The Living Horse Museum occupies the largest hall of the Grandes Écuries and is organised as a working stables rather than a static display. Roughly thirty horses of different breeds live on site — some are demonstration animals used in the equestrian shows, others are retired thoroughbreds, and a few are rare breeds (the Camargue grey, the Boulonnais draft) kept as part of an active conservation programme.
A series of side galleries off the main hall covers the cultural history of the horse — saddlery and harness from across the world, racing memorabilia from the Chantilly hippodrome, paintings, prints, and a small library of horse-related books. The most striking room is the great central nave, where you can watch trainers schooling horses in the indoor manège throughout the day.
A short equestrian demonstration (about 20 minutes) is included with most admissions and runs several times daily. Longer themed shows happen on weekends and during school holidays. Check the website for the day's schedule.