{"id":311,"date":"2018-01-25T18:22:55","date_gmt":"2018-01-25T17:22:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arcantide.com\/wp_henson\/?page_id=311"},"modified":"2018-09-29T11:59:29","modified_gmt":"2018-09-29T09:59:29","slug":"the-henson-adventure","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.henson.fr\/en\/the-henson-adventure\/","title":{"rendered":"The Henson Adventure"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The breed<\/h3><\/span>
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The breeding<\/h3><\/span>
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The Domaine du Marquenterre<\/h3><\/span>
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The Henson Adventure<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text css_animation=”fadeInUp”]<\/p>\n

Is it still possible that a horse could be born in our time of desire for freedom?<\/p>\n

Yet it is here that the history of Henson horses began, a little more than 30 years ago.<\/p>\n

A new French equine race (the 44th!) Officially recognized since July 2003, Henson horses have become the emblem of a dream horse riding, that of riding in nature.<\/p>\n

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The Henson horses breed<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The origin of Henson horses<\/h2>
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Originally, the Henson horse breed comes from cross-breeding between Fjord stallions (Scandinavian origin) and local mares from multiple breeds : Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arab, French saddle, Trotter... \nThough cross-breeding with Fjord horses had existed since the 19th century, it must be attributed to Bernard Bizet, farmer and breeder of Morlay (municipality of Ponthoile), to introduce them in the Bay of the Somme area, at the beginning of the 70s, with the objective to produce sturdy horses and ponies, benefiting from the qualities of both original breeds.\n\nBut to create a new breed was something else... At the outset, the adventure rather looked wacky, a sort of \u00ab mission impossible \u00bb... Indeed, except the \u201c French Saddle Horse\u201d breed, there was no other breed \u201ccreated\u201d in France during the 20th century... At the end of the seventies, we owe this boldness to the vision of its founders, Lionel and Marc Berquin, encouraged by their close friends of the \u201cBay of the Somme Riders Association\u201d, created in 1979 and, notably, to their high school pal, Michel Trencart, veterinary.\n\nTheir vision was as ambitious as simple : to produce a true multi-purpose, tonic, enduring, safe and sturdy horse, able to live outdoor all year round. To this, was added a philosophy : trust nature in breeding, raising and farming and make the \u00ab new \u00bb horse breed a true expression of freedom in horsemanship and shared emotions. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

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The first \u201ccross breedings of cross breedings\u201d - those who duly testify of the creation of the new breed were born in 1982, under the \u201cQ\u201d letter : Quelea and Queenee \u201cof Henson\u201d.\n\nThe same year, further to their encounter with Dominique Cocquet, at that time manager of the Planning and Development Agency of the Picardy Coast Board, was founded the \u201cHenson Horse Association\u201d, which was the first official institution to express the ambition of the new horse breed. In parallel, the \u00ab Bay of the Somme Riders Association \u00bb was carrying the beacon of the new breed in villages fairs, up to Lille where the Animavia Exhibition was their main regional showcase. \n\nAs of the mid-1980s, the French National Stud Agency (\u201cHaras Nationaux\u201d), soon realized the value of this approach and encouraged the Association to persevere. But it was not until the settlement of \u201cBay of the Somme Riders Association\u201dat the Marquenterre Estate (\u201cDomaine du Marquenterre\u201d), in the early 1990s, that the full potential of this creation was revealed in this \u201cpromised land\" for the Henson breed.\n\nIn 1995, the Henson's stud-book was closed, their promoters considering that the genetic potential thus accumulated since 1973 was largely sufficient to work with the in-breed population. 2003 was finally the year of \"consecration\" with the official recognition of the new breed by the Ministry of Agriculture (the 44th one in France !)<\/p><\/div>

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The Henson adventure continue...<\/h2>
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Following the official recognition of the breed in 2003, the prospects are organized around two main axes: \n- The valorization of the work of the horses from their phase of debourrage, so as to produce subjects not only genetically to the best of their qualities but also really adapted to all the facets of the horsemanship, the carriage and the games equestrian, \n- The development of the concept of \"Equestrian Henson Spaces\", to allow to offer elsewhere than Baie de Somme. this innovative nature riding, which meets an ever wider audience.\n\nThe Equestrian Space \"l'Etrier\" Fort-Mahon-Plage was the second implantation thus realized according to this philosophy. Haras Henson Marquenterre - Equestrian farm of Saint-Jean-les-Rue, opened in 2011, allows us to go even further, in the context of a farm meeting the criteria of a reasoned agri-environmental management, promoting the bio-diversity and the development of exceptional natural environments in the coastal hinterland.\n\nWhile taking the time and care necessary for a controlled development, we are convinced that the formula will meet other successes based on the winning trilogy: Henson horses, maintenance in a natural environment and exceptional site to discover and share!<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css_animation=”fadeInUp” el_id=”elevage”]

THE HENSON HORSES BREEDING<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The Henson-Marquenterre Equestrian center in Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont and the Henson Marquenterre Haras, in Saint-Jean-les-Rue, are our main breeding centers for Henson horses. It is their raison d'\u00eatre and all our efforts are devoted to them, to produce the best possible horses in the historical lines that have so well established the reputation of the Henson breed.\n\nMore than 120 heads permanently make up the Henson farm proper, in the Marquenterre and in the pastures of the Farm of Saint-Jean-les-Rue (stallions, mares, foals and fillies up to 3 years old and more ...), evolving all year round, either in the pastures and polders of the Marquenterre Bird Park, or in the backshore marshes close to the town of Rue.\n\nAccording to the initial philosophy, the breeding is practiced according to the principles of a natural approach: projections, foalings and maintenance in freedom; even if this implies a constant surveillance and a permanent care granted to the integrity of the herd. We have a potential of 7 qualified stallions and our production reaches today 35 to 40 foals a year, which makes of we - and by far - the main producer of Henson horses in France. Innovation is our permanent priority, around three main axes:\n\n- the genetic improvement of the livestock,\n- optimization of rearing conditions, \n- the valuation of horse work<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Henson Horse Sales<\/h2>
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By far the largest Henson stud farm, we offer a wide choice of horses with full pedigree, as we give birth to c.40 foals and break c.30 Henson horses at 3-year old annually.\nNothing beats a visit to the Henson-Marquenterre equestrian center or Haras Henson of Saint-Jean, following the enlightened advice of our livestock manager to choose his horse Henson in the best conditions.\n\nA 3-year-old Henson horse is an affordable investment that places him in the middle category of blood horse prices. This investment is even more competitive as the cost of maintaining a Henson horse, living all year outdoors, is much lower. Prices vary according to sex (females have a slightly higher price) and the level of breaking.\n\nWe sell our horses from weaning (6 months). The horses of 3 years old are ridden mounted and made a season on our equestrian benefits. The 4 year old horses have done 2 seasons on our equestrian performances.<\/p><\/div>

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Breeding visits<\/h2>
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The Henson-Marquenterre Equestrian center in Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont and Haras Henson in Saint-Jean-les-Rue, offer, in exceptional natural environments, all opportunities for primary and secondary school classes. to initiate to this exciting world in which one never stops learning while being distracted.\n\nThe breeding visit allows to approach, in Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont, as in Rue, in very original contexts, all the aspects of the life of an equine breeding farm, living according to the seasons and in symbiosis with the natural environment. Of course, these tours are also offered to all curious who want to discover the extensive equine breeding!<\/p>BOOK IT<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column css_animation=”fadeInUp” el_id=”marquenterre”]

The DOMAINE DU MARQUENTERRE<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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The Domaine du Marquenterre is the most remarkable part of a vast dune complex (the largest in the northern half of France), extending practically in one piece from the Baie de Somme to the Bay of Authie, over 20 kilometers.\n\nIt comprises nearly 1,000 hectares of forested dunes, wet failures and pastures. It is adjacent to the Baie de Somme Nature Reserve, which covers 3,500 hectares and covers the entire northwestern part of the estuary.\n\nThe Ornithological Park of Marquenterre, property of the Conservatoire du Littoral, also borders it to the south on more than 200 hectares.\n\nThis ensemble forms a real \"cathedral of nature\", of which the Domaine du Marquenterre is, in a way, the \"choir\", that is to say the most secret part.\n\nIt is an exceptional space, as much by the beauty of its points of view on the sea and on the estuary, the diversity of its landscapes and its character eminently wild because of its remoteness of the urbanized zones.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Meeting with the fauna of the Domain<\/h2>
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The fauna and flora are also particularly rich there; sometimes even of international importance, attested by many European nature conservation labels.This is a privileged place for over a hundred species of birds, because of its strategic position on major migratory routes linking northern Europe to Africa.\n\nThe estate is home to one of the largest colonies of herons, egrets and spoonbills nesting in the north of France. In the lower parts, called \"wet failures\" and located in the hollow of the dunes, one observes the incessant coming and going of numerous colonies of anatidae and waders which, at the rhythm of the tides and the seasons, make the connection between the estuary, the Ornithological Park and the dune massif.\n\nThe stork, which no longer nests in maritime Picardy since the 19th century, has returned to a prominent place since the late 80s and several nests are visible in the pine trees near the Park.\n\u00a0\nThere is also the famous Tadorne de Belon, whose size is intermediate between those of duck and goose and which has the distinction of nesting in rabbit burrows.\n\nSeveral species of wild mammals also populate the Domain. The wild boars arrived there naturally from the forest of Cr\u00e9cy, about 20 kilometers away, when the dune forest started to take height, from the 70s. The wild boar population today exceeds the hundred heads, permanently.\n\nLikewise, that of the Corsican mouflon, a species introduced in the early 80's, reaches a substantial number (about 150 heads) and its remarkable adaptation in the middle has made it one of the most emblematic animals of the Domaine. Finally, we also discover a natural deer population, certainly more modest, but also very well established.<\/p><\/div>

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Discovery of the Flora of the Park<\/h2>
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The dune flora is also remarkable in many places: white dunes, gray dunes, wet failures... These are privileged places for many rare species, such as Loesel's Liparis (it is a small orchid) in parts the wettest.\n\nThe Panicaut des Sables or Elymme rub shoulders with the Oyat on the white dunes; the Acre Sedum shows its clumps of yellow flowers in summer among the fragile lichens of the gray dune, while the thickets of Sea Buckthorn and their orange berries provide both an impenetrable haunt for large animals and a welcome food in autumn and winter. winter in the colonies of passerines and thrushes that come and go along the coasts in the tranquility of these spaces of another dimension.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column]

Newsletter<\/h2><\/div>
DO NOT MISS ANY INFORMATION ABOUT THE EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE HENSON EQUESTRIAN CENTERS OR THE SPECIAL OFFERS AND PROMOTIONS THAT WE OFFER YOU THROUGHOUT THE YEAR! NOTHING SIMPLE: ENTER YOUR E-MAIL IN THE FIELD BELOW.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>[vc_column_text el_class=”.mailchimp_form”]<\/p>\n