The Breton Horse originates from the province of Bretagne or Brittany as it is also known, located in northwest France. It is an area with a poor climate and poor characterization; it is a wonder how such an area created a horse with such strength and durability. Brittany is rather known for the creation of distinguished horses, having a history of good breeding farms dating back to the Middle Ages.
It is still debated today how the arrival of the Breton Horse in the Breton Mountains came to be; they roamed there for thousands of years but the question is over how they first got there. It was back in the Middle Ages that they were first sought out, during the time of the Crusades. Military leaders were in search of these horses, particularly for their comfortable gait. It was at this time that the Breton Horse was sent to New France (or what is known as Canada today) by the King of France. Today's Canadian horse still shows their influence.
Over the centuries, this horse has been bred with all sorts of variations of other horses (Boulonnais, Percheron, and Ardennais) because the need for these horses was constantly changing. When the Breton was crossbred with the Norfolk Trotter a new type of Breton was born, the Postier Breton. However, by 1930, this type of cross breeding was forgotten and a new method for the careful selection for the purposes of improvement took its place.
For many draft horses, cross breeding to make them bigger, faster, and stronger was a constant struggle, but for the Breton horse there was no need. The Breton had a smart trot and an endurance to work and survive under almost any condition made up for its size. Due to this quality, they have maintained their purity. For the longest time, the Breton was only bred in the four districts of Brittany, but over the years, breeding has spread to different parts of France, and it is exported to different parts all over the entire world. The Breton Horse population outnumbers any other draft horse in all of France.
In the Middle Ages, there were actually two different strands of the Breton Horse. They were the Sommier Breton (used as a packhorse in Northern Brittany) and the Rossier Breton. by the end of the 19th century that another stand had developed, the Draught Breton. Today the heavier Breton draft horse is often sought out after in the meat markets.
The breeding of the Breton has been concentrated to a few main studs; the Hennebont stud, the Lamballe stud, and a small part of the La Roche-sur-yon stud areas.
Today there are three different types of the Breton horse; they were bred in the three districts of Brittany. Each one of these horses is categorized according what kind of job they can perform; the three different types are the Heavy Draft Breton, the Postier Breton, and the Corlay Breton. The Corlay Breton is actually considered the direct descendent of the original ancient Breton Horse.
Puppies for Sale: German Shepherd/Husky Stud
9 oz super TEACUP /POCKET PUPPIES -WE SHIP-- & PET LUXURY BOUTIQUE
MICRO MINIS, TCUPS, TOYS MUST SEE DIFFERENT COLORS .
TerrificPets.com helps you find puppies for sale from great dog breeders! Please support our breeders when looking for puppies for sale.
|
