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event is the legacy of the stallion parades that took place in Cluny and other Stud farms in the days of the National Studs , then presented by the National Stud Manager , a civil servant , in full uniform .
First Try , A Masterstroke The Coopérative Agricole des Éleveurs de Chevaux de Course ( SCAECC ) of Cercy was created in February 2012 to provide a solution to the end of public stallion provision . “ Apart from the National Studs , there was nothing in the area except the Haras de Saint Voir , which is more than eighty kilometres away ,“ explains Jacques Cyprès , the cooperative ’ s long-standing president . “ If we hadn ’ t reacted , we would have lost a huge number of mares .“ Seventy-six breeders therefore became founding members , investing a thousand euros each to take their destiny into their own hands . The cooperative began by leasing the National Stud stallions from the Cluny district , including Network , before investing in new breeding stock . Its first purchase was Cokoriko ( 2009 , Robin des Champs ): a resounding success ! It must be said that any stallion starting his career at Cercy is guaranteed a hefty support . “ When we have the chance to launch a horse , we syndicate him in part , which guarantees him a base of about fifty mares ,“ says Jacques Cyprès . The cooperative retains a majority share in any stallion it acquires , to secure him . Thus , Cokoriko and Karaktar have remained at home despite stratospheric purchase offers ... Jeu Saint Eloi was exported , but the cooperative only owned 30 % of him . This exceptional sale “ boosted “ the 2024 profit . The cooperative status , while involving regulatory constraints , has major tax advantages : “ We are not taxed on turnover provided that at least 80 % of it is generated by cooperative members . The cooperative is only taxable on the percentage of turnover generated with non-members ,“ says Jacques Cyprès . The SCAECC de Cercy now has six hundred members who benefit from very attractive rates on nominations . Each of them has acquired three shares for a total of 150 euros for three years . The absence of any other structure of the same type in France has enabled Cercy to extend its area of influence , and today any breeder domiciled in France can apply to join .
The Stud Expands its Borders The Cercy cooperative bought its facilities from the community of communes five years ago . It is expanding on about fifty hectares divided into two entities currently being developed . The “ pavilion “ site will eventually be able to accommodate about fifty mares , which will notably allow the development of a year-round boarding activity . On the other site , known as “ de l ’ étang “ ( The Pond ), new meadows will be laid out , with the idea also being to produce hay and cereals there . With its ten employees , including the emblematic director Philippe Thiriet , the Cercy stallion station is now the third largest employer in the commune .
TOP Tunis during the presentation of the Cercy stallions , which takes place every first Saturday of January . © Haras de Cercy
RIGHT Cokoriko closes the show as the number 1 French stallion for steeplechase . © Haras de Cercy
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PHOTO Karaktar puts on a show for the great pleasure of the audience . © Haras de Cercy
LE LION D ’ ANGERS ALSO ROARS
Another former National Stud that has managed to maintain its stallion provision vocation is Le Lion d ’ Angers , in the West of France . A simplified joint-stock company ( SAS ) was created in 2014 by the Haras de la Rousselière ( Guillonnière family ) and des Mottes ( Poirier family ), which leases the Le Lion facilities for six months a year . It employs two permanent staff , including François Thomas for the commercial side , with the team expanding during the breeding season . The SAS and the stud farms that make it up are shareholders in the stallions , including the very popular Castle and Clovis du Berlais and Hunter ’ s Light . “ We started the activity in 2015 to keep good stallions nearby and we make all the decisions together with Arnaud Poirier . Our philosophy is not to lose money and to reinvest all the profits in the activity ,“ says the hyperactive Nelly de la Guillonnière . “ It is becoming very difficult to acquire stallions and our organisation allows us to do so by pooling the risks .“ Around seven hundred mares are covered at Le Lion each year , including one hundred and fifty trotting mares .
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