Obituary: Yann Poirier

A farewell ceremony for pioneer pre-trainer Yann Poirier, who died Tuesday after sustaining a kick in the head at his Haras du Chene, will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at Le Lion d’Angers racecourse, a place that was particularly dear to his heart. 

Poirier was born in 1970 near Angers. His parents Joel and Claudie, although newcomers to racing, fell in love with the game shortly after his birth and set up Haras des Mottes, which quickly asserted as a leading nursery of hurdlers and steeplechasers. Yann’s first professional experience took place at the Aga Khan’s Sheshoon Stud and was followed by a spell at Kildangan Stud, where the young man familiarized himself with breaking-in and pre-training techniques. 
Back in France after graduating from the Irish National Stud course, Poirier broke new ground when creating his Haras du Chene as a facility dedicated to the early stages of a racehorse’s career. Among the many horses he handled for a broad variety of breeders, owners and trainers were the Group 1 winners Sahpresa (Sahm), Chichicastenango (Fr) and Spirit One (Fr). Poirier was also an indefatigable activist and volunteer. He founded and chaired the Association of Pre-Trainers, and had recently played a pivotal role in the takeover of Haras National du Lion d’Angers by an association of breeders. 

Yann Poirier is survived by a very united family–his wife Anne-Marie, who obtained her training license last year, daughters Juliette and Charlotte, as well as his parents and three brothers and sisters including Arnaud, the founder and head of industry website and filming company France Sire. 

In lieu of flowers, the family will raise funds for the medical treatment of injured jockeys.