Percheron

Percheron

The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. The size considered ideal for the percheron varies between countries, with height ranges from 15. 1 to 18. 1 hands.

About Percheron in brief

Summary PercheronThe Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. The breed was used extensively in Europe during the war, with some horses being shipped from the US back to France to help in the war effort. In the 19th century, they were known to travel up to 60 kilometres a day at a trot. As of 2009, around 2,500 horses were registered annually in the United States alone. In France, the breed is still used extensively for draft work, and in France they are used for food. They have been crossed with several light horse breeds to produce horses for range work and competition. The size considered ideal for the percheron varies between countries, with height ranges from 15. 1 to 18. 1 hands and weight from 1,100 to 2,600 pounds. The head has a straight profile, broad forehead, large eyes and small ears. The chest is deep and wide and the croup long and level. The feet and legs are clean and heavily muscled. Enthusiasts describe the temperament as proud and alert, and members of the breed are considered intelligent, willing workers with good dispositions. They are considered easy keepers and adapt well to many conditions and climates. They can be trained to ride in English riding disciplines such as show jumping.

In Great Britain, 16. 2 hands is the shortest acceptable height for stallions and 16. 1 hands for mares, while weights range from 2,000–2,200 pounds for stallion and 1,800-2,000 pounds for mare. The PercherON is closely related to the Boulonnais breed of horse, and the two are related to each other. It is known that the Andalusian cavalry of the 8th century was brought to Brittany as reinforcements for the legions of Caesar during the Battle of Poitiers in 732 AD, and some of their horses may have been taken by warriors from Perche. A final theory posits that the Perche and Boulis breed are closely related, and that they were influenced by the Percherone breed of horses of the 7th century. The Boulois and Perche breed are very closely related and are closely associated with each other, as they were both bred for use as cavalry horses in the 9th and 10th centuries. The two breeds of horse are also related to one another, and have been cross-bred to produce more powerful horses. The Pecheron is used for forestry work and pulling carriages, as well as work under saddle, including competition in English Riding disciplines. It can also be used to pull stagecoaches and other heavy goods, such as horses for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. It has a reputation for being a hard worker, and is known to be a good draftsman.