THE PERCHERON HORSE. . 23 



CHAPTER VI. 



CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY ARE BRED. 



We know how the sexes are divided in Perche ; one 

 section of the province produces, while another raises 

 what the other has produced. No matter what may be 

 the class to which she belongs, light or heavy, or partak- 

 ing of both, the mare is expected to breed every year. If 

 barren, she is sold, and this fault continuing, she passes 

 into public use. During her gestation she works constant- 

 ly. A few days of rest, before and after foaling, is the 

 only time lost. The remainder of the time her work pays 

 abundantly for her keep and the interest on her cost. 



At the age of five or six months, the colt is abruptly 

 weaned and sold. Its price varies from five to six hundred 

 francs sometimes more, but this is the exception and so 

 far it has cost nothing. 



Led into the interior upon the fertile meadows of 

 Mauves, Pin, Regmalard, Corbon, Lougny, Reveillon, 

 Courgeron, Saint- Langis, Villiers, Courgeoust, etc., etc., it 

 remains one year unproductive. In winter it is fed upon 

 hay, in the stable, and during the fine season turned into 

 the fields to graze. To sum up, it is rather poorly nour- 

 ished on bran, grass, and hay. 



The reason is, it is as yet unproductive to its master, and 

 it feels the eflects. Wait a little ; its hardest time has gone 

 by, and work will soon soften its lot. It reaches, in this man- 

 ner, the age of 15 or 18 months. What has it cost for keep- 

 ing ? Very little. Estimate, about 80 or 100 francs. At this 

 age it is put to work. Naturally docile and in the hands 

 of a man always patient and mild, its training is generally 

 easy. Assigned to farm labor, it plows or draws a wagon. 

 Harnessed with four or five colts of its own age, together 

 they pull what would be an easy load for two good horses. 



