THE FRENCH GROUP. 155 



lonnais. Other breeds recognized at the shows 

 but not claimed to be pure are the Nivernais, 

 the Bretonnais and the Ardennais, and there 

 are also prizes offered for a nondescript lot 

 called Mulassiere, which means ''mule-bear- 

 ing,'' and the design is to encourage the produc- 

 tion of loosely built mares well suited to mate 

 with the asses of Poitou. The Mulassiere, how- 

 ever, may be dismissed from consideration. 



On their first introduction to the United 

 States the draft horses of France were all in- 

 cluded within the common title of ''Norman.'' 

 There was none but the Norman horse imported 

 from France, but some twenty years later a dis- 

 position to call them Percherons appeared on 

 the part of those who believed the horses of La 

 Perche were the most representative and most 

 clearly entitled to be called the typical Gallic 

 drafter. A bitter struggle was precipitated be- 

 tween those who favored the retention of the 

 general title Norman and those who insisted 

 upon specialization under the title Percheron. 

 A compromise was effected and the first volume 

 of the Percheron-Norman Stud Book was pub- 

 lished, the elder Sanders being the editor. 



Peace, however, did not reign long. ^ The 

 Percheron contingent appeared to be gaining 

 the upper hand and the supporters of the Nor- 

 man nomenclature broke away, formed an asso- 

 ciation for themselves and began the publication 

 of the National Register of Norman Horses. It 



