The Chevaux du Monde Park is a project currently under design. It aims to create a space entirely dedicated to horses, donkeys, and mules, in a natural, educational, and respectful environment. Through immersive trails, thematic exhibitions, and varied activities, the idea is to allow everyone to better understand the diversity of equines worldwide and the richness of the human–horse relationship.
In this first version of the project, we are considering a park open to the public from March 15 to December 15, with the capacity to host up to 1 million visitors per year. The rest of the year would be devoted to animal rest, site maintenance, and preparation for the following season.
The ambition is to create a calm environment, on a human scale, inspired by a village, where horses could live peacefully. Animal welfare is at the heart of the concept: everything is designed to respect the rhythm and needs of the equines.
Here are some of the activities we envision for this project:
Movement within the Park would be provided by horse-drawn carriage, for a peaceful and coherent immersion aligned with the project’s values.
The Chevaux du Monde Park is still an idea, but we wish it to become a lively, educational, and respectful place for both young and old.
As part of this developing project, we are considering structuring the Park around 12 thematic villages, each dedicated to a specific type of equine. Each village could accommodate about 30 horses, donkeys, or mules, housed in individual or paired stalls depending on their needs.
This organisation would group equines according to their origin, function, and history, in order to offer a pedagogical approach to their diversity without disturbing their welfare.
Each village would have outdoor paddocks for horses to rest and relax. These green spaces would also allow visitors to observe the animals in a natural setting, conducive to contemplation and learning.
The aim of this organisation, if implemented, would be to offer an immersive and educational experience, while maintaining a high standard of animal welfare.
As part of this developing project, the selection of planned breeds is based on a rigorous approach, grounded in reliable resources and a documented methodology. Many books and websites cover horse breeds, but they are sometimes incomplete or influenced by commercial interests.
The aim here is to build a serious working base, relying on recognised references in the field of equine diversity.
Several ancient breeds are currently threatened due to modern crossbreeding and the genetic uniformity in breeding.
Some examples:
One possible approach for the project would be to select primarily breeds existing for at least 50 years. This criterion aims to ensure genetic stability and historical recognition.
It would also help contribute to the preservation of equine biodiversity, highlighting breeds that are sometimes forgotten or weakened by performance-driven breeding.
At this stage, this is still a research and thoughtful selection phase. This work could lay the foundation for a future awareness-raising space dedicated to the richness and diversity of the world’s horses.
In this developing project, we envision a park hosting about 360 equines: horses, donkeys, and mules. Their feeding would be organised with strict attention to both animal welfare and daily logistics.
As an indication, each equine would represent a total cost of about €45,000 (purchase, housing, transport). This estimate underlines the importance of precise and respectful management of these animals.
Rather than relying solely on industrial feed, the project would favour a more natural approach, inspired by ancient practices:
The daily feeding plan would include an organic mash prepared on site, made of cooked barley, rolled oats, bran, chopped straw, and molasses. Once a week, cooked flax seeds would be added to promote healthy digestion.
The project aims to use organic products from local partnerships. Hay, straw, and grains would come from agricultural contracts with producers committed to a sustainable approach.
This would combine nutritional quality with a reduced environmental impact.
In this perspective, equine manure could be used for the cultivation of organic Paris mushrooms. This ecological process would be presented to visitors in an educational space dedicated to circular farming.
In this project, feeding the equines would not only be a necessity but also an educational and ecological dimension, where tradition meets innovation.
The Chevaux du Monde Park plans to host around 300 horses, 30 donkeys, and 20 mules, carefully selected in their countries of origin. Each equine embodies a tradition, a culture, and a history.
The acquisition expedition will cover several continents:
The journey will start in France and gradually expand worldwide, with a respectful and collaborative approach.
In Europe, procedures are simplified thanks to harmonised health protocols. Outside the EU, extra precautions are taken, including quarantines and special authorisations.
Each country, breed, and situation requires careful preparation to ensure the animals’ health and traceability.
Each equine will be photographed from all angles for a detailed documentary record. A DNA sample will be taken to build a unique scientific genetic database.
These missions are much more than purchases: they are cultural and scientific expeditions. They help promote traditional breeding, preserve breeds, and build lasting ties with local communities.
Through these international exchanges, the Park becomes a true living encyclopaedia of the world’s equines.
As part of the Chevaux du Monde Park project, we wish to highlight the great diversity of donkey breeds present around the world. About 190 are recorded, but this number is still debated due to numerous historical crossbreeds and the lack of consolidated genetic data.
This distribution, still approximate, evolves as research progresses. The lack of pedigree tracking in some countries makes precise identification difficult.
In Europe, three countries stand out for their conservation efforts:
Other Western European countries often have only one identified breed, without structured monitoring or preservation measures.
In this first version of the project, the idea would be to gather about 20 European donkey breeds, mainly from France, Italy, and Spain. This grouping would help highlight the genetic and cultural diversity of these often-overlooked animals.
Donkeys have long been companions in work and life. This project aims to increase public awareness of their role in history and to contribute to their preservation.
As part of this project, we plan to host several types of equine hybrids, including the mule — born from a jack (male donkey) and a mare (female horse). The reverse cross, between a stallion and a jenny (female donkey), produces a hinny, usually smaller.
Mules and hinnies have 63 chromosomes, between the horse’s 64 and the donkey’s 62. This odd number makes them sterile, which does not prevent them from being used for centuries for their versatility.
These animals combine the hardiness and patience of the donkey with the strength of the horse, making them well-suited to demanding environments.
Mules are often described as having a steady character. They remain calm while still being energetic enough to perform various physical tasks.
The project draws inspiration from the Poitevin Mule, from a cross between a Poitevin Draft Horse and a Poitou Donkey. This lineage has been officially recognised since 2002 and has had official pedigree monitoring since 2022.
Organisations such as the American Donkey and Mule Society contribute to the promotion of these hybrids. Today, they are found in agriculture, tourism, and even certain types of competition.
In our project, mules would be presented as examples of ingenuity and adaptability. Their history and uses could provide valuable insight into past and present rural practices.
