Muscles, powerful, but also elegant: draft horses from all over France have won the public of the Equestria festival in Tarbes. Among them, the Norman COBs, proudly presented by Norman breeders, attracted all eyes.
The draft horse farmers came from all over France to meet in order to show the extent of their talents. Specially coming from Normandy, Michel, Christophe and François present their young Norman cob, a robust and versatile race.
“I am there in order to present the Norman Cob breed. We want to make them known, ”explains Christophe. Their breeding draws up horses from birth before offering them for sale. These imposing colossi find a beautiful showcase here to assert their qualities.
Rhythmic and choreographed shows
To enhance the diversity of breeds and skills, several common shows are organized every day on the additional facilities. Present on site since Sunday, it has been 6 months since breeders prepare and coordinate the numbers. Since last year, Amélie has been staging. “I work on numbers, choreographies and music. We have a layout so that all horses can turn, ”she says.
Tacks, free work, dressage: each breed is highlighted according to its specificities. “I try to have a look to, on the one hand, the place of the public and on the other hand, our place as a riders. We try to highlight what each horse can do in the specificity of its race. It is a pleasure to show our horses and show that there are not only meat breeds, ”she insists.
The revisited tradition
A well-known figure of the festival, Marie-Hélène has been a volunteer since 1996. Since 2018, she has been offering a Monte in Amazon demonstration at the request of the Tourist Office. This year, his friend Christian, a Norman cob breeder in Maubourguet, lent him his draft horses for the demonstration.
“I officially became the Amazon of Equestria. Since then, each year I have shown the history of the Monte in Amazon, ”she has fun. This equestrian art, inherited from the aristocratic tradition, consists in climbing with both legs on the same side of the saddle, while keeping elegance and control. A demonstration as rare as it is originally, like the festival. Another way to show The lightness and finesse of a horse that seems so tough.
