haras de la barbottière
Bonjour Donjuan et Robin!
Haras de la Barbottière welcomes Group 1-winners, Donjuan Triumphant and Robin Of Navan for 2020. Sally Ann Grassick chats with Sophie Rouselle
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NE FRENCH STUD FARM which is anticipating a very busy and exciting year in 2020 is Haras de la Barbottière as the farm has two new recruits on its stallion roster this season – the Group 1
British Champion Sprint winner Donjuan Triumphant and the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud winner Robin Of Navan. Located near Sable in the heart of the Sarthe region, south of Normandy, Haras de la Barbottière was set up in 1993 by Sophie Rouselle and Jean Claude Werle.
Both originally Parisians, the pair made the decision to invest in 123 acres of land in the west of France. Rouselle, who was working as a sales person for veterinary products, found herself becoming more involved in the horseracing industry and eventually she took out her amateur jockey licence and a trainer’s licence. The couple spent the early years developing the infrastructures and facilities of the farm before moving permanently to Barbottière in 2000 to develop a breaking and pre-training centre, alongside their existing breeding operation. They have since purchased a further 185 acres of land and Werle’s son Stephane has joined the team as director, while Rouselle occupies the role of manager. The stud now comprises of 296 acres with 30 stables and nine foaling boxes, while the pre-training part of the farm includes facilities such as a 6f sand gallop and a three and a half furlong jump gallop. “At the end of 2010, Pascal Noue of Haras de la Hetraie approached us about
Haras de la Botterière in the Sarthe region, south of Normandy and not too far from Le Mans, was bought by Sophie Rouselle (top, left) and Jean Claude Werle in 1993
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