THE DRAFT BREEDS OF HORSES 9 
It should be said that the French government recognizes 
several breeds of draft horses, but the Percheron and the 
Boulonnais are apparently the only two that may be 
considered pure, as they have stud-books separate from 
the others. In addition, there are the Breton, Nivernais 
and Ardennais, all of which may be recorded in the General 
Draft Stud-book of France. [These breeds are discussed 
on pages 18—20.] 
In addition to controlling the matter of registration, 
the French government has a system of inspection, which 
in some degree assists its horse-breeding interests. The 
veterinary inspection, however, is limited to periodic 
ophthalmia or moon blindness and roaring or thick wind. , 
Johnstone (The Horse Book) states that there are only 
two maladies for possession of which approval, authoriza- 
tion or certification is refused in France — periodic 
ophthalmia and thick wind. This being so, the branding 
system carried out by the French government does not 
carry so much weight as is commonly supposed, for inspec- 
tion apparently only discriminates against these two 
diseases, and there is nothing in the law to prevent any 
breeder using such unsound stallions on his own mares. 
The author referred to states further, that when a stallion 
is pronounced free from the unsoundnesses named, he is 
branded on the neck under the mane with a five-pointed 
star. The colt must be over thirty months of age before 
he can stand for public service, and the certificate of 
freedom from these diseases covers only one year. If 
the colt fails to pass inspection for these diseases, or if 
the diseases develop after the inspection, then the letter 
“R,” meaning refused, is branded over the five-pointed 
star. These are the only brands used by the French 
government. 
