The Breeds of Horses . 21 
large horses lack quality and activity which are essential to effi- 
ciency in draft horses. To improve the quality and action light 
horses have been used in the founding of each of the draft breeds. 
Tue Name, Native Home, Approximate Hercut, Weicut, UsrEs, anp 
Common Cotor or Eacu or tue Brezeps or Drarr Horses 
Name or Breep |Natrve Homs wee ccd Uses CoLor 
153-17 
Percheron . . | France 1800 —2300 | Heavy hauling | Black, gray 
154-17 
French Draft. | France 1800 —2300 | Heavy hauling | Black, gray 
16 -163 
Clydesdale .{ Scotland | 1800 —2300 | Heavy hauling | Light bay 
16 -17 ; 
Shire . . .| England | 1800 —2300 | Heavy hauling | Light bay 
16 -17 
Belgian . .| Belgium | 1600 —2300 | Heavy hauling | Bay, black, 
. brown 
16 -17 
Suffolk England | 1600 —2000 | Heavy hauling | Chestnut, bay 
27. The Percheron draft horse. — This breed was developed 
in France, particularly in the region of La Perche, although all 
Normandy in northwestern France is famous for Percherons. 
The real origin is obscure, although Oriental horses played an im- 
portant part in the formation of this breed. Large numbers of 
Arab, Barb, and Turkish horses were introduced into France at 
the time of the Saracen invasion in the early part of the eighth 
century. As the Saracens were defeated and their army captured, 
practically all of these horses remained in France and no doubt 
did much to improve the quality and action of the native stock. 
For more than two centuries the French government has given 
material aid to the improvement of draft horses similar to the 
French Coach horse. 
About 1820 two Oriental stallions, Godolphin and Gallipoli, 
