Camargue Horse

The Camargue is a unique horse breed that originates from the Camargue region of southern France.

These horses are known for their strength, agility and endurance.

In this blog post, we will cover everything you need to know about the Camargue horse!

Camargue Horse Breed Info

Here are some of the key things you need to know about the Camargue horse:

Height (size) 13.0 – 14.0 hands high
Colors Gray, however, foals are born brown or bay and only develop a lighter coat as they age. Some have flea-bitten or roan coloring.
Country of Origin France
Common Uses Rounding up of livestock and herding of bulls, tourism and trail riding across the marshes and along the shore, endurance, some even compete in dressage and eventing

Camargue Horse Facts & Information (Breed Profile)

The bones found on the shores of the Quaternary Sea in the Southeast of France dating from the Paleolithic Age (17,000 years ago) were almost identical to those of the Camargue horse.

This is why it is widely believed that the Camargue is the direct descendant of the Solutré horse.

The Solutré was the horse that roamed the area in the Stone Age, and was shaped by his harsh environment.

The Camargue region of France has been home to this breed for thousands of years, and it has been admired by both foreign invaders and French leaders, from Julius Caesar to Napoleon.

Today’s Camargue horse retains the same characteristics as his ancestors because he evolved in the same extreme environment in the Camargue land of the wild, semi-desert marshes.

With only the stars above him for shelter, and with the changing of the seasons bringing both extreme heat and freezing cold, this horse has developed a remarkable toughness and stamina.

Wild herds can still be found in the area, and many of them are protected in the Camargue National Park, which also includes a UNESCO biosphere reserve.

Other Camargue horses thrive in a semi-feral state, where their original lifestyle is preserved to the greatest extent possible, despite being used for agriculture and livestock raising.

In an effort to keep breed standards consistent and protect the lineage of Camargue horses, the French government established a studbook between 1976 – 1978.

In order to be eligible for registration, foals must be born outside and raised by their mothers in the traditional way.

If you’re interested in learning more about this fascinating breed, keep reading!

Alternative Names

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Temperament/Personality

Gentle and pleasing temperament

Physical Characteristics

They possess natural hardiness and stamina, and are otherwise tough and spirited.

The head is somewhat heavy and often square which points to the shared ancestry with the Barb.

The neck is short with thick mane.

They are sturdy horses, have excellent endurance and are able to live on scarce forage.

The coat is gray.

Their legs are strong with very unique feet.

Their hooves are able to withstand significantly more moisture than other breeds, and they almost never have issues with their feet or require shoes.

The owners of Camargue horses in modern day France want to recreate their horses’ natural lifestyle as closely as possible.

A semi-feral herd is referred to as a ‘manade’, and it is overseen by a guardian, or herder, who lives in a culture comparable to that of 19th cowboys.

Colors

Gray, however, foals are born brown or bay and only develop a lighter coat as they age.

Some have flea-bitten or roan coloring.

Height (size)

13.0 – 14.0 hands high

Stallions

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Mares

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Weight

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Blood Type

Warm

Common Uses

Rounding up of livestock and herding of bulls, tourism and trail riding across the marshes and along the shore, endurance, some even compete in dressage and eventing

Health

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Popular Traits

Their unique feet

Feeding/Diet

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Country of Origin

France

Ancestors

Solutré horse from the Stone Age