2010: going for another round at the Ecurie des Mottes

For 35 years, Claudie and Joël Poirier have developped their dual-purpose breeding operation on their land near Angers by adding the "des Mottes" suffix to their horses, named after their address. Now owning a broodmare band of about 20, whose products have brought 35 victories in 2008, they are in charge of quite important numbers on spaces spread around the village of Soucelles, situated in the Loir floodvalley.

Ecurie des Mottes' breeding operation in the Loir valley

Ronaldo des Mottes, 2nd in a Gr.3 in England

Just out of a Winter often occupied by breaking the ice, the stable gets suddenly back to full activity on mid-February. Ronaldo des Mottes who was the last winner of the 2009 season when scoring over Kempton's hurdles on December 27th, thus takes a booming 2nd place in a G.3 on Saturday 13th Ferbuary during the luxuous Newbury meeting.A son of Rifapour out of Gemma (Djarvis) coming from Christian Lacorie's breeding operation, Ronaldo des Mottes already was a big shot in flat at 3 amongst the AQPS, a sport which the Ecurie des Mottes appreciates. Twice a close second to Rendons Grâce at Craon and the nat Saint-Cloud, Ronaldo, acquired by Samuel Blanchard (Winning Bloodstock) then took off in the important Prix de l'Avenir at Nantes. The hope now lives in a run during the Cheltenham festival.

Ronaldo des Mottes in England

1st French victory of the year thanks to the debuts of Royan des Mottes

Until then, the first pupils trained in France, mostly by Cyriaque Diard (the sisters Royce and Sun des Mottes), Joël Boisnard and Elie Lellouche, as well as François Nicolle, Anne-Marie Poirier (Haras du Chêne) and Gilles Chaignon, will be ready to run in France. Proof is, the very first start of a "des Mottes" in France has ended with a victory over hurdles at Toulouse. Aged 4, Royan des Mottes has been thus named because he was born on 14th April 2006, day of his elder sister Puszta des Mottes debuts victory on Royan La Palmyre's racecourse. He is in training with François Nicolle... at Royan of course, and made his debuts directly over jumps.

Royan des Mottes' trainer François Nicolle

First foal for the classic AQPS Puszta des Mottes

Just before Ronaldo's outting, the Ecurie des Mottes had the joy of a first foaling from a maiden, the flat classic AQPS above-mentionned Puszta des Mottes. This winner of the Prix des Guillédines and Prix Glorieuse was a month late (!) to give birth to her first product, a filly by Della Francesca. She was followed by another expected product, by Roman Saddle and Camille des Mottes.

1st foaling of the year: a filly by della Francesca out of Puszta des Mottes

The beneficial effect of the adoption protocol

Camille des Mottes has indeed not manage to produce a foal for 4 years since the birth of the good Starsky des Mottes, 3rd in the Prix de l'Avenir 2009 for Jacques Chérel and since then sold in Ireland to Willie Mullins. In between, this mare had however bred an orphan in 2008, a sibling to JAzz des Mottes by Robin des Champs, thanks to the adoption protocol elaborated by Meslay-du-Maine veterinary clinic, which enables any mares to start lactating within a timeframe of 10 days. at a 100%, the mares thus placed in a state of lactation and so of adoption, often chosen amongst the ones that keeps being barren, are fecondated and produce their own foal the next year...

Vertavienne, the very first mare purchased by Joël Poirier en 1971, finally has a grand-daughter

Finally the succession of one of the foundation mares

During the night of 16th to 17th February at the Haras de la Rousselière where all foalings are made, Julie des Mottes, dam of the very good Mambo and Nippy des Mottes, foaled of a Denham Red filly. This is an expected piece of news as the dam didn't have any female succession yet. Above all, Julie des Mottes is herself the last living product of a certain Vertavienne, the very first broodmare acquired by Joël Poirier, when she was 4 in 1971, and who measured 15 1/5 hh, which has not prevented her to be the source of numerous jumpers, including Echo des Mottes. This commitment to history doesn't keep us from novelty.

Joël Poirier with his yearlings

17 mares will be presented to the stallions. The Ecurie des Mottes thus tends progressively to a new breeding politic which consists in getting the mare in foal every other year, excepted the younger. For further information, visit the breeding card page including the mating plans, as well as www.elevagedesmottes.fr, an exhaustive and detailed website constantly updated.