Maeva and her bardotte

Maeva De Hemricourt: a journey in a backpack to achieve your dreams, that's not common!

At 19, Maeva De Hemricourt chose to dedicate her gap year to an unusual adventure: a two-month trip alone with her rooster Nuckie. A student of animal osteopathy, Maeva gave herself the means to live this unique experience, working from September to April to save money, tinker with her equipment, and prepare her mount.

A Lifelong Passion

Maeva has been riding horses since the age of 4, with her first horse at 10. Over the years, she crossed paths with Muriel Herion, aka "Mumu," and Nuckie, a 13-year-old brown bull. This encounter marked a turning point: Maeva dedicated herself to rebuilding the animal's confidence, having suffered from early breaking-in and an unsuitable rider.

Noucky: A Resilient Mule

Nucky is about 1.40 m tall and weighs 450 kg. She was mistreated in her youth: a severe bit injured her mouth, a rider who was too heavy and fell on her knees, and a daily life confined between a box and the riding school. Taken in by Muriel, she spent three years in the field, far from any demands, before Maeva began the gentle and patient work to rebuild the relationship.

The Beginning of a Journey, Day by Day

After two to three years together, it was time for the big departure. Without a specific itinerary, from "Point A to Point B," Maeva set off with Nuckie on a journey at the pace of the sled, improvising every day. The beginning of the journey was surprising: Nuckie displayed great endurance, having covered 28 km in the first few days, strong feet, and a strong independence.

The Itinerary

Equipped with an old Belgian gendarmerie saddle,

the rooster seems at ease. She has few fears, has toughened up with training, and shows no injuries. A close friend of her human, she remains close, even though another mare shared the beginning of the journey. The separation didn't seem to upset her, except for a few vocal calls: Nuckie is above all attached to Maeva.

"Nuckie and I both got into a rhythm of traveling, it became our way of life: traveling the roads during the day, arriving in a new place in the evening, making it our own, settling in, and then leaving the next day."