Merens

Origin

Also known as: race ariegeoise De Merens, Merenguais. Merens ponies come from the Pyrenees area of Ariege, named after a village in these mountains near the border with Andorra. Paintings of horses strikingly similar to these ponies were found in the cave at Niaux.
Being robust and economical, the Merens ponies were for a long time the Companions of the "Montagnol"(mountain farmers-a kind of moti of ours) and soldiers, especially with the armies of the count of Foix Gaston Phoebus in the Middle Ages, and later for Napoleon's Army during the campaign in Russia.
More recently, Merens horses have been used for field work, plowing and harvesting. His suppleness and his balance allow him to work easily and well on stony hills. For recreational activities he behaves as light and relaxed in harness as with rider in the back.
In Ariege, most breeders kept their horses outdoors all year round. The foals are fatted in the spring on the snow and there are no problems at all.
In June it is taken to the summer pastures to spend a few months there in total freedom. It is this freedom that gives the Merens the psychic balance for which they are so much recognized.
Specimens of this breed are almost identical, perhaps due to the isolation of this breed. Merens ponies are black in color with a few rare white spots.
Gentle and very solid in construction they do great with young riders but can easily carry an adult.
Merens horses are growing in popularity and are currently exported to Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and Tunisia. In 1997, a SHERPA Association, which promotes this breed, presented a pair of such ponies to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who spent many vacations in the Ariege area.
While Merens ponies are increasingly popular and are bred and bred in other regions of France and other countries, a true Merens pony is one that runs freely in the high areas of the Pyrenees mountains as its ancestors did thousands of years ago.
Merens ponies resemble another ancient breed, Fell ponies, and the larger Friesian ponies. This breed of Pony is rare.

Appearance Merens

In appearance the breed is similar to Dales or Fell ponies.
The coat is black, but coffee-colored or reddish specimens can also be found.
Foals at birth may also have other close colors, but they also become black as they reach maturity. White spots are rare.
The height of the Merens horses is 145 to 155cm, the ideal is 149, and the weight of 350 to 500kg.
The head is small and the neck strong and short. The breed is resistant to diseases.

Merens Behavior

His calm behavior recommends him to use with children. In all these activities these little horses and blacks prove to be generous and devoted to their master, provided he was taught this as a child.
Like all ponies it has a strong character and a firm stance must be taken on the part of the man when he is put to work.
These ponies are very hardy and withstand very well even with low-quality feed. In addition, they are resistant to harsh environmental conditions.
The Ariegeois were originally used as "pack" horses, but they came to be useful for a wide variety of farm work, such as harrowing, ploughing and drilling on light slopes. These ponies are good for riding and riding.