The Draft Breeds of France 75 



the perch eko.x 



France perhaps more than any other country takes a hand in 

 the efficient management and control of her great live-stock in- 

 dustry. The government inspection, pensions and ownership must 

 be given much of the credit for the development of the Percheron 

 horse, which is the most important of the heavy breeds of France. 

 While Percherons are found in many other parts of France they 

 are bred more extensively in the Le Perche district, which con- 

 sists of four departments — Orne, Eure et Loir, Loir et Cher, 

 and Sarthe — and is o.nly about fifty to seventy-five miles in 

 extent. 



The origin of the Percheron, although more or less obscure, was 

 doubtless from the same Flemish source that was the fountain 

 head of all of the draft breeds. As there was no studbook for 

 Percheron horses in France, and no pedigrees of records kept, 

 up to thirty years ago, much that has been written of the early 

 history of this breed may be considered as more or less specula- 

 tive ; the accuracy of some of the traditional Percheron history 

 has occasionally been questioned. To whatever foundation stock 

 the origin of the Percheron horse is due, it is probable that the 

 tastes and ideas of the French breeder, and the feed, climate and 

 class of work required, had a much greater influence in estab- 

 lishing the early type of this breed. 



The early service for which the Percheron first attracted atten- 

 tion was rapid draft work. The work of haiiling heavy loads 

 long distances at a rapid pace did not recpiire horses of great 

 size so we find the Percheron of eighty years ago weighing from 

 1,200 to 1,400 pounds, but very active and of great endurance. 

 Much credit is due the breeders of Le Perche in meeting the 

 later demands for horses of greater size and power and retaining 

 most of the earlier character and action which had made the 

 breed popular. The improvement of the Percheron in France is 

 due both to public and private methods. 



Gorejiiniciif ConfroJ 



Horse breeding is under the direction of the ^Minister of Agri- 

 culture, as are also horse shows held throughout France. Large 



