278 A TREATISE ON HORSE-BREEDING. 



As the immense draft horses of the North (Flemish) were 

 closely allied to, if not identical with, the large breed that 

 prevailed in Normandy and La Perche prior to the modifica- 

 tions produced by the introduction of the blood of the Ara- 

 bian and the Barb, heretofore alluded to, it was very natural 

 that, when the Percheron breeders found it desirable to in- 

 crease the size of their horses, their eyes should be turned 

 toward this kindred race, from which other countries had 

 already drawn so heavily for the same purpose. Accordingly 

 we find that mares in large numbers were taken from these 

 northern departments, and from Belgium, under the various 

 names of Belgians, Boulonnais, mares of Picardy, etc., and 

 were bred to the stallions of La Perche. Stallions from the 

 same countries were also extensively introduced, under vari- 

 ous names, and of slightly differing types; but, notwith- 

 standing the multiplicity of names arising from the different 

 departments in which they had been bred, and the slight 

 variation in form that existed, they were, after all, nothing 

 more nor less than the Flanders draft horse the same blood 

 that had already exercised so potent an influence upon the 

 horse stock of Great Britain. 



The new infusion of this ancient kindred blood has been 

 so general throughout the entire district which was once the 

 home of the Percheron horse, that it is now difficult to find 

 a pure Percheron as they were bred in that region fifty 

 years ago. The old type that once made these horses so 

 famous has been sacrificed to the demands of commerce for 

 greater size, and for many years past it has been the chief 

 aim of the Percheron breeder to produce a horse that should 

 comply with this demand, without sacrificing the activity, 

 hardiness and docility for which the ancient Percheron race 

 was famed. 



Subject to the change above alluded to, the Percheron is 

 extensively bred in the departments of Eure, Orne, Eure et 

 Loir, Loir et Cher, and Sarthe; and they have also found 

 their way further north and toward the sea coast in the 

 departments of Seine-Inferieure and Calvados, embracing 

 almost the entire ancient province of Normandy; but no- 

 where are they found so purely bred, and so nearly allied to 



