Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Haras national du Pin, founded in 1715 under Louis XV, is the oldest French national stud. His site was chosen by François Gédéon de Garsault for his pastures and water supply, on a royal estate acquired by Louis de Béchamel de Nointel. The stables, inspired by those of Versailles, were built between 1715 and 1730 by Pierre Le Mousseux after the plans of Robert de Cotte, the King's first architect. The studs escaped destruction in 1790 with the help of the National Assembly, which installed a royal standard deposit.

Under Napoleon I, the haras became a major center of equine breeding, sheltering nearly 70 breeders in 1810. In the 19th century, under the direction of Gabriel de Bonneval and then Ephrem Houël, he played a key role in the improvement of races, introducing pure English blood and creating the French trotter. The Haras School, founded in 1840, trained the officers of the studs, while a racetrack was set up for competitions and presentations, attracting figures such as the Viscount of Aure.

The estate, classified as historical monuments, covers 1,000 hectares spread over five communes (Le Pin-au-Haras, La Cochère, Exmes, Ginai, Silly-en-Gouffern). Its buildings, organized by horseshoe around a court of honour, mix red bricks with grey limestone, with French-style gardens and terraces offering views of the park of Oboe. The stud also houses collections of hippomobile cars, an honour saddlery, and the tomb of Furioso, legendary stallion father of Olympic champions.

In the 21st century, the haras diversified its activities: tourism (guided tours, "Thursdays of the Pine"), international competitions (Championnat d'Europe d'écoup in 1979, World Equestrian Games in 2014), and training via the Higher School of Horses and Horse Riding. Since 2017, it has hosted a centre for the development of Norman equidae, forming line horses and donkeys for territorial or agricultural uses. Despite threats of dissolution in 2021, his property was transferred to the Orne department.

The architecture of the haras, preserved in its entirety since the 18th century, includes a castle with three houses, symmetrical stables, a princely ride, and a chapel Saint-Louis (1718). The arrangements of the 19th century, such as the hippodrome or the stands, testify to its adaptation to the evolution of equestrian practices. Ranked a Historic Monument in 1949, the site combines built heritage, landscapes and living memory of French breeding.

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