The Percheron horse is of French origin and is a heavy draft horse. It got its name from the small province of Perche, in the south of France, where it was bred. The breed line was formed over several centuries and has survived to the present. Today it is also bred in Russia.
Horse of the breed Percheron
History of the breed
Origin
There is no reliable data on the origin of Percheron horses. It is known that they were bred on the basis of local working mares when crossed with stallions of Arab origin, which fell into the territory of France under various circumstances..
Until the 18th century, French farmers bred strong horses for agricultural purposes. Their blood contained the genes of Boulogne, Breton and English horses. The resulting crosses met the requirements of the villagers: they were strong and hardy.
In the 18th century, when the French defeated the Moors during a battle near Poitiers, they received several Arabian horses as a trophy. Under the influence of their genotype, the Percheron breed of horses was formed.
During the first Crusade, the French were also able to get some thoroughbred Arabian stallions. When crossed with local mares who already had oriental genes in their blood, the breed improved, became faster and acquired graceful forms, without losing its massiveness.
After 1750, most of the Arabian stallions were concentrated at the Le Pen stud. They were used for breeding and gradually improved the Percheron breed, which at that time had already become popular in France.
Percherons during the French Revolution
There were difficult times ahead – in 1789 the revolution began. It lasted 10 years and caused serious damage to the local breed of horses. Most of the breeding stock was exterminated, and the tense situation in the country prevented horse breeding.
At the beginning of the 19th century, a need arose for strong cavalry. Then Napoleon contributed to the revival of the Percherons. Several stud farms were immediately opened, the remaining breeding stock was collected and active work began. In 1820, several more stallions of Arab and Turkish origin arrived in France. On their basis, percherons were selected.
A new round in the development of the breed
At the beginning of the 19th century, percherons began to be used as a vehicle. At that time, roads were actively built, it became fashionable to travel in carriages and stagecoaches. French heavy trucks were the best suited for the team, thanks to their strength and beautiful physique.
french heavy trucks
Percherons were in demand not only in France, but throughout Europe. The high need for the draft power of horses continued until the beginning of the 20th century. Later, mechanization actively developed, which led to a decline in the development of the breed. However, percherons are still used in agriculture today.
Exterior and size of horses
Since the 19th century, 3 types of percherons have formed:
- Easy. Horses of this type were used for carrying small teams and for riding.
- Average. The horses were intended for the delivery of mail and transportation of carriages. In terms of speed, they were slightly inferior to lightweight horses.
- Heavy (large). These animals were distinguished by a massive physique and high growth. They were used to carry heavy loads.
The average height of the Percheron horse is 1,7 m. The length of the body along the oblique line of the stallions is 1,72 m, and the weight ranges from 900–1000 kg.
Consider the main characteristics of the exterior:
- strong build;
- small broad-browed head;
- rather wide nostrils;
- smart looking eyes;
- short massive neck of a trapezoidal shape;
- very powerful chest, the girth of which reaches 1,95 m;
- the back is straight;
- croup neat, muscular;
- thighs well formed;
- legs sinewy, strong of medium length;
- the girth of the metacarpus is 22,5–22,7 cm;
- the main color in the breed is gray, the secondary ones are red and black.
Reference. Until 1996, tails were docked for Percherons. At first it was a tribute to fashion, then a measure aimed at ensuring safety when riding in a team. Now they don’t do this, since animal advocates managed to prove that the tail is necessary for horses, it helps to drive away flies and blood-sucking insects.
Nature and Benefits
Percheron horses are smart and good-natured. However, such qualities are inherent in most representatives of heavy draft breeds. Horses inherited endurance and refinement from their Arab ancestors. Percherons are unpretentious and able to work hard.
percheron horses
Among the advantages of the breed are:
- Early ripening or precocity, which heavy trucks usually cannot boast of. Already at the age of 3 years they are suitable for breeding and work.
- Percheron mares are distinguished by their fertility.
- Energy.
- Soft move. Despite their huge weight, these animals move smoothly and beautifully.
- Strong immunity.
- Unpretentiousness to feed and conditions of detention.
Attention! Breeders note that Percheron horses are able to quickly adapt to different climates. They easily tolerate heat and cold.
Percheron breeding in Russia
Since the end of the 19th century, Percherons have been bred in Russia. First, the animals ended up at the Khrenovsky plant. A few decades later, the Talovsky state nursery for percherons was created, it was located in the Voronezh region.
When the Great Patriotic War began, the horses were evacuated from the Khrenovsky factory to a safer place, to the Ulyanovsk region, where the Oktyabrsky stud farm was founded. In peacetime, work on breeding horses resumed.
A new crisis for the French breed in Russia came at the beginning of the 21st century. Interest in horse breeding almost disappeared, so the Oktyabrsky plant fell into decay. His property was being sold. Thanks to one farmer from the Inzemsky district of the Ulyanovsk region, there was hope for the preservation and further development of percherons in Russia. In 2011, he bought the livestock and moved it to his farm.
Where is the breed used today?
The need for the draft power of percherons is still there. Horses work in rural areas in the fields, transport livestock, feed, building materials. Especially often they are used in areas where the passage of equipment is difficult due to the difficult landscape and lack of roads.
Some representatives of the French breed perform in circuses and at various shows. Horses of this breed are harnessed to carts loaded with beer barrels and drive around the city, treating local residents and tourists with a cool drink.
The Percheron horse breed has an interesting history spanning several centuries. The French are very kind to her, and in other European countries these animals are highly valued for their excellent working qualities. Percheron stallions often act as improvers of other breeds, as they transmit their traits well to their descendants.
