Percheron
Photo courtesy of the Percheron Horse Association of America.
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Photo courtesy of the Percheron Horse Association of America.
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Average Height:
15.2 - 17 hands
Colors:
Grey or black
Conformation:
The Percheron is characterized by a square forehead, long ears, and a straight profile. Percherons have long, heavy necks, a broad chest, prominent withers, a short back, heavy muscles in the lower thigh, and a deep girth. A quality example of this breed should have a long croup and a round hip. The Percheron's mane is generally very thick and the color is always grey or black.
Temperament:
Alert, intelligent, and willing.
Members of this breed often excel in the following disciplines:
- Driving
- Hauling
- Show / Pleasure
Breed History:
The Percheron gets its name from the La Peche valley in the south of France. Like many old breeds, the Percheron's exact origins are unknown, but it is said that its ancestors were the Arabians that were brought to Europe by the Moors. Percherons probably owe their size and weight (the largest Percherons can weigh as much as 2,600 pounds) to their use as battle mounts during the middle ages. After the invention of gunpowder, heavy warhorses were no longer needed, so the Percheron took up its new job pulling heavy French stage coaches. With the invention of the railroad, Percherons switched to farm duty and heavy labor. It is probably because of this evolution that the modern Percheron is such a versatile and adaptable horse. Today, Percherons still serve as logging horses, but are also valued as driving and riding horses.
US Breed Association:
Percheron Horse Association of America
P.O. Box 141
Fredericktown,
OH
43019
www.percheronhorse.org
percheron@percheronhorse.org
Native Country Breed Association:
la Société Hippique Percheronne de France
1 rue Doullay, BP32
28402 NOGENT LE ROTROU cedex,
France
www.percheron-france.org
percherons.avendre@percheron-france.org
Do you own a Percheron, or a breed that isn't listed on this website? Do you want to see a photo of your horse featured on this page? contact us to find out how.
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