The Swiss National Stud Farm (French: Haras national suisse (HNS), German: Schweizer Nationalgestüt (SNG)) is an institution dedicated to the conservation and improvement of Swiss horse breeds, established in 1899. It serves as a center of expertise for equine breeding and management in rural environments. Since January 2000, the stud farm has operated under a mandate from the Swiss Federal Council with a designated budget. It is part of Agroscope, which operates under the Federal Office for Agriculture (FOAG), within the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER). The Swiss National Stud Farm is located in Avenches, Canton of Vaud.
History
In the latter half of the 19th century, the Swiss Confederation implemented measures to promote horse breeding by establishing a stallion depot in Thun (Canton of Bern). This facility quickly became insufficient, leading to the 1898 decision to create a new stallion depot in Avenches. Approximately 150 hectares of land were acquired from 173 owners. The new stud farm, initially named the Federal Stallion and Foal Depot, welcomed its first horses in 1901. Until 1927, it housed only stallions, workhorses, and male foals raised as stud prospects. In 1927, the depot acquired ten Franches-Montagnes broodmares, becoming the Federal Stud Farm. Under successive directors, the stud farm underwent architectural expansions, including a new mare facility in 1939, a veterinary clinic in 1959, and a reproduction center by the late 20th century. In 1942, it expanded further with the acquisition of an agricultural estate in the Jura region. In 1997, part of the stud farm was privatized, leading to the creation of the Avenches National Equestrian Institute (IENA), a multidisciplinary equestrian center. The Swiss National Stud Farm remained a federally funded institution but was restructured. While the number of stallions remained stable, the broodmare herd was phased out. The stud farm shifted focus to core activities such as training, applied research, and maintaining high-quality stallions.
Mission The Swiss National Stud Farm supports sustainable equine agricultural production across Switzerland, aligning with national agricultural policy goals while prioritizing competitiveness and the species' natural needs. It serves as a center of expertise, providing producers, breeding organizations, and stakeholders with infrastructure, breeding stock, expertise, and knowledge to address current and future challenges. The stud farm has three primary missions: training, research, and promotion and support of the Franches-Montagnes breed. The stud farm also supplies donkeys for the Saint Nicholas Day procession in Fribourg, Switzerland. The operations and responsibilities of the Swiss National Stud Farm are governed by the following federal laws and ordinances:
Loi fédérale sur l'agriculture (LAgr) [Federal Law on Agriculture] (federal law 910.1, 141, 147). Ordonnance sur l'élevage [Ordinance on Breeding] (ordinance 916.310, 14). Ordonnance sur les émoluments perçus par l'Office fédéral de l'agriculture (OEmol OFAG) [Ordinance on Fees Collected by the Federal Office for Agriculture] (ordinance 910.11).
Preservation of the Franches-Montagnes breed
The Swiss National Stud Farm places special emphasis on the Freiberger, or Franches-Montagnes, horse breed, Switzerland's only remaining native horse breed, as other breeds have gradually disappeared. As the last light draft horse in Western Europe, the Franches-Montagnes is versatile, excelling in recreational riding, driving, agricultural and forestry work, and hippotherapy. The stud farm maintains approximately 60 stallions and a semen bank representing all bloodlines, ensuring the breed's survival and genetic diversity. By showcasing the breed at national and international events in disciplines like driving and classical riding, the stud farm enhances its visibility and supports its development and commercialization.
Training and education
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