Set up on an area of 245 acres in the Sarthe region, Bella and Jean-Hugues de Chevigny took over Haras de la Perrigne in 1979. The property was purchased in the early 50s by M. de Wildenberg, a tree farmer from the north, friend to Etienne Pollet (trainer of Sea Bird). He started slowly to breed horses with 1 or 2 mares, with his neighbour from Haras de Maulepaire, Count Bertrand de Tarragon, and then asked his daughter Bella, who worked at Agence Française in Deauville at the time, and his son in law  Jean-Hugues de Chevigny to take over the studfarm in 1979. From a big racing family, grandson to the director of Haras du Pin, son a riding instructor at Compiegne, brother to Yves (former director of the Aigles), Jacques (handicapper) and Gérard (journalist and painter), Jean-Hugues de Chevigny was one of the leading flat and NH amateur rider as he was learning as well his new breeding skills in Normandy. After two years spent with Elie de Brignac at Haras de la Verrerie (Hervé Barjot's farm nowadays), he became director of Haras de la Genevraye with Pierre de Gasté, and then managed for 4 years Haras de Mortrée, owned by Pierre Ribes, then Minister of the French Postal and Telecommunication Service.

Haras de la Perrigne is over 245 acres including 150 acres of paddocks, and 95 acres of woods and parks. Almost all the stables, 50 in total divided in units, are built in old buildings. The stud never stoof stallions. The ground being sandy and light, Jean-Hugues and Bella de Chevigny make sure not to over graze their paddocks and select their broodmares to try to keep only 15 of their own, as they do not take many boarders. Buyer of a new mare every year, Haras de la Perrigne sells most of its foals and yearlings on the ring. They only keep the unsold horses or a filly from a good family.

Among the best horses bred by La Perrigne, we can mention Silver Green (Prix Gladiateur), Solar One, Pont des Arts and most recently Centifolia, Doriana and Espirita.

As for the sales, Haras de la Perrigne made top price at Deauville at 2,7 million francs with Fabulous Eden, sold to Helmut Von Finck and future Group winner in Italy. Also, Bella and Jean-Hugues de Chevigny purchased Sakura Reiko's sister the day before she won the Prix Morny beating Miesque. This mare, Marie de Fontenoy's first foal was by Kenmare and was sold for 2,3 million francs; he was called Kentucky Coffee and turned into a good group horse.Her 2nd foal by Darshaan, named Marienbad, bought for 2,1 million francs from the Maktoum brothers, became the dam of Marienbard, Arc de Triomphe winner.

Haras de la Pérrigne is also a breaking in and pre training center (see details).
Jean-Hugues de Chevigny was president of Asselco (Association of Breeders from the West region) and vice-president of the National Breeders Syndicate.