Argentan, France  - "Workaholic" can finally relax. He has been put out to grass and no longer has to live up to his name.

For many years the 27-year-old stallion was a real money-spinner for the French National Stud at Haras due Pin in Normandy: Each time a mare was sired by this American horse the owner was obliged to pay a stud fee of 5,000 euros (6,800 dollars)

"Workaholic" retired in 2005 after an illustrious career. According to stud director Herve Motas, the French government paid out the equivalent of a million euros for this horse.

Haras du Pin is the oldest and most prestigious of 20 national stud farms dotted all over France with the aim of improving and maintaining the country's horse breeding stock.

The handsome stable buildings here date back to 1715 and 15 years later a palatial administrative edifice was added. "It was King Louis XIV himself who deemed that a stud farm was to be erected at this spot," said Motas.

Owing to its symmetry and architectural grandeur Haras du Pin soon became know as the "equine Versailles" - a reference to the famously grand palace built by the monarch close to Paris.

The stud farm is set in a Normandy landscape of lush meadows and woodland and lies in the Orne Departement. The next largest place is Argentan some distance away yet despite the seclusion there are days when finding a place to park the car at this popular tourist venue can be a headache.

Thursday is a good day for a visit when the staff in their red uniforms turn out at 3 p. m. from June to September for a range of displays with stallions and horse-drawn vehicles. During the "jeudis du Pin," as they are called, the courtyard of the Haras du Pin becomes the stage for handling, riding and carriage driving displays. Naturally the chateau, stables, saddlery and other buildings are open to the public too.

For the duration of the covering season from February to July around 20 of the 60 stallions quartered at Haras du Pin remain here while the rest are distributed to various locations in Normandy. In order to catch sight of as many thoroughbreds as possible it is best to visit in the summer.

Arab stallions, muscular Percheron draught horses along with the Trotteur Francais and the Selle Francais are the main breeds found at the Haras du Pin. Many of the stallions have been raced competitively.

A tour of the stud farm includes a visit to the saddlery and a collection of horse-drawn vehicles, most of which date back to the 19th century.

Meanwhile in the shadow of an outbuilding under tall trees lies the lasting resting place of "Furioso," a stallion resident here from 1946 to 1967.

During that time he sired 300 or more foals, many of which went on to find fame on the turf or in horse-riding competition. One of them, "Lutteir B" carried jockey Jonqueres d'Oriola to victory and a gold medal in horse-jumping at the Tokyo Olympics in October 1964.

"We are a stud farm with a rich history and a wealth of beautiful architecture," Herve Montas likes to tell visitors at the end of a tour.

How long the French state will be able to continue subsidising horse-breeding at such a high level remains to be seen. The national stud organisation is up for review in 2009 and a German expert on Normandy tourism, Andrea Soelter, told the German Press Agency dpa that he fears several stud farms may have to close down over the next three to four years. (dpa)