Ochre Rodeo (France, Gers)

The ochre soil that this horse treads is not just a decoration: it is the result of a clay subsoil rich in iron oxides , typical of Gascon lands . These soils, often difficult to cultivate in winter, retain the geological memory of an ancient seabed dating from the Miocene.

Here, horses sometimes play a discreet role in the ecological maintenance of pastures: we speak of equine pastoralism , a method still marginal, but recognized for its contribution to local biodiversity.

This bareback horse runs in an almost harsh winter light . One might think it's a New Mexico setting, but the shadows of the pollarded oaks remind us that we're in Gascony , in a rural landscape where silence is never empty, just set back.