The Camargue Horse is one of the oldest breed of horses in the world. They are found in the Camargue area of southern France where for centuries they lived wild in the marshes and wetlands along the Mediterranean coast. They’re small horses, technically a pony as to height, but they’re strong and hardy. Today there are still some wild horses, but most are domesticated and used for livestock management and for equestrian competitions.
The following images are a few of my favorites from several trips to the area. I hope you’ll enjoy them.
(Click on an image to see a larger version)
The Foals
Camargue Horses are born with coats that range from black to grey and many shades of brown. They turn “white” as they mature usually by the time they’re four years of age. Officially they are grey horses as their skin is black and not all attain a pure white color.
The Stallions
When you put two stallions together it will usually generate some action. I’m frequently asked why some of the shots are taken in the water. The answer is simple….there’s no grass to distract them, therefore more action. No horse was injured during these exchanges. 😊
Seaside
The beaches on the Mediterranean coast of Camargue offer some wonderful backdrops for photographing the horses. Early morning sun provided great lighting. Of course, the first thing the horses want to do when they get to the beach is roll in the sand. So much for white horses!
The Marshes
The marshes are a popular place to photograph the Camargue Horses. Although wild herds still live in semi-feral conditions in protected parts of these wetlands, the horses I photographed are not wild. The “guardians” (the name for the Camargue cowboys) bring their domestic horses in for photography sessions. The Camargue is also known for it’s huge numbers of flamingos, and for the Camargue Black Cattle that are native to the area.
Sunset Runs
Sunsets provide another good opportunity for images. The second image is that of a few of the horses resting before the last run of the day.
Rubber boots and insect repellent (the mosquitos are bigger than mine in Louisiana) always travel with me to the Camargue, but it is a beautiful area with a lovely rural feel to it. I would welcome the opportunity to return. Thank you for joining me as I revisit with images taken on past trips.
As always, I welcome your feedback and comments. To receive notification of future posts, please sign up at the top of this page. Until the next post…Cheryl
Ingrid Parker
23 Mar 2022Rolling in the sand, the horses do that to keep the bugs and flies of them. I love your
pictures.
Cheryl Schneider
31 Mar 2022Ingrid, thank you! Yes, they do roll to get bugs off. They also like to roll right after they’ve been groomed. 😅
Nancy
23 Mar 2022The horses are amazing. I’m sure it’s rewarding to have the opportunity to be up close and photograph such incredible beauty.❤️❤️
Cheryl Schneider
31 Mar 2022Thanks so much, Nancy! I’m very lucky to have had the opportunity. I’m glad you enjoyed them. 😊
Jon
6 Apr 2022Great article.
Cheryl Schneider
7 Apr 2022Thank you, Jon!