20 THE PERCHERON HORSE. 



equestrian order ; they prized the saddle-horse, while they 

 ignored the equally useful breeds of all work. 



CHAPTER IV. 



MODIFICATIONS OF THE PERCHERON RACE. 



The Percheron race comes from the Arab ; but it is use- 

 ful to know the causes which have separated it from the 

 primitive type. How has it been modified ? How has it 

 lost the Arabian character, in which it must have been at 

 first clothed ? A large number of the French races have 

 been even more profoundly modified, and have become 

 abject, miserable, puny, and misshapen. All equine races 

 have been changed by the effects of climate, by the ex- 

 tinction of the feudal system, and by the inauguration of 

 peaceful habits which have made an agricultural and 

 draft-horse of the horse primitively used for the saddle 

 and for war. The Percherons must have been especially 

 modified by contact with the breed of Brittany, where 

 their striking characteristics are now met with in a large 

 number of individuals. 



However, it has been vigorously attempted to offset the 

 intrusion of the heavy horse by the continued use of the 

 Arabian horse. Indeed, we see, towards 1760, under the 

 administration of the Marquis of Brigges, manager of the 

 stud-stables of Pin, all the large number of fine Arabian, 

 Barb, and eastern stallions, that this establishment owned, 

 were put at the disposition of the Count of Mallart for 

 use at his mare-stables of Coesme, near Bellesme. The 

 arrival of the Danish and English stallions at the stud- 

 stables of Pin put an unfortunate end to the influence 

 of the Arab horse in Perche, and it will now be many a 



