Agathe Bodo and Jean-Baptiste Hannebicque are reviving ancient traditions by producing raw mare milk, cosmetics, and ice cream at Jumenterie du Pech Blanc in Théminettes.
Located at 135 chemin du Pech Blanc in the Lot department of southwestern France, the farm has been developed by the couple over the past decade into an eco-friendly equine operation spanning nearly 40 hectares of pastureland.
Inside the stable at Théminettes, Hannebicque operates a specialized milking machine modified specifically for horses. Unlike standard cattle or goat milkers, the machine features an adapted pulsation mechanism suitable for mares. Nearby, a young foal waits to rejoin its mother during the process.
Bodo explained that milking mares requires a supportive environment because the process is deeply psychological for the animals. Milking only begins when foals reach two months of age and are already consuming forage. At peak lactation, a high-yielding mare can produce up to 1.5 litres of milk per session. The couple collects only a portion of the yield to ensure the foal retains sufficient nourishment. During the height of the season, up to three milkings occur daily before mares and foals return to open pasture each evening.
Journey from the Carpathians to Théminettes
Fifteen years ago, Bodo, now 41, and Hannebicque, now 44, worked in the equine industry for external employers. Seeking to realize their own professional project and fulfill a personal ambition to travel on horseback, they set off on a multi-month journey across Europe with two horses, a mule, and their dog, riding as far as the Slovak Carpathians.
While passing through Germany, the couple unexpectedly connected with local farmers who agreed to host them. After Hannebicque fell ill, their stay was extended, allowing them to build strong personal bonds and later complete agricultural internships on the property. When the German hosts found themselves without a successor, they offered the farm to the couple. Bodo recalled with a smile that neither of them spoke German, prompting them to decline the offer, though they departed with horses and equipment to start their own enterprise in France.
Professional opportunities eventually led them to the Lot department. Following an initial property acquisition that fell through, they discovered land in Théminettes three years later. Ten years ago, the site contained no infrastructure except for water connections, electricity lines, and a ruined building. Working independently and alongside friends, they constructed stables, a laboratory, and wooden structures insulated with straw and earth.
Raw milk packaging and distribution across France
Today, the farm maintains a herd of between 15 and 20 horses, including Henson mares, depending on seasonal births. The animals feed primarily on grass and hay grown on the surrounding pastures. Bodo emphasized that their core objective is to showcase the nutritional and commercial value of raw mare milk.
Immediately following collection, raw milk is packaged into 250-millilitre pouches, deep-frozen at minus 35 degrees Celsius, and stored at minus 18 degrees Celsius. While some local families purchase milk directly at the farm gate, most customers order online. Temperature-controlled courier services maintain the cold chain during nationwide home deliveries across France.
Bodo noted that mare milk has been consumed by humans for thousands of years but became largely forgotten in modern times. She added that elderly visitors often recall being sent to neighboring horse farms as children to drink mare milk when sick. Scientifically, mare milk shares structural similarities with human breast milk and contains beneficial compounds including lysozyme and lactoferrin.
Galéga skincare line and artisanal soaps
Inside the farm shop, scented with essential oils, the couple sells skincare products developed under their proprietary Galéga brand. Manufactured using cold saponification techniques, their solid soaps contain 30 percent fresh mare milk combined with plant oils and shea butter. Bodo highlighted that no water is added to the soap formulation, allowing the high milk concentration to protect skin hydration without causing dryness.
Sold in 100-gram bars or cut to order from larger blocks, the soap range is complemented by products formulated in collaboration with a specialized laboratory in Ariège. These include a restorative face cream-serum and a repairing balm that Bodo reported is widely used by mothers for infant diaper rash and by healthcare assistants caring for elderly patients.
Farm tourism and educational visits
In addition to dairy and skincare production, the farm offers fresh mare milk ice cream, with local children recently harvesting wild blackberries to flavor upcoming batches. During the milking season, visitors can reserve guided educational tours to observe milking sessions, interact with mares and foals, and taste fresh milk.
The enterprise also operates equine tourism services, offering horseback rides, carriage outings, yurt accommodation, a retro trailer, and farm camping spots registered under the Accueil paysan eco-tourism network. Ten years after establishment, Bodo remarked that workload demands could easily occupy four full-time staff, yet she and Hannebicque continue operating the farm alone without taking a salary. Nevertheless, they host interns and aspiring producers to ensure newcomers do not encounter the isolation they experienced, believing that growing the number of producers will increase public awareness of mare milk.
Equine and traditional farming revivals in Lot
The development of Jumenterie du Pech Blanc reflects a broader trend of agricultural and equine revivals across the Lot department. In local vineyards, former Parisian sommelier Nathalie has reintroduced draft horses for soil cultivation, noting that working with horses requires complete authenticity from handlers.
In another part of the department, a former dairy farming family elected to give up cattle in order to cultivate local wheat and produce artisanal bread directly on their farm.
Meanwhile, regional authorities and farmers have increasingly deployed herds of sheep, cows, and ewes across overgrown terrain in Lot, utilizing the livestock as natural firebreaks to clear brush and protect rural communities from summer wildfires.
