“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
The beginnings on horseback
Originally from Normandy, Anne-Sophie came to Haute-Savoie at the age of 7.
Her passion for horses goes back to childhood, and she now runs the Ecuries De La Salamandre riding stables in Vulbens. At the age of around 5 years, Anne-Sophie took her first riding course and even admits that she fell off a black pony. That fall didn’t stop her getting back in the saddle the very next day, but she held a fear of black horses for many years afterwards. After the course, she wasn’t allowed to continue riding because, according to popular belief at the time, it was bad for the back.
But she was so fond of this sport that she found a ruse. At the end of the day, she would go to La Gavotte farm in Switzerland to help lead the pony rides. That was when she started riding lessons. After just two months of tuition, she took part in her first horse shows. Today, she is a world-class eventer.
Passionate
After studying at the Haute Ecole de Travail Social in Geneva, Anne-Sophie returned to her roots and, in 2011, founded the Ecuries de la Salamandre, which initially was a mere pony club. Nowadays, it is a riding school accredited by the Fédération Française d’Equitation for both recreational and competition riding. In 11 years, Anne-Sophie has successfully built herself a regional network as well as a global vision for the stables. She also has a passion for breeding dogs, cats and horses, an activity that she has recently developed further.
She plays an active role in the Monts du Genevois community, through her work which enables children and families to learn about ponies and other animals while trekking.
Today, Anne-Sophie is grateful for all that the region has to offer both in terms of proximity and the surroundings. The lakes and forest paths are ideal places for her to recharge her batteries.
On a daily basis, Anne-Sophie aims to convey her passion, determination and capacity for hard work. Her perseverance and experience have shaped her career, which she is pursuing with a participation in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris! If you wish to share her passion, her stables are open to the general public for riding out.