Clip-clopping into a Green era

Our favorite morning walking route takes us past an area that was formerly known as a "Parc Avicole" because some years ago it was the site of a poultry farm.  Up until late fall of 2009, there were still some few chickens there, together with several donkeys.   One day last fall, however, we realized that the chickens were gone and the donkeys, previously numbering around five, had become three.  We also noticed that thorough cleaning and airing out of the buildings was ongoing, as was a lot of renovation work.

The renovation is continuing.  It is now clear that the former poultry farm is to be transformed into a nice stable.  So far, the new inhabitants are seven draft horses.  Six are chestnuts with flaxen manes and tails.  One, by far the largest, is dark bay with a black mane and tail.  They appear to be quite gentle and tame.  Hand-lettered signs have been posted to request that passers-by please not feed them.

I was downtown in our little bourg on Wednesday morning and there two of them were, pulling a long cart with high sides.   Everyone was stopping to pet them and chat with the drivers.  I had heard rumors that they might be available for various functions.  By this, I assumed functions where they would be festooned to pull people around in carts during various celebrations or festivals, much as they do in central Switzerland for weddings and family celebrations, or even as happened while I was on an excursion to the Emmental in the summer of 2008.

But I was wrong ... or at least I was wrong about their main functions.  As reported in yesterday's Tribune de Genève, our horse neighbors will perform dual duties.  Not only will they make weekly rounds throughout our tiny commune with their carts to pick up bulky or cumbersome furniture, trash or garden clippings, they will also be cared for by alienated adolescents from Geneva canton.  Studies and other programs have shown that working with and training animals such as horses or dogs can help problem adolescents to empathize and feel empowered.  Here is a picture of some, who, while like most adolescents who hate to get out of bed early, are still very excited about getting up, grooming, feeding and working with these lovely animals.

The horses themselves are a special and ancient breed, le Comtois, which is thought to have existed in France as far back as the fourth century.  Today, they are primarily bred in the Jura regions of both France and Switzerland.  They are versatile horses.  While most often used in rural regions for farm work even today, before the days of modern warfare, they were also favored by the French military for both cavalry and artillery.  Some even accompanied Napoleon's army to Russia.

In my mailbox yesterday, I received a notice from the commune, announcing that the removal service will begin this month, that the commune had been divided into four zones (I fall into Zone 1), and that the service dates would vary depending on the zone assignments.  Our little village is apparently one of the first, if not the first, in Switzerland to have such a program.  It appears that similar removal programs in France and Germany, using horses instead of motorized vehicles, have become widespread.  This one, however, may be among the first anywhere to combine the removal service with rehabilitation of troubled adolescents.  What a great idea to combine a "green" initiative with a program that aims to improve young lives!

I stopped by to see my now "famous" neighbors this afternoon.  They were enjoying their Good Friday break and were not nearly as pretty as they were for their village debut Wednesday.  They had clearly been rolling in the mud.  But I have seen them often enough after they've just been brushed to know that they are well cared-for generally.  And what fun to have them close by!