2014 World Equestrian Games

The Normandy Horse Day jacket.

The Cadre Noir uniform has to be the most charming in the world. Elegant and understated black with a touch of gold. This rider waits for the Cadre Noir demonstration.

By the evening there was a large crowd to watch the presentation of Champions at Normandy Horse Day. The Champions included two trotting stallions, a racehorse ans a showjumper.

The commandant of the Cadre Noir by tradition enters at the Spanish walk. See what I mean about the uniforms

These two Cadre Noir riders, in non traditional saddlery did a delightful pas de deux before the main display. The dressage was good and the position of the riders, perfect.

This young horse we think belongs to the stud and at the time of the photograph, he/she was awaiting her lunch.

There were almost as many dogs as horses at the St Lo Normandy Horse Day. This resident dog keeps his eye on us as he guards his stables.

Entry to the stud was free on Normandy Horse day and there was a good crowd to see the many displays on offer.

Even the St Lo gardeners are getting in on the act as this topiary showjumper demonstrates.

This Percheron mare really had that "look at me quality" and was keen to show off her foal. After their presentation, the mares and foals just stood around on the lawn and anyone interested in purchasing the foal, or the mare for that matter, just walked up and engaged the handler in conversation

Fromage anyone? As always food is never far away from any French occasion. The local Normandy produce specialising in butter , cheese, beautiful bread and magnificent fruit and vegetables, especially apples that go to make the famous Normandy cider and Calvados.

If only they had thought of this in Caen!. Throughout the day horse drawn buses, in this case by two lovely Percherons with plenty of pulling power made continuous circuits of the National Stud.

This interesting Georges Voyer sculpture was one of several large sculptures on offer in the National Stud Shop.

Obviously friendly, this Percheron stallion, one of 100 stallions at the St Lo National Stud absolutely invited a pat and posed for photos no problem. The Stud specialises in breeding, Percherons, Norman Cobs, Trotting Horses and French Saddle Horses. The famous Holstein stallion Contendro 1 is amongst the 100.

Occupational health and safety not. Europeans seem to think that horse people have commons sense and for the most part they do around horses. After the parade of various foals they stood around with their mothers as chilled out as you please hoping someone nice would take them home. Well actually they were thinking that they were happy with their mums and were not aware of the separation trauma to come.

Horse business is big business in Normandy. Ten thousand horses are bred every year in Normandy and 40% are racehorses. That leaves 60% for other disciplines with jumping high on that list. There are 300 riding schools in Normandy and each year the horse industry in Normandy contributes 238 million Euros to the economy. During the day sale horses jumped around a course appropriate to their age. The average asking price for a four and five year old jumper was between 37 and 48 thousand Euros excluding VAT.

There was plenty of hospitality offered to potential horse buyers, with the Champagne, cider and beer flowing freely along with some beautiful canapes. We wonder who will wake up tomorrow morning and not remember buying a horse?

The Selle Francais Stud Book presented 349 two and three year old fillies for sale from private owners. There was an extensive catalogue with the breeding information, just like a Thoroughbred sale in Australia. All were shown free jumping and three judges awarded a 40,000 Euro prize to the one they thought the best.

Number 322 , the three year old, 'Braise De Toscane' , by a Jalisco B stallion out of a Diamant de Semilly mare awaits her turn.

The only way to navigate the St Lo National Stud.

This is a representation of how the horses used to be kept in standings. We are not sure about France , but in Denmark they are no longer able to be kept like this. But if you think about it, in the days of horse power, a great many horses were stables and there were just not so many 12 x12 boxes.

A collection of horse drawn vehicles. The Normandy Horse Day was free for anyone who would like to come and they come to look at the horses and horse power of the past.

This handsome head belongs to a Quidam de Revel Selle Francais stallion, one of 100 stallions at the St Lo National Stud.

A overview of the jumping arena for the Four and Five year old horses

The Three and Four year old fillies being put through their paces in the main indoor arena.

The St lo National Stud is vast with numerous arenas and indoor schools.

One of the vast outdoor arenas at the Stud and again a beautiful surface. Recently the government spent 15 million Euros on upgrading the stud. These are figures only heard of in the racing industry in Australia.

The St Lo National Stud, one of 22 National Studs in France was built in 1806 by Napoleon to produce horses for his military campaigns. There are eight stable blocks in the main courtyard housing 100 stallions.