Anne-Marie Poirier has been running Haras du Chêne, a leading pre-training yard at Sarcelles in the Pays De Loire region west of Paris, since the tragic death of her husband, Yann, after being kicked in the head in 2015.
Yann Poirier was a pioneer of pre-training in France, setting up his business in 1993. His wife has spent the past 23 years at the yard since arriving from The Netherlands to learn French and take a part-time job. Three years later she and Yann were married.
The yard operates in a quiet setting, with nine staff from different countries, 60 boxes, an inside walker and lunging facility, with a forest track and a 1,300 metre round sand training track nearby. Between 200 and 250 horses pass through the yard each year.
Despite the challenges to the business created by Covid and Brexit, Poirier is expanding, purchasing ten more hectares, with two big barns. She plans to extend the training track, to create an even longer straight for the horses to stretch out more.
Some of the horses that have passed through the centre include Chichicastenango, Spirit One, Sahpresa, Shannon Rock, Testa Rossi, Kachgai, Cadouraki, Saint Realise, Domloula, Jazz des Mottes,Danza Cavallo and Tzar’s Dancer.
Who do you think is the most important figure in the history of racing?
There have been so many important people, but the Aga Khan has invested in many major projects for the racing system in France (saving and providing financial aid to modernise Chantilly race track being one). A man with vision! And so humble. That says it all.
What is your favourite venue and race?
I have Santa Anita high on my bucket list. As well as to live/feel/smell the Breeders’ Cup.
What is your fondest memory in racing?.
The two Arc victories of Treve (see the video of her second win - in 2014 - below). We assisted [in her preparation] with my daughters. Very emotional. She was some filly. She brought tears to our eyes.
What do you see as the biggest challenge racing faces today?
Give the racing industry a clean image so there are no more scandals, suspicious owners, doping issues. This needs a major major operation from inside out. The industry in France is under the control of five or even six different ministries. It’s impossible to get things done and to move forward.
Better to create a mini-commission of three people max, who communicate with the people in the Government and the racing industry.
Give the actors, specially the stewards, professional status. And the penalties, if necessary, should be related to the size of the problem - same problem, same punishment (no matter the ‘client’).
Let’s make this world a lot more transparent, opening up to the public. There should be more information forthcoming.
We desperately need new owners and breeders, so let’s make it happen. I love to organise ‘open house’ in my yard.
Also lt’s get young students on the track, on the grass. Let them smell the adrenaline, let them hear the sound of hooves galloping on the grass, let people see these beautiful creatures full of muscle.
If you could change one thing in racing, what would it be?
There are several issues equally important in France - we need more communication, more sharing and lower taxes.
Let’s stimulate and encourage the young generation. It is always beneficial to travel. I know what I am talking about - I worked in Asia for a year - it was the best time of my life.
There should be more communication between breeders, pre-trainers and trainers. We should optimise cost savings. I mean, buying straw or hay in large quantities for all professionals active in the same area. The same with gas and oil.
For riders, grooms and secretaries, we should introduce flexibility. It will be very useful to propose that staff can work in a different yard (for a short period) when their boss is having a quiet period.
Travelling together - why go four hours to Compiegne with one horse instead of two.
The medical service is not a supple institution and does not understand the horsey world. The doctor who does the medical exam (to see if the person is able to work with horses) has no clue about the different jobs the yards have.
Better salaries and fewer charges. I am very worried about my pension. Being self-employed and running a pre-training stud, I don’t have a fixed salary (so I can’t afford to be ill) and I regularly work 15 hours a day. Like many others in France, I just work a lot and pay too much in taxes.
I love my job and all is well with good clients, but, when I will be 65 heading 70, what will happen?