THE FRENCH DRAFT 119 



blood. The Boulonnais has an excellent reputation in France, 

 where a studbook kept in its interest is widely used, and it is 

 regarded as second only in importance to the Percheron. Prom- 

 inent importers have stated that Boulonnais horses have not been 

 extensively brought to America, although no doubt they are well 

 represented in the United States under the names of " Norman" or 

 " French Draft." 



3. Breton. This breed belongs to Brittany, in extreme western 

 France, in a section opposite southwest England, from which it 

 is separated by the English Channel. This is quite a prominent 

 horse section, but in its past history rather miscellaneous breed- 

 ing has been resorted to. English, Arabian, and crossbred stal- 

 lions have been used, and more recently Percheron. Richardson, 

 in discussing these horses many years ago, says : 



Though larger than the horses of the center, those in the north only run 

 from 14 hands to 15.1, having improved up to the latter point, which the best 

 horses now commonly reach. They are of much the same character as the 

 Percheron ; indeed, there has been a continual interchange between the two 

 districts, and the color is chiefly the same gray; but the Breton. horse has 

 a heavier head, more hair about the heels, broader feet, a heavier frame, he is 

 shorter below the knee, and the pasterns are shorter, in fact, he shows less blood. 



In the past large numbers of weaned foals have been sold to go 

 out of Brittany. " Nor," says Richardson, " are they known again 

 as Breton horses. The grays become Percherons and the bays 

 Normans." 



Leading Percheron importers in the past claimed that none 

 of the Bretons were brought to America, but that they were 

 largely used for omnibus horses in Paris. 



4. Nivernais. This breed is mainly found in the department 

 of Nievre, in central France. It is a somewhat modern, black 

 breed, largely the result of using black Percheron stallions on the 

 mares of the region, which are hardly as large as Percherons. 

 This breed has not been imported to any important degree, as it 

 does not exist in large numbers in its native home, this region 

 being more celebrated for its cattle. 



5. Ardennais. This is a native of Ardennes on the Belgian 

 frontier in northern France. It has been described as a small type 

 of Belgian and is probably not much imported. 



