothing compared to the balance that gives them the outdoors !

The comfort of our companions is paramount and this implies some constraints for our riders who must pick up their horse sometimes far end of the field ... and then here in the Creuse, the pastures are far from being flat! It ... must also know that horses love to roll in the mud in winter, so the grooming is also more laborious!