276 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



breed, like the draft breeds of England and 

 Scotland, derived its size originally from the 

 large Black horse breed of Flanders; but from 

 the fact that grey has for many generations 

 been the prevailing color it is evident that 

 some very powerful agency has been at work, 

 modifying the type until it has but little in 

 common with this old parent stock except 

 size. In Vol. I of the American Percheron 

 Stud Book it is stated that: 



The little of history that can be found touching this breed 

 definitely points to an eastern origin. Some French author- 

 ities date its beginning as far back as 732, when France was 

 invaded by the Saracens, 300,000 strong, under the command 

 of the famous chief Abderame. The utter defeat and over- 

 throw of this barbarian host by the French, under Charles 

 Martel, on the plains between Poitiers and Tours, left the 

 fine Arab and Barb steeds upon which many of the invaders 

 were mounted in the hands of the victors; and these horses, 

 crossed upon the large, strong, native mares of that region, 

 if they did not form the starting point for the breed which, 

 since that time, has become so famous, undoubtedly had 

 much to do with creating the foundation upon which it was 

 ultimately built. 



Another large infusion of the same Oriental blood took 

 place upon the return of the Crusaders, who brought with 

 them many of the finest of Arabian stallions; and these were 

 also extensively used upon the already excellent stock of La 

 Perche, and served to stamp upon them the form and other 

 distinctive marks of the Arab to a still greater degree than 

 they already possessed. The infusion of fresh Arabian and 

 Andalusian blood was kept up for many years at irregular 

 intervals; the Lord of Montdoubleau, Gsoffroy IV, Rotrou, 

 Count of Mallart, Count of La Perche, Count Roger of Belles- 

 mer, and many others of the nobility, having been distin- 

 guished for the importations made by them and the interest 



