46 A HISTORY OF THE PERCHERON HORSE 



" M. de Blanpre remarked that castration was not 

 in usage in The Perche, and, if Percheron horses 

 supported the operation like horses of other breeds, 

 it would appear that, according to a generally adopt- 

 ed opinion, a profound alteration took place in their 

 qualities, etc. 



' ' M. Bigot thought that the farmers of The Perche 

 should assure themselves respecting the effect of the 

 railroads on the horse trade. The same fears had 

 been manifested in Belgium, now covered with a 

 network of railroads. " 



The Arabian Tradition. — M. de Blanpre then read 

 a letter ' ' from M. 1 'Abbe Fret, member of the Asso- 

 ciation," regarding the origin of the Percheron 

 horse. The priest had mentioned the Percheron in 

 his well known history of The Perche, but in so 

 doing he had quoted from the writings of Deles- 

 tang. It was not until this Mortagne congress of 

 1843, in the letter herewith reproduced, written to 

 be read upon that occasion, that we find anything 

 mentioned as to the bringing of Oriental stallions 

 back from Palestine by Perche noblemen or as to 

 the part such horses possibly played in the history 

 of the Percheron. Neither Du Hays nor his follow- 

 ers have given any quotations from this letter, nor 

 has any of them given any account of the debate 

 that occurred between the members of the associa- 

 tion which took place upon that occasion. The letter 

 follows : 



"Within the confines of the ancient province of 

 The Perche is raised a breed of horses known by 

 the name of Percherons, very distinct both in ex- 

 terior and aptitudes; they have the size, some have 



