Limousin has always been a horse-breeding region, a tradition kept up by successive Lords. Back in the 13th century, 2 Syrian stallions were brought back to Limoges. Others followed around the 14th and 15th centuries. But it was the Marquise who showed great inspiration and began the success story that was to be the Pompadour Stud. In 1751, 10 mares, 3 from her own stables, were sent to Pompadour, accompanied by 3 stallions (1 Barbary, 1 Turk and the one belonging to Marshall de Saxe).
With the Marquise’s health gradually declining, the Estate was sold on in 1760, but the King exchanged it in 1761 with the Duke de Choiseul in order “there to perfect the establishments of the stud that have been maintained by the previous owners of this land, and of which we can see the usefulness…” (GUILLOTEL).

By a Council decree of 28th January 1764, the Pompadour Stud was annexed to His Majesty’s private stud. From then on, the number of quality stallions and brood mares kept on growing, including certain mares bought from local breeders (the Jumilhacs and Nexons). Successive buying missions to Poland, Persia, Arabia and Syria made it possible to renew and complete the line-up, while maintaining its quality.

Around 1816, Mr de BONNEVAL, keen to move closer to his own land, became director of the Pompadour Stud. He set about crossing the Arab and English breeds and was the first to try and create what would later be called the Anglo-Arab. His time at Pompadour being relatively short, this work was taken up by Mr de LESPINATS, appointed Director after Mr de Bony was sacked, because he left a fire alight when he went out on the night of 29/30th January 1834. A log rolled onto the wooden floor, leading to the burning of the roof, and destroying many archives. Mr de LESPINATS took advantage of his new position to introduce proper working methods that have survived right through to the present. Around 1840, the Stud’s new Director Mr GAYOT continued the research — now in its fourth generation — that had begun long before his time. Exercising communication skills well ahead of his time, he succeeded in taking the entire credit for the creation of the Anglo-Arab breed.

As the Pays de Pompadour (and Limousin) was already a much-respected horse-breeding area, only one thing was missing to perfect the breeding and complete the training of the horses: a race-course. This was created in 1836, at the initiative of Mr. de LESPINATS, who had ?the thought of applying for the building of a race-course around what was known as ‘Castle Field’ for, in order to obtain strong, energetic and well-founded thoroughbred horses, it was vital to give them, from the age of three years, sustained exercise, well-planned, and suitable for developing the whole of their musculature.?

That’s how the race-course, originally devoted to training, came to see the first races in the following year, 1837. The ?Pompadour Society for Encouraging the Propagation and Improvement of Horses? was born 6 years later, on 21st August 1843. Dissolved in 1870, its motto "Union and perseverance" was taken up by the Pompadour Racing Society, created on 21st October 1887, just 50 years after the first races. In 1891, the Pari Mutuel Hippodrome (PMH) was installed. Today punters come to each meeting at the racecourse, but bets on 2 races a year (including the 15th August) can also be placed anywhere in France through the Pari Mutuel Urbain (PMU). Steeplechasing started in 1919, although the course had been planned in 1913. The War had caused the suspension of these events, which began again by a ministerial decree of 5th May 1919 and have continued to the present, with an interruption during the Second World War.

Originally, they wanted to create such a breed for military purposes. Initial attempts were made with the German Zweibrücken breed, but proved inconclusive. The “cross-bred” horses were intended for use by reconnaissance regiments, demanding physically very sturdy horses, to cover long distances over difficult ground, yet without regular feeding.

Note : It’s worth noting that all these attempts were made in the combination “Arab stallion with X mare (indigenous, Thoroughbred, etc.)..

The choice of the Arab horse to improve the native lines by judicious crossbreeding was due in particular to its sturdiness and agility. By crossing the two breeds, Arab and Thoroughbred, they were combining the Arab’s qualities (sturdiness, endurance and sensible temperament) with the speed of the Thoroughbred. These characteristics confer on the Anglo-Arab multiple qualities and complete versatility in the disciplines practised: sport (show-jumping, eventing, etc), cross-country, TREC, racing (steeplechase and flat). This is also an elegant, well-balanced horse, of medium size (between 15 and 16 hh). Dominant colours are chestnut or bay, less frequently grey. Manes are slightly curly. Physically, it is recognisable by its broad forehead, wide-open eyes, very mobile ears, its deep chest, and its sloping withers. Its supported back allows it to carry weight. Its limbs are strong. The well-balanced conformation of this animal makes it a saddle horse par excellence.
The Arab fathers of this breed are MASSOUD (Arab) and ASLAN (Turk) and the English Thoroughbred mothers are COMMUN MARE, SELIM MARE and DAÏR.

To designate an Anglo-Arab horse, we refer to “x% Arab blood” — it must have at least 25%. The calculation is performed as follows: the Arab has 100% Arab blood, the Thoroughbred 0%. The two are added together and divided by two: (100% + 0%)/2 = 50% Arab blood for the offspring. This same rule is applied to crosses between Anglo-Arabs, which is how we arrive at figures like 33.33% Arab blood, etc.

The Anglo-Arab stallion is used as a sire throughout France. This remarkable saddle horse is also very much exported abroad. It must be said that he has some brilliant performances to his credit. Harpagon, one of Pompadour’s products, made a name for himself by winning the team gold medal and the individual silver medal in the 1948 London Olympics. Aiglonne, a mare also from the Corrézien stable, won the gold medal in eventing. She came home as a brood mare. More recently, one outstanding Anglo-Arab racing mare has come out of the production at the Rivière mare-and-foal centre: HASE, who has beaten numerous thoroughbreds.

Stallions like Fayriland II, Kesbeth, THAILAN (born at Pau) and more recently FAST have been assigned to Haras National de Pompadour and are veritable stars of the breed. The offspring of THAILAN and FAST are distinguishing themselves in sport and racing alike.

The Studs were set up in 1665 by COLBERT. Devoted to military ends, they were intended to replace the large number of horses destroyed by war, avoiding importing foreign horses. Then they became indispensable links within the horse profession.

After the Second World War, there was an inexorable disappearance of draught horses in our countryside, replaced by tractors, and alongside this, a development of equestrian sports and riding as a pastime. The National Studs supported these new orientations, particularly after additional funds were allocated to them by the growing resources of the ‘Tote’, like the Tiercé (1954), the Quarté and the Quinté.

Since July 1999, the National Studs have become an Etablissement Public à caractère Administratif (EPA) under the umbrella of the Ministry of Agriculture. Overall management is based in the Pays de Pompadour.

According to the Decree of 2nd July 1999, the mission of the National Studs is:

•	to contribute to the definition and implementation of the equine breeding guidance policy;to work on behalf of the Government on the identification of horses and ensure the maintaining of central horse records;
•	to work on behalf of the Government on the identification of horses and ensure the maintaining of central horse records;
•	to work towards the protection of horses and to oversee the conservation and improvement of breeds;
•	to support the Government in the identification and control of equestrian establishments open to the public;
•	to handle collection and processing of economic statistics;
•	to define or set up all kinds of training activities relating to its missions;
•	to establish local relationships with the bodies mentioned.

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a] The Stud – Stallion Centre

Designed like a traditional farmstead, the Puy Marmont stables, built in the early 19th century, are in the shape of a U arranged around the Saddlery and Main Courtyard. At present they are home to Anglo-Arab, Thoroughbred, Arab and Selle Français stallions for what are called ‘blood horses’, and Comtois, Bretons, Ardennais, Auxois and Percherons for horses called ‘draught’. Two donkeys represent the donkey breed.

Pony breeds are represented by the Français de Selle, the Connemara and the Norwegian Fjord. The Pompadour National Stud makes its stallions available to breeders by distributing them around the covering stations (located throughout Limousin) during the breeding season (mid January to end June).

Two ‘presidential’ curiosities are also housed at Pompadour. They are criollos. This breed, little-known in France, comes from Argentina. President CHIRAC was given a pair of horses by his Argentinian counterpart, Carlos MENEM, which is how CUYANO HUINCA ANILLACO, a bay mare with wall-eyes, and SIETE USSEL, an overo pinto gelding, come to be spending happy days in Corrèze country.
Another ‘presidential gift’ had a fine career as a stallion: FAWZAN, an Arab stallion given to Mr GISCARD d’ESTAING when he was President by the Egyptian President SADATE.

In Spring 2003, the 9-year-old (b. 1994) MABROUK arrived, a Barb given to Mr CHIRAC by the Algerian President Abdelaziz BOUTEFLIKA.

The line-up of facilities is completed by a forge, an infirmary, an insemination area and a Main Saddlery, a school and riding circuits.

b] La Rivière National Mare-and-foal Centre

The kingpin of the ‘Pompadour Estate’ when it was first established, the La Rivière National Mare-and-foal Centre forms a truly verdant setting, with 89 ha of pasture, typical of the Limousin countryside. Thirty or so Arab and Anglo-Arab brood mares graze freely here all year round. The selection of these brood mares is primarily geared towards sport (show jumping, eventing), and to a lesser extent, towards racing (gallop).

Today, the La Rivière National Mare-and-foal Centre is a real tool for breeding and conservation, and is thereby a factor in the development of the Anglo-Arab breed, especially as it has always produced competition horses. The latter then become stallions (sometimes in other centres) and sometimes stars of the breed like CHAMPS-ELYSEES, NAVARIN, MARENGO, NITHARD, COQ DE BRUYERE, LE GALOP, …

• Chignac: colts and fillies born at the Mare-and-foal centre are transferred to this 80 ha site at 6 months and stay here until they leave for training around the age of 2_. When they arrive here, the colts and fillies are segregated. A herd of Limousin heifers lives alongside the youngsters: they eat up what the horses leave. This makes it possible to balance the grazing by exploiting the complementary nature of the two species.

• The training stables: located right in the heart of the Pays de Pompadour’s built-up area, in the former château orangery, behind its north frontage, they receive the Estate’s colts around the age of 2  1/2. They are broken in, saddled and trained by the grooms and apprentices, while waiting to be sold.

• Les Monts and Romblat: These farms (71 ha and 56 ha respectively) raise Limousin cattle outdoors.

Although the Pompadour Estate is renowned for its horse-rearing, it is no less so for its cattle herd, of which ‘Castor’ was the first ambassador to the United States in 1967, where he was re-named ‘Prince Pompadour’.

• La bouverie: Located in the heart of Pompadour, these buildings, former stables for draught oxen, make up the ‘Logistics Department’, where all the agricultural equipment is kept.

d] Le SIRE

Système d’Identification Répertoriant les Equidés [Horse listing and identification system]: this computerised system based in Pompadour compiles the registry of births for all horses and donkeys in France. It was established by a Decree of 15th April 1976.

The studbooks are to be found here: genealogical books that come out every year, listing the stallions and mares with their offspring. For Anglo-Arabs, the latest covering is also recorded.

e] The race-course

Located in the commune of Saint-Sornin-Lavolps, its 36 ha seem to be dominated by the château, with which it forms a complete unit.

The first races were flat races, run here in 1837. Here, as in England, races were originally created with the aim of helping the improvement and selection of the breeds.

The race-course holds 11 meetings per year, from the end of June to mid September. Flat races and steeplechases are held here, nowadays with two days that are used as a vehicle for the PMU [‘Tote’]. They are run by the Société des Courses. Graded 1st class for steeplechasing, its hedges are completely natural; they are known as ‘green’ hedges, as distinct from ‘black’ hedges, made of plastic. The sand track is 2,000 m long and 14 m wide.

The whole of the Pompadour Estate was listed as “Natural beauty of general interest” by a ministerial decree of 4th February 1926, confirmed on 28th February 1941.

Various associations and bodies contribute to equestrian activities in the Pays de Pompadour by organising series of activities around horses:

•	Eventing (including stage 1A of the French Championships), show-jumping (including the National Pro 1 in show-jumping), dressage (including the National Pro 2 in dressage, rated two years running (2001 & 2002) as Best National 2 in dressage, with constantly-increasing numbers of competitors), and so on. All these official competitions are run by the Société de Concours Hippiques de Pompadour (SCHP), created in 1952.
•	breeding assessments run by the Pompadour National Stud;
•	competitions and training organised by the Comité Régional d’Equitation du Limousin;
•	the National Donkey Day, established in 1997 by the Réunir au Pays association, whose aim is to support the upkeep and development of the donkey, teach people about unknown or foreign breeds, make people appreciate the knowledge and power of the donkey (aptitude and versatility, whether for sporting, farming or tourist activities, etc.), and develop activities in the Pays de Pompadour. Alongside the various donkey breeds, draught horse breeds are also shown.

The whole collection of facilities and structures (racetrack, schools, stables and loose-boxes, etc.) available in the Pays de Pompadour helps maintain and develop all these activities.

Tourism and sport:

•	Guided tours: more than 50,000 visitors p.a.
•	Races: 12,000 paid admissions
•	Competitions: 5,000 paid admissions (only 15th August show days are paying)
•	Other (National Donkey Day): over 10,000 paid admissions.

Employment:

•	The National Studs (Headquarters of the EPA): 150 jobs
•	Pompadour National Stud: 80 jobs
•	Racing activities: 4 trainers and 20 employees (training all year round)
•	Farriery: 5 jobs
•	2 Veterinary surgeries, one of which works exclusively with the horse business
•	2 saddleries: 5 jobs
•	4 riding centres: Pays de Pompadour Riding Centre, Cheval et Compagnie (Club Med), the Le Puy Stables and the Al’Garamaze Equestrian Farm.
•	During the 50 or so events held each year: between 20 and 40 temporary staff.

On the creation of SIRE:

The then Director of the Horse Institute, Mr JUSSIAUX, exasperated by the many steps the Pompadour Stud secretaries had to go through to get approval for breeding subsidies, contacted Basile LACHAUD, the founder of SICAME.

The latter very kindly placed Roger LESPINATS, Head of the Computer Department, at his disposal, whose skill made it possible not only to create the first programs, in 1970, but also to support the proposal to national bodies for the future SIRE to be based in Pompadour.

CSO: Show-jumping (competition)
CCE: Eventing (competition)
PS: Thoroughbred
PSA: Pure-bred Arab
AA: Anglo-Arab
AC: Part-bred Arab (horse with less than 25% Arab blood)
SF: Selle Français
PMU: Pari Mutuel Urbain (bets are placed in PMU outlets, often bars, and can be placed on any participating race in France)
PMH: Pari Mutuel Hippodrome: betting directly at the racecourse, and only for the races being held there.