In the twisting country roads which shape the Quévy area, it’s not unusual to see a horse grazing peacefully in its pasture. At Quévy, horses have been part of the life of the population for a long time.
The coal industry, which has a strong presence around Mons, has not got a foothold in the Quévy commune. Only Asquillies has owned two coal leases but without working shafts. At Quévy, it’s agriculture that’s long supported people: vegetables, fruit crops and cereals, but also cattle, horses and sheep, especially between 1840 and 1930.
And remember, agriculture means horses! Before the appearance of tractors and other combine harvesters, horses provided valuable services to people.
When we walk round the commune, many farms still punctuate the landscape. Each had one or more horses that achieved hours during pulling work. Have fun questioning the population. Everyone has a memory tied to the draught horse.
At every festival
You can still see the traces of this long history of friendship. The men and women of Quévy have not forsaken their favourite animal. Horses are even part of all the festivals. At the end of August, during the traditional Blaregnies village harvest festival, it’s frankly star of the show! Draught horses parade like stars among old tractors and, through demonstrations, they show how much they’ve served people. The animal is also invited to the humorous bike race organised in mid-August. Two horses pull a cart and carry people with reduced mobility if necessary.
Each village has its equestrian centre
More amazing still is the number of stables, rings and equestrian centres all over the commune. If you’re visiting the area and have the bright idea of browsing the bucolic landscapes of Quévy, you’ve got nothing to be worried about. You’ll easily find a soft nest for your mount! The Grand Esquerbion farm at Givry, the By stables at Blaregnies, the Hardret stables at Aulnois, the Beaudroit breeding farm at Bosqueau Printanier in Quévy-le-Petit, the horse kennel in the Château Cardinal in Bougnies, etc. Each village, or almost every one, has a place dedicated to horses or the practice of riding.
Quévy does not have marked equestrian trails but hear it that if you want to discover the area on horseback, throw yourself into the beauty of the landscapes. Woods, meadows, pastureland, etc. The pathways of Quévy will offer you nothing but happy memories.
