White Horses of France's Camargue

Consider the dreamlike quality of a herd of white horses as they thunder—manes flashing, foam flying—across the shallow marshlands of France’s famous Camargue. Consider, too, the prospect of four days of electrifying photography, capturing every nuance of these powerful horses hurtling directly toward your camera or of stallions engaged in battle for herd dominance.

In the wild, the white Camargue horses are found only on the wetlands and salt marshes of southeastern France. They are thought to be descended from prehistoric horses that lived during the Paleolithic period more than 17,000 years ago. Throughout history, this ancient breed is believed to have been crossed with several other breeds—particularly Arabian horses. This genetic combination permits these brawny animals to withstand the region’s bleak, cold winters and intensely hot summers. They are so strong it is said they are able to canter through mud up to their bellies!

The Camargue horse is the traditional mount of the gardians. These cowboys of the Camargue are responsible for rounding up the wild black “fighting” bulls that graze the land. Over time, the gardians have developed the original breed of Camargue horses into a surprisingly agile, surefooted and reliable mount. The Camargue is considered one of Europe’s few remaining original breeds, although it was not officially recognized as a unique breed until 1976. Today, there are about 30 separate herds spread over an area of around 203,000 acres. Foals are born starting in April. Though they are dark in color at birth, all the Camargue horses are white when mature. It is speculated that white coats may provide a natural mosquito repellent for animals adapted to salt marsh living.

Our amazing shoot concentrates on photographing the horses during the best light of day, with the goal of creating images depicting as much of their untamed life as possible. Horse drives orchestrated by the gardians are at the top of our shooting list, but fighting stallions and quiet moments in the marshes are also on our agenda. Our photo safari takes place on private ranchland adjacent to the Parc naturel régional de Camargue—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here, along with the famous horses and bulls, dwell an interesting assortment of wading birds and shorebirds, including impressive flocks of greater flamingos. Our tour includes a visit to the Parc Ornithologique de Pont de Gau for very accessible viewing and shots of hundreds of pink flamingos. Don’t miss this exceptional opportunity to photograph the white horses of the Camargue for yourself!