haras

Haras is a term used in Portuguese and French to denote a farm dedicated to horse breeding, i.e., a stud farm. In both languages, haras refers to an agricultural enterprise focused on producing, rearing, and sometimes selling horses, and it commonly includes facilities for breeding, foaling, training, stabling, and veterinary care. The term appears in the names of breeding operations and is often retained as a proper noun in farm branding, particularly in countries with Lusophone or Francophone traditions.

A haras typically houses stallions and mares, manages breeding programs, and provides services such as mare care, foaling supervision, handling, training, and horse sales or promotion. Facilities may include barns, pastures, arenas, and veterinary and blacksmith services. The emphasis can vary from sport horse breeding and competition horses to preservation of local breeds.

Historically, haras emerged as organized horse breeding centers in medieval and early modern Europe, later expanding with national breeding programs and private enterprises. In contemporary contexts, haras operate worldwide, with a strong presence in Brazil and Portugal as well as in France and other European countries, reflecting regional breeds such as Lusitano, Andalusian, and various warmblood lines.

As a place name element, Haras is sometimes used in the names of farms or rural localities, and may appear in addresses or geographic designations in Lusophone and Francophone regions.