Percheron Horses

It is a popular belief that the Percheron horses sprang from large light winded horses in the ice age. Though there is no actual documented history for this horse, there are also various beliefs for the advent of this unique brand of horses. There are still some who belief that this horse came form the brand of horses that the Romans used to invade and conquer Brittany (the Boulonnais horses). There are yet other groups who maintain that the horses came from the group of horses that the Arabians used. Some still belief that the horses are from the family of those horses that was used by the Moors during their battle against the people of Poitier. No matter the origin one chooses to follow one can not debate the fact this specie of horses is truly special. There is also an agreement among all that the origin of the Percheron can be drawn to Normandy precisely at an area that is named La Perche, which is where the name is coiled from. This means that the light wind has its roots from Belgian-Flemish blood.

The contemporary Percheron horses are known for their heavy duty works. In the 8th century the Arabian horses were cross bred with the Oriental horses alongside the cob stock and the heavier native. The horses (Percheron) made from this stock were notable for their speed in ridings and also their strength in doing heavy works with light wind peace. At the earlier times Percheron were used as carriage horses but with time this soon changed as it was then used for heavier works. The first breed was small in stature at the beginning but this later changed when it was cross bred with the stockier mares from Brittany. This resulted in the heavier Percheron which is common today.

Traditional Percheron

In registering Percheron horses grey or black in color are preferable, though it is acceptable to use brown horses or bays or even sorrels. Because of the heritage they have their elegance shows even though they are a heavy breed of horses. This is due to their Oriental type of blood.

The horse is not jerky in its movements as other heavy horses tend to be. The head is primarily medium in size, with a wide space in between the eyes. The head has a lean spotless cut. The shoulders of a Percheron do not stand out precariously as other heavy horses tend to be. The back of the horse is proportional to the rest of the body in a straight and strong way.

The average matured Percheron measures 113 stones approximately and 17.5 to 18.5 hands when measured from the shoulder. Excess weighed Percheron can weigh 2.500 pounds approximately. The horses in this breed have been said to be very adaptable as they can adapt to any weather and any environment. The Percheron horses have long even strides that speak of willingness and determination to work. The horse is known for its genial temperament, cleverness and also its positive acclaim of ease in handling.

The Percheron horse should not be mistaken for the Shire horse because the Shire horse can be traced to the Roman conquest. The horse has been depicted in paintings showing it in its full war dressing showing its symbol of office. The paintings go as far back as the 15th century. The Shire horse was used mainly by the war lords and knights unlike the percherons that was first used as carriages. Though the shire horse have an impressive history the horses were later used for pulling wagons and it is still possible today to find the shire horses in beer wagons as they are used by brewers to pull heavy luggage`s in the breweries. They are also used for tilling the soil and weight lifting.

The shire horses have a history that stems from England while the Percheron horses come from the Normadian linage. The only similarity between the two kinds of horses is that when they are cross breed with other breeds of horses they both tend to improve in nature and become better and stronger breeds of horses. The shire was brought to the American scene in the 1800`s and in the 1900`s it seemed as though it was going to over shadow the Percheron but later the Percheron triumphed in popularity.

The shire horses seem to agree with the Percheron horses when it to comes to acceptable colors for registration. The major color for the today shire horses vary but common among them is black, brown, grey and it is also possible to see some bays and white. The white is a rear color that is equally acceptable.

The mares are of a smaller version to the Percheron horses but have large eyes that are expressive in nature. The shire horses are highly intelligent with prominent and wide shoulders. They are a great alternative to the Percherons horses.