Percheron horse | Facts & Information

Originally from France, the horse of this breed is very well adapted to heavy traction service. It took its name from the ancient province of Le Perche, neighboring Normandy, in France.

The ancestors of the modern Percheron were used as war horses, to carry Knights into battle, and not as beasts of burden on the fields.

With the development of Agriculture, which gradually took the place of battles and wars, these horses began to be selected in the direction of increasing body mass and traction power.

It seems that an important role in the development of the Percheron was played by the Arabian horse. In 1830, in the provincial Le Perche were introduced two Arab stallions, who lent this breed Oriental blood, for which the Percheron has a certain distinction, especially evident at the little percheron – the breed comprises two divisions: the great Percheron and the little Percheron.

Appearance Percheron

The great Percheron had an average waist of 160 cm., stocky, broad body shapes, massive and heavy body and fine limbs, slightly muscular and long, with full joints, thin tendons, long chisels, full and wide hoof and low heels.

Its head was long, very bony and convex profile; its ears long and far apart; its jaws thick, full; its neck well made, short and straight; its Withers low; its back and its long; its croup oblique, wide, muscular, double; its hips strong and high; its shoulders thick and short.

This description, made by the Walloon, does not correspond in any way to the current reality, the Percheron today being distinguished by the beauty of its outfit, by Vigor, energy and elegance.

The horse has a high waist, 165-175 cm. and a body mass of around 800 kg., some stallions can even reach 1200 kg.

Unlike the old description, the Percheron has the knee, elbow and generally all joints, solid, thick, wide and dry, and strong limbs. The step is his usual walk. The head is fine, always rectilinear in profile, with large and lively eyes.

Percheron Behavior

After 1960, a resurgence in demand for hauling horses was seen as Americans began to rediscover the usefulness of these horses.

Horses are now used on small farms and for forestry work. Thousands of Percheron horses are used for pleasure riding, sleigh pulling in winter and for parades.

The Percheron is a gentle, placid, docile horse, yet it has brisk and rather high gait. When asked, he has the necessary liveliness, not being a heavy horse.

Used in the workshop, they prove to be strong, docile and Hardy horses. They are very good improvers of horses for splicing and heavy traction.

Currently, the purebred Percheron is present in the competitions for the traction of Heavy Horses, and in the competition called the road of Poison, they cover a distance of 17 km only in the allure of trotting.

Percheron horses crossed with light breeds give products very suitable for hunting and hunting actions.