500 CONTINENTAL HORSES. 



the finest horses of their class in the world " (Sanson) 

 The bone and muscle of those I saw in Paris left a similar 

 impression on my mind. 



" The Boulonnais horse is very good tempered. His 

 frame becomes developed so quickly, that he can be used 

 for farm work, when he is eighteen months old, and he 

 attains his full height and weight when he is four or five 

 years old. As a rule, he is much more active than he 

 looks" (Gayot). His height varies from i6 to 17 hands. 



Ardenne Horses (Fig. 312) are either French or Belgian 

 horses, according to the part of the Ardenne country in 

 which they are produced. The French Ardenne horses are 

 bred chiefly in the department of Haute-Marne and in the 

 valley of the Meuse. A hundred years ago, they varied 

 in height from 14. i to 15.1, and were strongly built, docile, 

 high-spirited, very hardy and great stayers. They were 

 chosen by Marshal Turenne (1611-1675) as remounts for 

 his cavalry, and acquitted themselves with great distinction 

 during the terribly trying campaign of 1812, against Russia. 

 Since those days, efforts made to increase their size by 

 crossing them, especially with Belgian cart horses, have 

 made them bigger and heavier, but have proportionately 

 diminished their vigour and power of endurance. The 

 Mountain Ardenne is a smaller and hardier variety. 



Percheron Horses derive their name from the ancient 

 province of Perche, which is the country that is now 

 bounded by the departments of Orne, Eure-et-Loir, Loir- 

 et-Cher, and Sarthe. The stock of this breed are raised 

 chiefly in the country round Montague, Bellesmes, Nogent- 

 le-Rotron, Saint-Calais, Courtalain, and Mondoubleau. The 

 soil of that country is principally clay which rests on a 

 limestone sub-soil. 



The typical old-style Percheron (Percheron postier) was 

 a grey harness horse which was from 15.2 to 16 hands 

 high, and was famous for his very useful ability to trot fast 

 and long, with a heavy load behind him. He matured 

 quickly, and was able to do a fair share of work at the 



