June 15, 2004
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La " civilisation du cheval "
The " horse civilization ."
English version after the french text
photo taken by Carole Fauquet May 2004Regardez ces chevaux qui trottent dans une rue d ' une petite ville du Nord de la France . Je trouve le spectacle étonnant et aussi beau et joyeux . Les chevaux sont tout heureux de courir un peu au lieu de rester dans leur écurie ou leur pâture . Ils font le spectacle . Ils sont reliés entre eux par une corde qui les maintient en ligne . Je ne sais pas comment expliquer comment cette puissante rangée de chevaux blancs m ' a donné une réelle émotion .
Ce sont des chevaux français de race boulonnaise ( blanc ou gris ) . Ils sont élevés dans la région de Boulogne , un port situé en face de l ' Angleterre . Ce sont des chevaux de trait .
Dans le passé ces chevaux étaient utilisés pour les travaux des champs ( cf ma chronique sur le labour ) et pour le transport . Voici , ci - dessous , une très vieille photo de ma ville natale appelée Marquise près de Boulogne au début du XX ème siècle .Au premier plan on voit le boucher qui a acheté un veau au marché .Au fond , au bout de la rue on voit les voitures à cheval des fermiers qui viennent vendre leur production au marché . Il y avait beaucoup de monde dans les rues à ce moment là .
En ce temps là la vie était très dure et la médecine rudimentaire . Mais il n ' y avait ni chômage ( il fallait du monde dans les champs ) ni pollution par les gaz des véhicules à moteur . En France ce temps a duré jusqu ' en 1948/ 1950 à cause de la guerre . J ' ai donc bien connu la civilisation du cheval . Aujoud ' hui ces chevaux boulonnais sont élevés pour le goût croissant des gens pour la nature . Beaucoup retrouvent le plaisir de se promener en voiture à cheval dans les chemins à travers bois et champs .
Look at those horses that trot in a street of a small town of Northen France . I find this show amazing and also beautiful and joyful . The horses are quite happy to be a bit running instead of to stay in their stalls or the pastures . They made the show . They are linked with a rope that maintains them in a line . I don' t know to explain how this powerful row of white horses gave me a real emotion .
They are Boulonnais race French horses ( white or gray ) . They are bred in the area of Boulogne , a harbour situated on front of England . They are draught horses .
In the past those horses were used to work in the fields ( see my blog about ploughing ) and for the carriage . Here is below a very old photo of my birthplace called Marquise near Boulogne at the beginning of the XXth century . At the foreground a butcher has just bought a calf at the market . At the bottom at the end of the steeet you see the two - horse carriages of the farmers who come to sell their products at the market . There were many people in the streets at this time .
At this time life was very hard and the medicine very retarded . But there was neither unemployment ( many people were employed in the fields ) nor pollution by the gas of the cars . In France this time lasts until 1948/50 because of the war . So I knew very well the " horse civilisation " . Nowadays those Boulonnais horses are bred to satisfy the increasing taste of the people for the nature . Many of them find pleasure to ride in a horse carriage through woods and fields .
Comments (102)
They are absolutely beautiful animals, Michel, thank you so much for sharing this with us! Horses have a special place in my heart ~ they have such power and yet are such gentle creatures. Thank you!
nice horsies *smile*
Quels beaux chevaux! J'aime toujours tes histoires.
The horses look so strong and powerful! They are very beautiful. Their time to work has passed. But, their time to be admired and enjoyed is here!
Ils sont très beaux pour des chevaux de trait. Il est sûrement très étonnant et impressionnant de les voir courir de la sorte dans les rues d'un village. Au moins on ne risque pas de se faire écraser comme quand on lâche les taureaux dans les rues (en Camargue, non?)
Je suis sûre qu'il fait bon d'y passer quelque temps pendant l'été.
Passe un bonne semaine, Michel.
Clara
I am sad that their time to work has passed. Those beautiful horses look as if their happines depends on work.
So lovely, Michel--I remember being very moved by the entry on ploughing as well.
what beautiful animals! thank you, Michel, for sharing your story with us.
i have always loved horses... but grew up in an area where having a horse is not very easy. so i rarely see them up close and in person. thank you for sharing these wonderful photos.
those horses are beautiful, Michel
~janny
Lovely to see your old picture of the street. There is not much of a change.
Horses are beautiful. My father's father was a ploughman and he had a Shire horse. I have a picture at home. I must seek it out and get it scanned in to show you.
Elle est émouvante, cette photo des chevaux blancs...
What beautiful horses Michel . Of course its a shame that the horses are not used for ploughing the fields . We have country shows here with Shire Horses
wow, that's quite a sight!
I love to see your pictures.
The horses look so strong and beautiful and I love that last picture -
Those are beautiful horses!
Ce regards très majestueux !!
That is a beautiful picture Carole took. It is amazing to see them so close. They are very beautiful and powerful, and that 10 horses can stay together like that is quite amazing.
I love horses!
Thank you for this.
Gorgeous.
Those are amazing horses.....so beautiful. I enjoyed reading about the days of your youth.
That is fascinating! And the horses are just gorgeous! I love horses, they are so powerful and majestic!
Nina
Really neat posting today. The horses are absolutely beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing!
Ooh la la, quels beaux chevaux! I wish I could have seen it for myself!
The olden picture below is very pretty, I wish I could have lived in a time where there was no air pollution or unemployment. What a wonderful childhood that must have been!
I also love my hair in curls, I am thinking of getting a perm.
<3
Le souffle me coupe a chaque fois que je voix de chevaux. Ils ont toujours eu une place speciale dans mon coeur. C'est une photo merveilleuse. Merci d'avoir encore une fois partager avec nous...et de nous avoir amener sur un petit voyage dans le passe.
They are beautiful and look like very large horses.
Oh, that would be such a sight to see! Wonderful photograph Michel.
They are beautiful!
J'aime bien le photo des chevaux!
(à Lexigton [Kentuckie] - la ville où je suis des courses - on aime beaucoup les chevaux....et donc, c'est pourquoit il reçevrait le titre "Le capital de cheval du monde")
Beautiful horses indeed. Here in The United States the Amish people still use horses such as those to work their fields. They are amazing creatures.
Yes, I love riding on a horse in the woods. It's lovely and so peaceful!
I'm sure you had a strong emotion upon seeing the animals that day because of the power and beauty the horses represented, as well as, the fond memories!
Those are beautiful horses!! They definately look strong like small draft horses. I used to wish when I was younger that we still lived in a "horse civilization". It seems so much simpler. Now everything goes so fast that I think our minds have trouble taking it all in. Those must be very fond memories that you have of those days.
hugs,
Lisa
lovely horses...I remember when i was litttle and my mom would take me to the country side and there would be a lovely horse...The horse's job was to go round and round and get water from the well..Lovely memory dear friend...i hold on to these memories close to my heart...
hugs,
rubymoon
Horses are beautiful aren't they? They're my favourite animal..so graceful when they are in motion. And the feeling of riding on a horse into the mountaintops to watch sunset is quite amazing. I had the priviledge of doing such once. I'll never forget the experience!
dazzling, wonderful entry.
Image impressionnante en effet Michel !
on dirait des anges ...!
la photographie de Marquise fait bel effet elle aussi
merci et amitiés, AM
as usual cannot decide whether the photo is more interesting and wonderful or the analysis or account you write! lovely indeed!
Magnifique photo. C'est toujour triste de voir les civilisation qui nont desparues. Les chevaus ont eté transferés dans les voitures (Voir la deux chevaux-Citroen).
Il y avait aussie de la pollution.....les chevaux produissent aussi des polluants mais pas si mauvais que les voitures.
It is nice to see the now the horses are used as pets.They are very beautiful animals.
Bien à toi,
Carlo
I understand your emotion about the horses. They are so majestic! Thank you for sharing such interesting parts of your world.
They remind me of the Clydesdale horses only more beautiful!
Mmm... beautiful, magnificent, breath-taking, powerful. Simply, good. Good to see them alive, and healthy, and still there to be friends, companions, and to work with us.
I have the opinion that one day they will do the work again, not as a way to remember the past, but because they will be necessary, needed, again.
Horses are such beautiful animals! It is a real pleasure to see them. Thanks for sharing this great picture!
Thanks also for your kind inquiry during my absence from Xanga. I am fine. I appreciated your expression of concern.
I will show this to my sister. She loves horses.
white horses!
my favorite ones
and when they grow wings, i will fly on them!! lol
dear michel...thank you for your comments and energy!
i will return soon
love to you & yours,
j(*
Wishing you pure joy on this wondrous day. Love and Hugs
this is a beautiful picture of these horses and your poem about the plouging is beautiful too. I agree that time is running ahead over top of many of us. Life were harder in some ways in years past, but times was slower- and that seems welcome compared to the break neck pace we have these days.. It's going much too fast and too many people seem to get lost in the rushing...
What a lovely memory and beautiful horses. We need more horses and less cars. A slower pace.
They are very beatiful animals. Did you take the pictures of them, yourself? Anyway, may I have your email address so I can email you?
A Golden Age - so some people say but it wsn't really. As you say people worked very hard and didn't have much. Horses are used here today for leisure activites, as they are truly noble beasts.
Marie
I remember well those horse-drawn days! On days when the work horses were not likely to be used, I frquently rode one of them to school bareback-- a one-room schoolhouse in the country. I would tie the horse to a fencepost or tree, supply a nosebag of oats, and bring water to her at recess and lunchtime.
Somedays I wish that we could return to a time when the horse was a primary mode of transportation. I love horses and long to own one someday!
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congrats.
there is something good to be said about all the times of our lives and civilization.
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We progress and gain so much but then we lose so much too. It is wonderful the medicines are better but sad the people are not individuals anymore... and jobs are not plentiful. We need to go back to the earth but cannot with pavement and cars and .......
WOW .... this is an amazing sight! The horses are beautiful......... perhaps people still will enjoy riding these horses - if for no other reason than just the pleasure of riding so beautiful a horse.
thank you for sharing
Have you seen the Shire horses which still exist in Britain?
Beautiful horses! And thank you so much for the perspective.
These horses are absolutely gorgeous, Michel.
They look so very regal in this line, and white (greys) are my most favoured colour. 
They were my passion as a child, and I never cease to wonder at their beauty and grace.
Lovely blog! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, Michel.
Love and Hugs
the phillies are an american baseball team from philadelphia. when i went to the doctors, it was for just a visit. i did not get sick until after i saw him. thank you for asking!!
I do enjoy horses. And these are quite beautiful ones. It is amazing to see God's creatures coincide like that.
I have also enjoyed the look back into your past. Thank you for sharing both photos. It is remarkable to think about how times have changed.
Have a wonderful Thursday, Michel!
what a great post! They are so beautiful!!!! I am going to show the pic to my grandpa. One of your best blogs ever!!!
What powerful and absolutely beautiful horses those are. It must have been very overwheling to have seen them all come down the street like that. I cannot tell even of my feelings as I looked at your picture. Tears come to my eyes when I look apon such a beautiful creature as a horse...
I must agree that I would have loved to been able to experience life during the "horse civilization". Life must have felt so pure back then. When everybody had to work, and work hard for themselves but also had time to look apon others. Life must have ben very appreciated back then.
And you already know of my dream, to one day live close enough to my family so that all I would have to do is get my horse and go visiting
Much love to you friend
Sarah
Very nice Michel. Not only beautiful horses, but also a very charming town. Guy
Viva La France Viva Le Soccer!
Saw a wine today called Chablis homme l' mort
Surly some joke?
Oh what a beautiful picture of the horses! It took my breath away, it is so stunning. How marvelous to see such a sight, a magnificent line of horses such as that. I recall your entry about ploughing, too.
I'm fascinated by old photographs & can spend a long time studying them. This one has so much to see, the curvy street, the carriages, the way the people are dressed. Thank you for sharing both of these pictures, I enjoyed them, especially the first one.
Ah.. the horses are beautiful! They look very strong and yet gentle at the same time. I went to a musuem yesterday and bought a postcard for you! I thought you might like it.
Anytime I see a horse, I get emotional. Especially, since I wanted a white horse when I was a small child. My family owned every type of horse from working to racing. However, my Mother couldn't afford a farm sized residence in order for me to have one. The photo is amazing.
Love and Hugs
I understand your feelings while around these beautiful animals Michel. To think that mer man can control such power and strength is an amazing thing. We are indeed blessed to know these feelings.
I am curious to one who has lived so long if things are generally better, worst, or just the same.
Michel
C'est une grande idée. Je peux lire votre site Web et essayer de le traduire. Combien de langues savez-vous ?Billy
This is a wonderful blog Michel.
Btw I value your friendship and support very highly, thank you.
I always had a fascination with these creatures, the white horses on your photo above is lovely. I've only been on a horse once in my life...when I was little. I'm too scared of animals to have the guts to ever get on one again.
fascinating!
C'est un spectacle magnifique! Et les chevaux blancs sont très très jolis. Je me souviens de ta chronique sur le labour. C'est mélancholique de penser à d'autre fois quand il n'y avait ni pollution ni choômage. Peut-être on gère plus de problèms quand on s'éloigne de la nature.
I was born in 1947, and I rememer still horses delivering most things, milk, beer, bread. We lived on a hill and from my bedroom window I could hear the slow plod of the horses and the grind of the wheels pulling the drays.
I have been to boulogne a couple of times and it's still very French unlike Calais. The chemists have flashing crosses, there are cheese shops and bakeries. Totally unlike England with it's mini-markets and few other food shops.
very pretty horses
UR WELCOME FRiEND...GLADD MY ENTRY CAN HELP PEOPLE..<333 THANK FOR THE PROPz HERE SOME BACK..TAKE KHARE...KEEP UR HEAD UP
Lovely Horses ,very old picture ,a bit hard for my old eyes to take in. Thanks for your continued support for me at this so miserable time. I have never felt so alone, good job i live on a main road, I can watch the cars whizz by. I would rest easier if Matt was settled and the weather would improve. Seems worse than an English winter used to be, suits my mood but I would like to feel happy. Love Marjie
These are truely handsome and useful horses. Often the old ways had many aspects that were better than modern ways. I would not like to go back to a time when medical care was so poor, but the basic way of life was one that gave peace and a sense of accomplishment.
What beautiful horses, Michel. When my sister Christine and I were in Pennsylvania a couple of years ago, we saw an Amish farmer plowing his field with a team of draft horses. They still live and farm the old fashioned way, and it gives us a view into the past.
The horses are very beautiful and I enjoyed thinking about life in France back when things were simpler. I think I would enjoy this show! Thanks for showing us.
What beautiful pictures, and the line of horses is a moving sight! And they are all so clean and white! They must be well cared for.
Very beautiful horse. They look very elegant and strong. I just love the white color, not too many beautiful white horses like that.
Gorgeous Michel!
those are wonderful pictures =)
Yes, this makes me think of my Derby horses too! Like you said my derby horses make you think of your 10 white horses.
How exceptionally fascinating...oh, there is nothing more beautiful than a horse in all its glory! Oh mon Dieu, the majesty!
To bring out emotion means you love beauty and have good thoughts of those days of your youth. How so like you! This is just one of many reasons I read your blogs...you are a feeling, dear and treasured man full of wit and wisdom and emotion. May it always be so.
Ooooohhhhhh Beautiful! I have always had a deep love for horses. I find them fascinating to look at and watch how they move... so powerfully and majestically. I think the time of horses would have been a wonderful time indeed!
hugs and love,
Deb
P.S. I too am in the time of life of making the grandchildren laugh. it's a fun time... usually.
wow...thanks for the history lesson of france. beautiful as always!
thank you for you inspiring words.
beautiful pictures!
surely horse is nice source of transportation, no air pollution at least...but we cant turn back the clock..
the air pollution thing is killing the earth
ann
You don't ever get to see things like that in the city where I live. Nothing like that in Toronto, it must be amazing to see things like that all the time in France.
Beaux chevaux! Ils ont l'air de puissance
Love and Hugs
Il y a quelque chose très majestueux des chevaux. Je peux voir comment que vous auriez des sensations de fierté profonde dans les chevaux qui sont les descendants de France.
France, always a sort of enemy with England, and yet, most English love French things like food, wine, culture (esp paintings). Give me the money and I will live my last days in your country. So much more civilized than ours!
it's wonderful to see these old photographs... i wonder if you have current photos of the same street to see how much has changed or been added on to ...
Answer to anurana : I have not the photo of the same street in our time but I can tell there are no more people in the steet , the shops disappeared . We see principally cars , cars , cars . It is less humane .
the horses looked carefree. that's the way they should be. to be allowed to roam around at their own free will. i wish i could see horses running freely one day. it's been one of my wishes. to witness nature and wildlife in it's abandonment.
Love and Hugs
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