History and Philosophy of the Haras
Founded in 1987, the breeding operation of Catherine and Sauveur Vaisse began at the Château des Menauts in Boiscommun, Loiret, before being established in Mouriès, in the Baux-de-Provence valley, on a property originally producing AOC Crau hay. Today, fully dedicated to the breeding of Lusitano and sport crossbred horses, it has become Haras du Coussoul.
The breeding began with Purebred Lusitanos and a few Purebred Spanish Horses (PRE). While PREs are no longer bred, the program has expanded with Luso-German crosses and now includes around fifteen broodmares and five breeding stallions, as well as their offspring.
The foundation of the broodmare herd comes from the Roger Bouzin breeding line (RBO), which for twenty-five years worked to improve the Lusitano breed by introducing Veiga bloodlines to Andrade mares, producing horses like Orphée RBO (who competed at the Barcelona Olympics under Catherine Henriquet), Odin (a star of the Cadre Noir de Saumur), and Spartacus RBO (qualified for the Atlanta Olympics).
The key breeding stallions that have shaped Haras du Coussoul include Quefaz and Miguelista, from the Quina lineage; Scapin RBO, Champion of Champions in France in 1995 and silver medalist in Lisbon also one of the world-renowned stallions listed in the Lusitano breed book of merit; Alegre XIX, triple champion of Spain and approved as an “improving stallion” of the Lusitano breed (the last stallion worldwide to receive this rare distinction); and Spartacus RBO, son of Emir and half-brother of both Orphée and Scapin.
At Haras du Coussoul, movement quality is paramount: an expansive, well-developed walk with no risk of lateralization; hocks and elbows that flex correctly; a supple, powerful trot; and a light, collected, cadenced canter.
The Haras has always aimed to improve the Portuguese breed while preserving its inherent qualities: agility, refinement, and courage.
With this goal in mind, the Haras acquired Alegre XIX, whose undeniably high-quality movement and conformation brought greater neck length and strength to the offspring.
Following the introduction of this new bloodline and successful results such as Germanicus des Menauts, a Grand Prix horse at the Menauts Gala and dam of several champions including Mistral du Coussoul it became necessary to return to the original Lusitano line to bring more type to future generations.
The breeding program then turned back to its roots : Alegre XIX’s daughters were crossed with Scapin and Spartacus RBO, both Grand Prix stallions with exceptional movement and unmatched temperament. This fixed the desired qualities in the breeding program.
As a result, the offspring from Haras du Coussoul combine the generosity of Alegre XIX with the lineage and talent of Spartacus and Scapin. Examples include Naxos du Coussoul, Lucifer du Coussoul, Mistral du Coussoul, and more.
It’s also important to highlight the ongoing contribution of Scapin RBO, from the Alter Real line, son of Emir and sire of Mistral du Coussoul, Orphée, and Pallas du Coussoul. His descendants consistently demonstrate remarkable mental balance, exceptional generosity both under saddle and in hand, and a natural suppleness that impresses every rider who has tried a Scapin-bred horse.
Scapin is, in many ways, the perfect archetype of what breeders strive to solidify in their lines—with his exceptional temperament, lightness in the mouth, and remarkably airy gaits. These qualities have made him the spiritual guide of all breeding decisions at the Haras. The personal bond with this stallion and his connection to the RBO bloodline make him a true treasure, recognized by everyone familiar with the Haras’s history. Even at an advanced age, Scapin retained a superb conformation and stood out among stallions with his unique character and undeniable charm.
Haras du Coussoul has also always considered the quality of its broodmares to be of fundamental importance. The daughters of Scapin numerous in the current herd consistently produce foals with classical conformation and excellent minds. One notable example is Ulyssia du Coussoul, Champion of Champions for gaits at the 2013 Beaucaire show. The young fillies destined for the broodmare band bring great promise for the future development of the lineage.
While conformation and movement are central to the Coussoul philosophy, equal attention is given to the behavioral traits of the foals. No outside blood is ever introduced if it risks disrupting the harmony that allows these horses to willingly and generously work with humans.
A visit to the Haras makes it clear to any connoisseur: these horses, handled gently from a very young age and never rushed, show an astonishing closeness to humans.
The horses from Haras du Coussoul distinguish themselves across many disciplines dressage, driving, performance shows, endurance, cattle sorting, and jumping while also being perfectly suited to non-competitive lives, bringing great joy to their owners.
This ensures the Haras’s goal: to offer horses with flawless movement in all three gaits, a conformation that reflects the Portuguese breed’s heritage, and the ability to compete at the highest levels of international dressage.
This relentless pursuit of excellence is far from over because the children of Coussoul are ready to carry the torch forward…