Located at Arveyres, 25km east of Bordeaux, the Haras des Faunes covers 110 hectares of rich and heavy land, which is perfectly flat and smooth. The stud is home to no less than 100 broodmares, and between 250 - 300 horses in total. Alain Chopard, former breeding manager for Alain de Raquine, set up in 2001 in an abandoned 28-hectare cattle farm. His operation grew quickly as he acquired more land and constructed four buildings. Today, Alain Chopard and his partner Emilie manage the Haras des Faunes where they have 100 stables and a horse walker.

With a staff of ten, the Haras des Faunes offers all breeding services, notably foaling. This is Alain Chopard's speciality and he foaled 133 mares in 2009. His facilities include 25 stables with CCTV and two night watchmen.

He owns a third of the mares on the stud, and all his produce carry the name "chop", as in Crackchop, Chopneyev and Chopastair. He places particular emphasis on precocity and raises his juveniles on an intense diet of 16 litres of oats+barley+conentrate, as well as ad-lib hay.

Alain Chopard soon acquired his first stallion, Sin Kiang, then Majorien. He then launched the career of Panis and discovered Indian Rocket in England. In 2010 the Haras des Faunes will watch with interest the first juveniles of Soave, Muhayim and Night Tango. The latter has left for Normandy in 2010 where he will stand at Mathieu Boutin's new stud.

Alain Chopard's latest purchase is Deportivo, a young sprinter stallion who is already sire of a Listed winner. He came from England during the 2009/2010 winter.


All breeding services and sales preparation
110 hectares
100 stables
100 broodmares
10 members of staff