A reverence to the Spanish bull

Whilst every manade within the Rhone Delta only breed Camargue cattle, Mr Hubert Yonnet was the first ever manadier in the history of the Camargue to breed Spanish cattle. i was kindly invited and honoured to ride with baille Gardian, Olivier, amongst these powerful beasts in the most remote part of the marshland.  The domain is 2,000 hectares and is a heaven for wildlife. We saw carps, an array of waterfowl, flamingos, a vixen fox with her young and the manade’s wild magnificent Spanish bulls. Cattle there are truly left alone.

 

For companion, i rode a 12 years old pony bred at the manade. It was described to me as a good horse, not too fine but just perfect for what we were about to do. We walk through marshland where water reached the girth albeit small horse, girth none the less. This horse was slowing down at nothing. It was sure footed and was on a mission. These horses are truly tuned to the cattle. They look for it!   

 

A true trooper, 12 years old poney from Mr Yonnet's manade.

Olivier on a 4 years old.

Oliver on a 4 years old.
We finally found the herd and calmly walked amongst them.



Spanish bulls are like Camargue cattle, also bred for their ferocity and aggressiveness. They are bred for the corrida which is practised on this side of the Spanish border also.

Cattle amongst sansouire. The sansouire is a palette of graces
which grows in salty marshland.
 

Amongst them, this variety of grass which is as nutritious as luzerne.
Cattle make the most of it when come across.

As soon as these two cows saw us, they swam across to reintegrate the herd
 

A beautiful Spanish cow.

Back at the mas (farm bulding) we unsaddled, jumped into a 4x4 and drove into a herd of 4 years old bulls. We stayed at a distance.

 

4 years old

4-5 years old

Back at the arena, Olivier rode for the first time this saddled 4 years old.
The unsaddled horse was the one i rode earlier. Here in the role of the baby-seater.

This was a truly special invitation. A special thank you to Mr Yionnet, Olivier, his baille Gardian & Jacques Mailhan.

 

Note aside, you have not really experienced the Camargue until you have been devored by mosquitoes and arabies (estival dermites which bites the scalp). Came back fully batptised...