Summer 2026: a summer unlike any other on the farm.

There are summers that are remembered for their long evenings, the foals growing up in the meadows and the horses peacefully enjoying the Norman grass.

And then there's the summer of 2026 .

This year will certainly remain in our memories for a long time at Siete Reinos Stud Farm . ☀️🌾

Based in Normandy, in the heart of the Pays d'Auge, we are used to a green, generous region, where meadows naturally constitute a large part of the daily life of our Purebred Spanish horses.

But this summer, the landscape has changed.

A Normandy we barely recognized

From the end of spring onwards, rain became particularly scarce. Drought took hold in Calvados from the end of May and the situation continued to deteriorate over the following weeks.

In June, the entire department was placed under drought alert. In July, restrictions were tightened, and by the height of summer, the water situation had become particularly worrying. In the Touques area, which includes our part of the Pays d'Auge, the enhanced alert level was reached.

The usual green meadows of Normandy have gradually taken on colours that we know more in the south of France: yellow, dry grass, sometimes almost scorched by the sun.

And for a horse breeding operation, this change is obviously not just aesthetic.

When the grass becomes scarce…

Our horses live outdoors as much as possible, in herds, in large spaces. It is a choice to which we are deeply committed: to be able to walk, interact with their peers, graze and simply live their lives as horses .

Our Norman pastures usually provide us with a valuable resource throughout the summer.

This year, grass growth has practically stopped in some plots.

It was therefore necessary to anticipate, adapt pasture management and provide fodder much earlier and in unusual quantities , while we were still in the middle of summer.

With several dozen horses present at the stud farm, this represents a considerable organization: monitoring the reserves, distributing the hay, checking the water points daily and paying particular attention to the most fragile horses, the broodmares and their foals.

Farming is also about this: knowing how to modify your entire organization when nature decides to change the rules.

Fields have colour's change with this particular 2026 summer, hot and dry during few months.

Heat, another concern

In addition to the drought, there have been several periods of extreme heat. In August, Calvados experienced a heatwave accompanied by a high risk of fire, significant enough to lead to temporary restrictions on certain agricultural work.

For our horses, we have therefore adapted their daily routine: constant access to clean, fresh water provided in large quantities (the main source being practically completely dried up), increased monitoring, seeking shade and cooler areas, limiting unnecessary exertion during the hottest hours…

PRE horses are breeds originating from Spain and can sometimes appear perfectly at ease in the sun. But regardless of breed, a horse remains sensitive to high temperatures and deserves special attention when temperatures become extreme.

And there's one category that doesn't really know what holidays are: foals! 😅

Even when adults prefer to conserve their energy in the shade, the youngest still find a way to play, gallop and transform the meadow into an adventure playground.

Behind the beautiful images lies the reality of farming.

On our social media, we obviously like to show you the beautiful moments: the foals galloping, our mares with their young, our young horses developing and the magnificent summer light on our PRE.

But behind these images lies the whole reality of farming.

A drought like the one in 2026 means more work, more monitoring, early and significant hay consumption, careful water management and inevitably concern for the following months.

On September 4th, government services announced that a procedure related to crop losses caused by the 2026 drought had been initiated in Calvados. This illustrates the extent to which this event has impacted the agricultural community of our department.

And yet… life goes on 🌱

That's probably what we'll remember from this summer too.

Despite the grass turning yellow, despite the heat and despite our worries, our horses continue their lives .

The foals are growing up.

The young horses are playing.

The mares watch over their young.

And every morning, when we arrive in the fields and all our little creatures come to greet us, we remember why we chose this profession. ❤️

Being a breeder is not just about producing horses.

It means accompanying them every day, when everything is going well… but also when the weather, nature or circumstances force us to question ourselves and adapt.

After this very unusual summer of 2026, the first rains have arrived and already there is relief, our meadows are turning green, it is the return of something quite simple:

the rain, 🌧️

And with it, the return of that green Normandy 🌱 that we love so much.

The team at Siete Reinos Stud Farm, breeding Purebred Spanish horses in Normandy 🇫🇷 🐴