Versailles for dogs.

Seed bank with history: The French National Stud Haras du Pin is a tourist magnet and famous for its Stallions. The millionenteuren animals live in luxury are perfectly maintained - after all they have to create a considerable workload.

 

Argentan - "workaholic" is good: He has his name not be honored, but must be earned grace chew bread. The 27-year-old colt has the French National Stud Haras du Pin in Normandy brought a lot of money: 5000 Euro mare owners had to pay each time for a sperm donation from the American Trotter to obtain.

But since 2005, "workaholic" as a stallion in retirement, and he lies on his head curiously stable out when a group of tourists approached. Stud Guide Hervé Motas told that France's government for the purchase of the horse once converted one million euros issued. As amazed the visitors - as so often in this extraordinary place.

The Haras du Pin is the oldest of almost 20 national stud, which makes France. The buildings are from 1715, the Directorate for a castle-like building was built in 1730 completed. "Louis XIV decided that the farm is being set up," says Motas. Has experienced the "Sun King" to perfection but not anymore.

Because of the symmetry and the splendor of the buildings, the stud is often known as the "Versailles of the horses' means in reference to Louis XIV for large-scale converted castle near Paris.

Stallion Parade is Thursday

A landscape full of green pastures and forests surrounding the stud. It is located in the province of Normandy in the department of Orne, the closest major city is Argentan. But despite the secluded location, there are days in summer, where the parking spaces are scarce, because the number of visitors is so great: Every Thursday, the red uniformed employees at the stud "Jeudis du Pin" stallions before. There are horse-riding shows and dressage and horse show against the backdrop of the historic building.

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Of the 60 breeding stallions of the Haras du Pin Decksaison stay during February to July 20 in the stud, the others are in various locations in Normandy distributed. Who in keeping as many horses want to see, is planning his visit, therefore, better later in the summer. You can see there are Arabs stallions, as a working horse known cold-blooded Percheron and other breeds.

Many stallions have a past as racehorses. In the summer of 2008, for example, was "Daramsar" Haras du Pin in the home, one of the Aga Khan bought horse, 2006, five times in seven races and won 157,600 euros in total prize money einstrich. "He had this season 100 mares covered," says Hervé Motas proudly.

When visitors get a tour among other things, the upholstery can be seen, even goes to the coaches during the tour. They all come from the 19th Century, even a red-painted old stagecoach is underneath. "Before they were ten horses were always tense," says Motas, while his audience through the eyes have been elsewhere.

Because compared to the depot is located in the tall trees shade the grave of "Furioso," with many colorful flowers decorated. The stallion was 1946 to 1967 here at home and is the father of some 300 foals, many of whom were celebrities too. "Lutteur B" carried his rider Pierre d'Oriola Jonqueres in October 1964 in Tokyo, even the Olympic gold medal in show jumping.

Other studs must conclude

"We are a seed bank with a lot of history and beautiful architecture," says Hervé Motas at the end of his leadership and brings the purpose of the Haras du Pin in order to the point. How long the time to go further, in which the French state horse breeding as actively supported as it is today, however, is unclear.

The organization wants the national stud in the summer of 2009 to refocus begin foreseeable that in the coming three to four years, probably some studs are closed, "says Andrea Sölter, the representative of the Normandy Tourist Organization in Germany. According to their information will be located in the Normandy National stud - besides the Haras du Pin still in Saint Lô - but not be affected.

"Workaholic" may therefore continue to head to the curious stable stretch out when once again a tourist group, the "Versailles of the horses" and visited the stud farm leaders from the totals tell the American Trotter in his best years here, "deserve" has.