ENGLISH TEXTS
� PAGE 50
ÉCURIE DE GRENOUX
By Serge Okey
To the west of Laval , in Mayenne , the Écurie de Grenoux has specialized in breaking-in and pre-training horses . Over the past twelve years , it has earned the trust of renowned owners , and its 80 stalls are fully booked . Its secret ? Jacques Brel , the compatriot of Audrey de Clerck , sang it best : “ Love ,“ quite simply .
“ WE ’ RE POLISHING ROUGH DIAMONDS BEFORE TRAINERS TAKE OVER .”
Audrey de Clerck .
Five runners in the 2021 Gr . 1 Prix de Diane 2021 , 24 yearlings sourced at the 2019 ARQANA August Yearling Sale , and numerous top horses such as Sealiway , Kenway , Rougir , Sweet Lady , Angel Bleu and Sunway … Previously associated with Michel Dréan , Audrey de Clerck quickly made a name for herself . By transforming a pony-club into a breaking-in and pre-training center , the Écurie de Grenoux quickly scaled up . The facility now spans 30 hectares , features a 1,200-meter track with a gentle incline , two 400-meter straight lines , and 80 stalls — all operating under two key principles : “ kindness and calm .“
Galorama . Do you follow the results of your graduates ?
Audrey de Clerck . Yes , as much as possible . It ’ s important to see how they turn out . We meet them when they ’ re young and a bit lost . There ’ s always a desire to compare their results with our initial impressions . About 75 % of the time , our instincts are proven right . You quickly sense if a horse will become a racehorse or just manage to “ earn its keep .“ It ’ s harder with the so-called “ useful ” horses ; you don ’ t know if they ’ ll have a rating of 25 or 35 .
G . Can you identify future stars right away ?
A . d . C . They don ’ t respond like the others . They exude a certain confidence , as if they ’ ve already lived another life . They understand things faster — almost as if they ’ re teaching you . They already have an exceptional way of moving , using their bodies naturally and efficiently . I ’ ve been fortunate to work with several Group 1 horses , including five runners in the Prix de Diane 2021 .
G . Your operation seems to have taken off quickly .
A . d . C . Our first major clients , like Gousserie Racing and the agent Paul Nataf , gave us a great start . Kenway brought us our first Group 1 winner . Then came Sealiway , Rougir , Sweet Lady , Angel Bleu , and Sunway . Usually , you encounter one horse of this caliber in a lifetime . It ’ s incredible . Our 80 stalls are full , with trainers like Pia Brandt — who I work with often — Christophe Ferland , and Francis-Henri Graffard , and owners like Gousserie Racing and Haras de Colleville placing their trust in us . About 95 % of the horses we handle are flat racers . I ’ m lucky to have an amazing team . I owe as much to them as I do to the owners who trust me .
G . What ’ s the “ Grenoux method “? A . d . C . I prefer to call it a way of doing things . The key words are : “ kindness , kindness , and calm .“ We never shout at a horse , and we never use a whip . What they don ’ t understand today , they ’ ll understand tomorrow . Horses are extremely sensitive animals that think in terms of comfort and discomfort . If they aren ’ t mentally sound , they ’ ll have weaknesses and struggle emotionally .
G . Your work is a bit like running a preschool , isn ’ t it ?
A . d . C . Yes , and it suits me perfectly ! We shape raw diamonds before the trainers take over . We build their confidence as much as possible , making them believe they ’ re the most beautiful and strongest . Like with children , encouraging them is fundamental for their future careers . It only takes two seconds to give a big hug before leading them out of the stall .
G . How does breaking-in technically work ?
A . d . C . It takes about two months to do a proper job : one month for breaking-in and another month before heading to the track , though it ’ s often a bit less . It all depends on the horse . First , we let them settle for 2-3 days to decompress . Transitioning from pasture to stall is a major lifestyle change . Then comes “ desensitization .“ Using a stick or lunge , we move around them — on their left , right , above their head , and between their legs — to see how they react . We tighten the lunge to teach them to yield to pressure . Once they ’ re secure , we introduce the saddle : jumping alongside them and gently mounting like a “ sack of potatoes .“ From there , teaching them to accept the bit becomes easier . Next , they go to the arena , where they learn the three gaits and how to turn and stop independently .
G . And then they move to the track ?
A . d . C . Yes , we start with very light sessions : 1,200 meters -walking , trotting , and cantering for 4-5 days
161