©Sebastien Pillon 03|Marie-Claude Vergne

SébastienThe man who trots against the tide

Sébastien Pillon

It’s 8.30am, and while the beach is still asleep, a horse-drawn lorry and a van arrive at the slipway in Jullouville. No holidaymakers on the horizon: here, it’s time for the champions. Two horses get off the lorry, already ready for training. Sébastien and Alexandra are about to begin their morning ballet on the foreshore.

©Sebastien Pillon 01|Marie-Claude Vergne

To meet

Sébastien

At 37, Sébastien Pillon has lived, breathed and trotted horses since the age of 16. And for the last 11 years, he has been flying by the seat of his pants by setting up his own stable. Today, his stable consists of 15 horses and 52 victories. His love of horses? He inherited it from his father, a racing enthusiast who dreamed of owning his own horse. Once this dream was fulfilled, little Sébastien never left the racecourses. ” Racecourses were my Sunday outings “, he jokes.

The beach

as a playground

Why train in Jullouville? Because for Sébastien, it’s quite simply the best possible ground. The sand provides supple ground, perfect for the horses’ joints, and the long straights allow him to observe their speed, their breath and their will. Horses can cover distances of up to 10 kilometres, with the best reaching speeds of 56 km/h. Of course, you have to juggle with the tides: two hours before high tide, two hours after, no more.

Swimming and rolling

on the programme

But the training session is not just about performance. At the Pillon family, the well-being of the horses comes first. After 25 minutes of effort, the horses are carefully bathed, like athletes being pampered after a competition. Then comes a favourite moment for some: rolling in the sand. This ritual is both relaxing and practical, because a sandy horse dries out quickly.

©Sebastien Pillon 09|Marie-Claude Vergne

The jockey

tides

Sébastien and Alexandra return two or three times a week to this beach they know by heart. And when he’s not on his sulky, Sébastien tries to spare a few moments for… cycling or fishing in the river. But let’s be honest: in this business, the days don’t count the hours. Sébastien Pillon is a bit like a tide jockey, a man who trots against the tide, combining rigour, passion and a touch of mild madness. And on the beach at Jullouville, his horses don’t just leave footprints in the sand: they also leave a bit of a dream behind.

©Sebastien Pillon 08|Marie-Claude Vergne

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