Cat's gone riding

03 June 2013

Autan De Gageron

Sadly, i learn today the passing of Chris’s horse, Zac.

Zac was famous amongst Chris’s large circle of friends for its extreme survival tendency which it demonstrated often; although to a lesser degree as years went by thanks to Chris’s adequate handling. His innate behaviour has opened my eyes and even chocked me at times. Don’t take any horses for granted is the lesson i take from meeting this special horse.

My thoughts are for you Chris, in the memory of your much loved Zac.

Chris & Zac

Zac & David pulling a mass

...I left the Transhumance behind me and headed straight to the Camargue.

With an area over 930 sq kms (360 sq miles), it is western Europe's largest river delta. it stands between two rivers, the Petit Rhone and the Grand Rhone. It is a vast plane comprising of brine lagoons, cut off by sandbars and encircled by reed-covered marshes. These are in turn surrounded by a large cultivated area which has been drained for agricultural purposes.

The Little Camargue stands West of the Camargue.
Mosquito heaven!

Approximately a third of the Camargue is either lakes or marshland. the central area around the shoreline of the Etang De Vaccares has been protected as a regional park since 1927, in recognition of its great importance as a heaven for wild birds.

It is home to more than 400 species of birds. Its brine ponds provide one of the few European habitats for flamingos. The marshes are also a prime habitat for the many species of insects, notably and notoriously some of the most ferocious mosquitoes to be found anywhere in France. It is also famous for its rice paddies and salt pans. The Camargue is battered 200 days per year by the Mistral, a strong Northerly wind and from April to October burned by a merciless sun.

Rice paddy in May

Rice ready to be harvested in September/October.

Porteau are rain water ways to irrigate rice paddies.

Reeds are harvested

A traditional Gardian house with a thatch roof

This is a tough and sometimes hostile environment where the black cattle and the white pony thrive.

The Camargue foal is born and raised within the herd in the marshland. At 8 months old, it is weaned, branded and brought back to the mas (the farm) to be more or less handled following the manade's protocol. At 15 months old, it will be released back with the herd and brought back again at 30 months old to be started under saddle. Hopefully, they will be sold at Camargri in February, the reunion of all Camargue breeders. In a nutshell, this is the typical 3 first years of this little rustic horses.

Mares & foals at Manade Mailhan.

Soon I will head back to the UK with all the memories and rich experiences the Camargue has given me. With me Autan De Gageron will be crossing the Channel.

Meet cat's new pony!

Autan De Gageron

Autan is a 3 years old horse born within the Manade Mailhan in Gageron. It has been lightly started under saddle and has been in the bulls half of dozen time of which half with me. It is a bold horse, has some character and will develop to a powerful horse.

It will be delivered directly to my Mentor and good friend David Stuart in Shropshire for training.

Back from the marshes

Ridden here by Gardian Clement on a sunny day.

Quito De Gageron sire of Autan

Autan

Looking forward to moving on with Autan...

27 May 2013

Transhumance & Butteri cowboys

...From Palluds-de-Noves, i drove to Cuges-les-Pins to join the Transhumance.

Transhumance is a project organised within Marseille-Provence 2013 project. Marseille has been voted European capital of culture for 2013. The aim of this Transhumance is to drive cattle, sheep, mares and foals across Provence to the city of Marseille. The journey i embarked on the 21^st of May was 230 kms long and is due to finish on the 9^th of June. This was the idea! By day 2, i realised it was not for me after all and said my goodbyes. Here are a few pictures of these 2 days on the Transhumance.

I wanted to ride my pony but due to injury, i rented a horse instead.

Tao from Ecurie Des Enganes at Fontvieille.
Tao is a lovely horse with the right amount of energy.

Off we went from Cuges-les-Pins to Trets and to St Antonin-sur-Bayon.

On our way to the mountain St Victoire.

The St Victoire has been famously painted
by Cezanne no less than 1,000 times.
He painted this frame in 1887. It is exibited in the Courtauld Gallery in London.

Gilles on his 4 y.o. cross Apaloosa

We were accompanied by Butteri cattle breeder from the Maremma area, an extensive area of Italy bordering the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian Seas. They came mounted on their famous Maremma horses. They also brought Maremma foals and Maremmana cattle with them.

A Buttero cowboy with his Maremma gelding.
Maremma horses stands at around 1.70 cms and are all shades of bay.

With a traditional Buterro saddle.

Buterr0 cowboy with his horse

Buterri at work garding their cattle.
On the left of the picture, there is a Buterro on his mule Maremmana.

A Buterro highly perched on a traditional Buttero saddle.

Maremmana foals guarded on foot by a Buterro cowboy

2-3 years old foals in the Alpilles

Maremmani cow who gave birth on my last day.

Amazing sweeping horns.

Base camp in St Antonin Sur Bayon on the footstep of the Ste Victoire.

I left the Transhumance and headed back to the Camargue...

21 May 2013

A bientot

Mon sejour au sein de la Manade Des Orgonens du Manadier Bernard Colombet touche a sa fin.

Pendant sept semaines, j’ai été plongee dans le travail du betail comme il l’est pratique dans ce coin du monde. Je suis venu avec un esprit ouvert dans l’espoir de voyager dans des endroits dont je ne savais pas encore qu’ils pouvaient exister. Ca a marche et en consequence j’amene avec moi, dans ma prochaine etape, des richesses inestimables et des experiences inoubliables.
Ceci dit, cela n’aurai pas été possible sans l’ouverture d’esprit et l’acceuil extraordinaire que vous m’avez temoignes. C’est du fond du cœur que je vous remercie et vous dit a tres bientôt.

[My stay amongst the Gardians of the Manade Des Orgonens headed by manadier Bernard Colombet is coming to an end. It has been seven weeks of total immersion into the authentic way of life around cattle as practised in this part of the world.
I came with an open frame of mind ready to be hopefully taken places I did not know existed. It worked and I am continuing my journey richer as a result. All that said it would not have been possible without the open minded attitude and the kindness of your heart you all witnessed towards me. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.]

Merci a Bernard Colombet et ses fils Benoit & Bastien, Marion Fortunet, Maxime, Marine, Laura, Elian & Rosaline, David, Mathias & Enzo, Marc, Fabi, Allan & son adorable petit frere, Jeremy, Val & Marie, Mickael, Pierre, Marjo & Stephane, Joan, Jacques & Valerie jeunes maries, Christophe & Valerie, Jacques & Pascale leure equipe et leure famille, Clement & Ludivine, Melanie & Florient, Vincent & Corinne & son papa, Dago, les veterinaires au soin de mon poney, Alex, Sandro, Renaud et son equipe, Alison tout droit des Bermudes, toute ma famille retrouvee chez Jacky et Franck le week-end dernier, Simon mon mari (Pauvre Simon comme dirait Bernard) & bien sure tous les chevaux qui ont partages ces sept semaines.