“Passing on Landes traditions is essential”: 75 sheep and dozens of walkers for transhumance in Marsan

Dozens of bells rang out along the banks of the Hougarde, a river that runs alongside the small village of Geloux. On Tuesday, May 20, 75 Landes sheep were gathered by five shepherds for a three-day, 40-kilometer transhumance to the eco-grazing areas of Mont-de-Marsan.

"The goal is to reach a wide audience and introduce them to the region and our traditions," explains Thierry Couralet, the event's organizer. Along the way, the herd will stop in several villages for sheep shearing demonstrations and sheepdog work.

It's 1 p.m. The schoolchildren come forward, curious to touch these animals typical of the Landes. In small groups, helped by the shepherds, they hang the bells around the animals' necks, which readily comply. Jean Barrère, known as "Jan de Buros," is campaigning to make this breed known to as many people as possible. "There were once as many as 1 million Landes sheep in the region. Today, there are only 5,000 left."

Jean-Pierre Tintane, a shepherd, adds: "These sheep aren't known for their meat or wool, so they were of no use for a while. Today, they are used for eco-grazing. They clean up areas where humans have difficulty accessing."

The flock is set off, constantly refocused by the dogs. They are trained specifically to guide the sheep according to their master's instructions. Behind them, a hundred or so walkers accompany the animals along the road. Some sheep try to escape, but they are quickly caught by Jean-Louis Viry's dogs. He knows his two black border collies, Nola and Pastille, by heart.

"These dogs have a genetic predisposition to herd a flock. Afterwards, you have to be patient and disciplined when training them. What we do is we use their instinct and put words to it. Naturally, they will gather the animals, we will also teach them to separate them, which is not natural for them." According to Jean-Louis Viry, it is necessary to create a "very strong connection with the dominant (man, editor's note)": "Everything the dogs have, it must come from me. If they move somewhere, it's because I want it, and not otherwise. But on the other hand, we never use violence to make them understand."

In total, sheepdogs know about fifty commands. They are essential to the shepherd's good work.

After a short kilometer on foot, the group of walkers extends for several dozen meters. Some students stay close to the sheep to pet them as they pass by. Geoffrey is in CM2 (grade 5), he has already followed flocks a few times, but the activity is always just as enjoyable: "It's good to accompany the sheep, it's pleasant to walk with them," he says. Next to him, his friend, Yael, seems enthusiastic. "I recently moved to the Landes region, it's cool to see the traditions, to discover new things."

Some of the walkers were in the same good mood: Quitterie Castets will be making the trek to Saint-Martin-d'Oney. "It's the first time I've taken part, and yet I walk a lot. It brings back childhood memories!"