 |
Normandy ’s soil and climate make it one of the best regions in Europe (if not the world) for breeding horses. In Calvados, horses have been an abiding passion for two centuries.
Generations of breeders have endlessly sought to improve the different breeds and the county now enjoys an enviable reputation in the field of genetics. However, Calvados can also be proud of its champion riders, star horses and flourishing enterprises. This industry is an odds-on favourite, recognized as a competitiveness cluster in 2005. |
 Economic importance
1,700 horse breeding farms (including 1,400 studs), 50 riding schools and 8 racecourses, employing a total workforce of 3,000.
 |
All the equestrian disciplines are represented, as well as equestrian tourism.
The auctions in Caen and Deauville (France’s leading thoroughbred auction house) generated 63 million euros in 2003. |
Related activities
The related activities that have grown up around horse breeding and equestrian sports are centred on:
- veterinary services, osteopathy, farriery, etc.
- equipment (saddlers, feed manufacturers, horsebox manufacturers, builders, textiles, etc.)
- equine research
There are currently no fewer than sixty such activities. |
 |
Research
Our county owes its international reputation to three major research facilities:
- CIRALE
(Centre for Imaging and Research into Equine Locomotor Disorders). Unique of its kind in Europe, it performs its three missions of diagnosis, research and education. It is the world leader in the field of joint ultrasound.
- Horse Pathology Institute
This unit of the French food safety agency is studying epidemiology, immunology, parasitology and pathological anatomy.
- Frank Duncombe Laboratory
Its “Equine Health” department, which carries out 250,000 tests each year, is France’s leading centre for equine biology diagnostics. Specializing in infectious pathologies.
|
|
 Contact us :
Calvados Stratégie
Espace Gardin,
40 avenue de l'hippodrome
14000 Caen
Tel : 00 33 (0)2 31 15 62 70
Fax : 00 33 (0)2 31 15 62 75
Email : Click here |
|
