La Maison du Pottok, discovering a little horse, a treasure of the Basque Country

The Pottoks, nature, the mountains... this is the beautiful paradise passionately defended by Michel Laforêt in his Pottok reserve in Bidarray. Located in the highest house in the mountains, he invites you to discover his world of small, thin, short-legged horses with black coats in a privileged setting, that of freedom. Between protection, promotion, transmission and preservation, Michel is a man with a heart of gold in love with the Basque Country and the Pottoks. Join him in his wonderful adventure to preserve the PONI VASO POTTOKA and its heritage.

La Maison du Pottok, a tribute to these little horses from the Basque Country since 1992

Prepare yourself for a unique encounter with these particular equines that are part of the region's culture. A small mountain horse, the Pottok is a very old breed called "Cantabrian Pyrenean" which means "little horse", and is pronounced "pottiok". This emblematic pony of the Rhune is unfortunately in danger of extinction following a controversial evolution of breeders who seek to modify the primitive characteristics of the Pottok to obtain larger, more athletic horses, with coats of varied colors. The horses encountered in the Basque mountains are rarely in the original type of the primitive black Pottok better known under the name of "Poni Vasco Pottoka" in the Southern Basque Country on the Spanish side, since only a few ponies are recorded as being of pure Pottoka breed in Bidarray. This authentic Pottok in danger of extinction has in fact the particularity of being very fine, black, muscular and above all small in size with a height at the withers of between 1m10 and 1m30. A long back, a sloping rump and high-set eyes for eating with their heads down while watching for an approaching bear or wolf, this is the presentation of the only pure and authentic breed of the true primitive Pottok. Open your eyes wide to recognize them without difficulty, they evolve in groups and in freedom.

The House of Pottok, a unique conservation program in Europe

Even as a child, Michel Laforêt was fascinated by these small black horses roaming freely in the mountains . Unfortunately, crossbreeding between different breeds distanced subsequent generations from the original Pottok breed, giving way to larger horses with varied coats, far from the emblematic Poni Vasco Pottoka of the Basque Country. The gradual disappearance of this unique ancestral strain through genetic pollution then prompted him to create the private reserve of the Maison du Pottok in Bidarray in 1993 in a natural environment, the objective of which is to preserve and reintegrate the Poni Vasco Pottoka in the heart of the Basque mountains. This long-term work is possible thanks to a conservation herd and a nursery of purebred Poni Vasco Pottoka stallions which allow reproductions without crossbreeding of this very old ancestral strain in danger of extinction. This heritage and environmental approach was supported by the Ministry of the Environment which awarded it the "Thank you says the Planet" label. More than a passionate volunteer, Michel is a guardian of memory who knows the history of the Pottok like the back of his hand, having discovered the Pottok when Paul Dutournier, former mayor of Sare and defender of this small Basque horse, offered a foal to George Pompidou in 1969.

The House of Pottok, a pure mountain breed in danger

As you will have understood, the situation is worrying and the small black Original Primitive Pottok is threatened with extinction in its natural habitat. This alarming observation encourages breeders in the Southern Basque Country to engage in a fierce fight to save the Poni Vasco Pottoka from extinction through the EPOFE federation. Since 1995, the Poni Vasco Pottoka has been recognized as a pure breed with at least 3 complete, stable and homogeneous generations without crossbreeding, allowing the authenticity of the ancestral Pottok of yesteryear to be preserved. This fascinating but time-consuming work continues today thanks to enthusiasts who unite to reintroduce and preserve the original Pottok in its natural habitat, while in Bidarray only a few horses are still recorded as being true original primitive Pottok, this wonderful unique breed.

The House of Pottok, a call for help to preserve a breed that is a vestige of the past

Nature and horse lovers , open your eyes wide to admire the incredible beauty of the mountains and the sea, a splendid view that opens up before you at the Maison du Pottok. During your walks and hikes, you will surely have the chance to come across some horses , and perhaps even the Original Type Pottok roaming free in the mountains or in the green meadows of the Basque Country. If you share this desire to preserve the Primitive Original Pottok in its natural environment, here is how to recognize an authentic Pottok if you meet one:

• Coat: Solid, black or dark brown with red highlights in the hair.
• Morphology: Small angular horse, longer than tall with very fine limbs.
• Hair: Stiff, both mane and tail.
• Croup: Simple and sloping.
• Hooves: Four small black hooves with very hard horn, with little hair in summer at the back under the fetlock.
• Head: Long and straight, with forward ears and high-set dark eyes.
• Facial Details: A hollow on the forehead at eye level and a bump on the nose with a smaller, triangular lower lip.

Please feel free to take front, side, and back photos of the ponies that match this description and send them to the French Association of the Vasco Pottoka Pony, also indicating their location. These identified ponies represent the hope of saving this endangered breed thanks to all the preservation work that you can do. Your help is invaluable!

If you would like to know more or even contribute to the preservation of this incredible ancestral line from the past, by starting a breeding or a conservation project, do not hesitate to contact the French Association of the Poni Vasco Pottoka. This team of passionate volunteers will help you find primitive pottoks, particularly among breeders in the Southern Basque Country in Spain, and will be delighted to share with you their love for this exceptional little horse. The Association, led by Michel Laforêt, also lends stallions free of charge to perpetuate the breed.

The Pottok is a true symbol of freedom and the rich Basque heritage that must be preserved.

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