Tuesday 9 December 2008

Herd names

I note from our friends North of the border that there is discussion about herd names.
The mighty Coire (or Corrie) is named after the ancient word for a scooped out glacial Scottish valley.
In response I thought I would explain the reasoning behind Patou.

In 2005 before Patou Alpacas was formed Sue and I decided that we would buy a house in France. We decided on the Midi Pyrenees region and found our dream house on the northern edge of the Hautes Pyrenees.
The plan was a long 8 year period of building up a business to take over to the Pyrenees when I retired from the day job in 2013.

We are now over three years into the plan and although we have grown quicker than expected (the business….not me) we are still planning on making the big move in 2013 and launching in the south of France.

So, going back to naming the herd. We wanted a name that would mean something in France. Something with a connection to the region that we would be living in.

Sue came up with 'Patou'.

The Pyrenees mountains are famous for the Pyrenean Mountain dogs who live up in the high pastures with the sheep. They have historically protected the sheep from wolves and bears.
They are known locally as 'patou', which is an ancient french word meaning shepherd. How appropriate we thought and the name stuck.

There is one herd name that has me puzzled though.
Zanzibah Alpacas…………..Jayne…………..come on we need an explanation!

3 comments:

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Hi Mark....Read my Blog !! you'll get the answer !..Jayne

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Blimey !!!! your quick..on the old Blog !..glad you like it !!. I do like the history behind the Mighty Patou patter I did wonder !..Now I know....... Jayne

Zanzibah Alpacas said...

Well, your probably right, takes one to know one !!....I don't take any offence to your last comment !!..at all.....must be the scottish air !...Jayne