Percheron Horse

Origin: France — Perche region (specifically, the Departments Sarthe,Eure-et-Loire, Loire-et-Cher, L'Orne).

Height: 15.2-17hh.

Color: Gray, black.

Character: Energetic, intelligent, docile, easy to handle.

Physique: Fine head with straight face, wide-spaced, intelligent eyes,open nostrils; strong, crested neck; powerful front with deep chest; deep,close-coupled body with strong loins; round, immensely-strong hind-quarters. Medium-short legs, hard and muscular and almost devoid offeather. Excellent action, great poise and presence. Despite its size, hugeframe, and massive strength, the Percheron has a cast of Oriental grace.

The elegance of the Percheron, surprising in so heavy a breed, has caused itto be likened to an overgrown Arab; and indeed some of its ancestors wereArabians. It stems from Oriental and Norman horses, mixed many centuriesago and later crossed with heavy draught breeds, apparently seasonedagain with a little extra Arab. It has been distributed all over the world, and wherever it is bred itarouses great enthusiasm and profound attention to quality and purity ofline. In France, the true Percheron is allowed only if it is bred in one of thefour Departments (listed above) of its native region of Perche. The otherPercheron types — the Auge, Berry, Loire, Maine and Nivernais — are notincluded in the Percheron stud book and have separate stud books of theirown. In North America, to which it was first exported in 1839, it hasattracted many sincere admirers and the strictest attention has been and ispaid to the production of a perfect type. In Great Britain the Percheron hasbeen bred to exclude all feather from its feet, and is much used as a crosswith the Thoroughbred to produce the perfect type of heavyweight hunter.

The Percheron is a rugged, active horse, intelligent and charming. It iseasy to handle, economic to keep, and of sound constitution. It is anattractive mover, poised and balanced. It is the most popular carthorse inthe world.