THE DRAFT BREEDS OF HORSES 9 



It should be said that the French government recognizes 

 several breeds of draft horses, but the Percheron and the 

 Boulonnais are apparently the only two that may be 

 considered pure, as they have stud-books separate from 

 the others. In addition, there are the Breton, Nivernais 

 and Ardennais, all of which may be recorded in the General 

 Draft Stud-book of France. [These breeds are discussed 

 on pages 18-20.] 



In addition to controlling the matter of registration, 

 the French government has a system of inspection, which 

 in some degree assists its horse-breeding interests. The 

 veterinary inspection, however, is limited to periodic 

 ophthalmia or moon blindness and roaring or thick wind. 

 Johnstone (The Horse Book) states that there are only 

 two maladies for possession of which approval, authoriza- 

 tion or certification is refused in France periodic 

 ophthalmia and thick wind. This being so, the branding 

 system carried out by the French government does not 

 carry so much weight as is commonly supposed, for inspec- 

 tion apparently only discriminates against these two 

 diseases, and there is nothing in the law to prevent any 

 breeder using such unsound stallions on his own mares. 

 The author referred to states further, that when a stallion 

 is pronounced free from^ the unsoundnesses named, he is 

 branded on the neck under the mane with a five-pointed 

 star. The colt must be over thirty months of age before 

 he can stand for public service, and the certificate of 

 freedom from these diseases covers only one year. If 

 the colt fails to pass inspection for these diseases, or if 

 the diseases develop after the inspection, then the letter 

 "R," meaning refused, is branded over the five-pointed 

 star. These are the only brands used by the French 

 government. 



