Camargue horses

mandwhy

mandwhy

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When I went to do a summer work placement in Italy about 6 years ago I fell in love with a fabulous Camargue horse/pony, he was only about 14.1 but gelded late and thought he was the biggest most majestic stallion in town and too much attitude for the riding school kids he was intended for!

I just wondered if anyone has a Camargue or has even been to the place to see the (semi?) wild herds? The pictures are amazing and I would looove to go!

I found a place in Norfolk that has some, I think it is a trekking centre and they had a camargue x andalusian for sale which would have been a lovely combo I think and a more sensible height for me too! I just don't hear much about them in the UK and they are gorgeous things!
 
The place where I went on holidays this year was just north of the Carmargue and the owner had two lovely Carmargue geldings (and was well chuffed that I correctly spotted what they were :D). They were lovely - like two big happy dogs that ran around the property with him, and then went out through the forest with him ride and lead.

I have driven through the Carmargue abut 15 years ago, and you do see the herds in the distance. I can't imagine my horse would survive very long as his feet fall off if they're wet for any length of time and he hates the heat and flies :D but these herds did look very impressive running through the shallow waters and marsh :)

They are small but the ones I saw this year were very sturdy and carried a normal sized man with no problem.
 
never had the pleasure of seeing one in the flesh but i've been saying for the last few weeks i might trade my lot on for some seeing as my fields are bearing a remarkable resemblance to a marsh right now! :)
 
I vaguely remember a couple of years ago some people riding some Camargue horses from their home in France, all the way to GB, for charity I think.

Wouldn't that be a fantastic way of bringing your chosen horsey home
 
I would ask anyone in contact with Camargue horses to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get some hoof pics.

I've been after some pics for years :p.
 
I used to live about ten miles from the Camargue, so saw the ponies quite a lot. They were nice little things.

Yes they may do well on our boggy land! Never thought of that, but the weather up here would be a bit different for them, they'd probably get rain scald!
 
Oberon said:
I would ask anyone in contact with Camargue horses to PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE get some hoof pics.

I've been after some pics for years :p.
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am i right in thinking their hooves have adapted to the wetlands environment so they don't suffer the same problems that our horses do with prolonged wet conditions?
 
Haha Oberon I probably have a distant shot of said horse's hooves but unfortunately not in detail!

I thought the same ibble wouldn't they be perfect for our wet muddy climes!

I was lighter when I was there but light for me is about 12st haha, he did fine though and I think they just needed someone, anyone to start riding him again as he was living the life of riley being the devil pony none of the kids would ride haha.

Ahh I would love to go over there and see them!
 
Ibblebibble said:
am i right in thinking their hooves have adapted to the wetlands environment so they don't suffer the same problems that our horses do with prolonged wet conditions?
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Yep :).

I've spoken to an expert in Camargue horses and she said they have excellent feet as standard.

Of course, they eat a natural diet of grasses and plants gained over a large area (so no funky mineral imbalances like our small fields have), they have free access to movement and they consistently stay on the same ground (not like our horses living in a bog and then being expected to hack on concrete).

So the Camargue have the lifestyle that we strive to create for our own horses to try and grow good feet.

I thought it was interesting as most of the research on wild hooves comes from Mustangs or Brumbies - so not easy to equate to a UK setting......but Camargue horses are closer to home.......
 
Oberon said:
So the Camargue have the lifestyle that we strive to create for our own horses to try and grow good feet.

.
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hmmm so if i let my horses out free range on the farm, which i think is about 250 acres, how long before they adapted i wonder;) of course they wouldn't have to contend with hacking on concrete as on 250 acres i don't think i'd ever be able to catch them again to actually ride them lol!!

why do we not study our native ponies feet:confused: surely they would give us the best clues on the ideal barefoot model for horses/ponies in this country! i've noticed it's always mustangs but the terrain they cover is very different to anything we have here:confused:
 
Here's one! Isn't he sweet looking?.Looks are deceiving :-)

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He was shod all round which seems unnecessary since it was just bare ground, scraps of grass and the school round there.
 
Ah that's the place I was asking about any for sale lottiepony! Ended up buying my haffy, think I would quite like a collection of 'european native ponies'! I'd need a Fjord, an Icelandic, hmm what else...

I'll be sure to line them up and photograph their hooves for you enthusiasts ;-)
 
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