Settled in a joint farming group (Gaec), for twenty years in the Soularac Center and associated with his partner, Chloé Alazard, Sylvain Salaméro raises more than a hundred horses. From February 25 to March 5, he was present at the Paris Agricultural Show. The Ariège breeder has chosen to promote transhumant breeds: horses from Mérens, Castillonnais, and even Pottok, originating from the Basque Country. The quality of Gaec breeding has been recognized in various competitions. Indeed, Fidel du Soularac, Mérens stallion, Huna de la Rhune, Pottok stallion and Joga d’Équivista, Castillonnais stallion were all elected supreme champions of their breed, which led the equestrian farm to present these three horses in the living room.
“They are rustic horses, able to adapt to difficult terrain with great skills, whether for agricultural work or for leisure riding”, explains Sylvain Salaméro. “Breeding is the primary activity of the center, the marketing of horses representing a fairly important market for us”.
A film made by the Soularac center during a transhumance was screened at the Salon de l’Agriculture during the round table on equestrian tourism.
Horse riding lessons are offered all year round, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Equine therapy sessions are also provided to people with disabilities. And ski joëring activities at the Monts d’Olmes resort in winter allow holidaymakers to ski while being towed by a horse.
In summer, it is stays and hikes that punctuate the activity of the farm. “During horseback riding in the mountains, to adults and young people, we present the agricultural and pastoral activity of the department, its challenges, its constraints and its benefits, with an educational speech. Our goal is that the participants take advantage of their activity while learning things about the realities of our profession”, indicates the breeder.
