Ferme équestre des Essoulieux – Eleveur de Mérens

Laurent, a native of the region, invites you to visit the valleys and mountains of Oisans with his Mérens horses. Laurent's breeding farm has around sixty horses, including ten broodmares. They live in a herd at Besse in Oisans (1500 m) until autumn and return to the Bourg d'Oisans plain until spring. From a very young age, the foals and fillies follow their mothers to the mountain pastures where they all learn together the rules of group life and become familiar with the mountains.
These little black horses, the pride of their owner, have "mountain feet". They will take you in turn to the plain of Bourg d'Oisans, on the galloping banks of the Romanche and Vénéon, in the heart of more alpine landscapes with unique panoramas of the mythical peaks: the queen Meije, Peaks of the Grandes Rousses massif…

“The Mérens are a passion!
I am very involved in the SHERPA Rhône Alpes association (Syndicat Hippique d'Elevage de la Race Pyrénéenne Ariégoise) since I have been its president since 2009. The aim of this association is to strengthen the sporting image of Merens among the general public and to have the quality of regional production recognised at the national level.”

Laurent also takes part in numerous breeding competitions and mounted and harnessed events.
To complement his activity, Laurent also raises Limousin cows. They are raised for their meat which he sells in packages or crates to order.
Finally, in winter, Laurent changes his mount and takes his place in his snow groomer on the slopes of Les Deux Alpes.

Products:
– Sale of foals (from 6 months to trained horse)
– Stallion holder: 3 Mérens stallions approved for mating
– Carriage rides
– Sale of beef (heifer and veal)
– Horse riding treks for all levels from May to October:
Half-day or full-day trips in the Bourg d'Oisans plain or on the Emparis Plateau, departing from Besse for the more experienced.
Hiking, for 2, 3, 4 days and more. The stays offered are "high altitude hikes", you will ride 5 to 6 hours per day, between 1500m and 2400m. In the evening you will sleep in a lodge, mountain refuge or bivouac. A steward follows the hike and meets you every evening.