Agde: on the Tamarissière road, the Luke ranch is back in business

Les chevaux sont préparés pour une sortie dans le secteur de la Tamarissière. PHOTO D.R.

Après quasiment huit ans de fermeture, de nouveaux exploitants se lancent dans l’aventure.

It was following a closure of almost eight years that Véronique El Fassy and Vincent Lopez took over two months ago the operation of the Luke ranch, well known to the Agathois. Created in 1984 by Gérard Molina, himself supported by Evelyne Molina, the ranch had its heyday on this road which leads to La Tamarissière, just after the karting circuit.

Towards the creation of a manade in the Verdisses

The acquiring operators, Véronique and Vincent, have knowledge of the world of horses and bulls. Vincent is in fact a bull breeder in the Camargue and a herder. He has two manades: one in Bessan and the other in Campagne, at the foot of Pic St-Loup. "The landscape here, in the Verdisses, reminds me of Camargue. I find a lot of similarities between the two places, both in the fauna and in the flora", he explains, before continuing:" the Conservatoire du Littoral has made land available in this sector and our objective is to create a herd here, with bulls, and to introduce it to tourists."

Around twenty horses available

Same feeling for Véronique, who has a very strong approach with her horses and ponies. A real passion. "We want to enjoy, through our horseback riding, the discovery of a side of Agde that we don't know necessarily", she said. "We are lucky to have an area that is still very wild and natural."&amp ;nbsp;The ranch provides around twenty horses, six ponies and a donkey, the ranch's true mascot, for walks. Depending on the level of each person, the routes are adapted. With, for example, a sporty ride in the morning for experienced riders and, for others, walks under the wooded paths, along the canal or on the Tamarissière beach.

The owner satisfied to see the ranch taken over

The final word goes to the owner of the Luke ranch, Evelyne Molina, who says she is "satisfied with this takeover by Véro and Vincent. The ranch remains in its colors, it keeps the name too. This brings dynamism back to the sector and it’s a bit like our family is growing."

Contact: 06 63 37 98 78 or ranchluke@yahoo.fr