208 A HISTORY OF THE PEECHERON HORSE 



In 1879 M. Fardouet had Vermouth 2d, a big, good 

 gray that served during that season 98 mares. M. 

 Fardouet 's later breeding operations may be studied 

 from the French and American stud books. He be- 

 came the first president of the Percheron Society 

 of France, and it should be borne in mind, as illus- 

 trating the high quality of his stock, that the cele- 

 brated stallion Vidocq 483 (732), imported by M. 

 W. Dunham in 1874, was for several years at the 

 head of the stud at La Beuvriere. As to the type 

 of the Fardouet stock it may be said that the horses 

 were perhaps not so heavy-boned as those to be 

 found elsewhere, but they were usually distinguished 

 for their fine finish and good action. 



During his long and honorable career no man had 

 more approved or pensioned stallions than Michel 

 Fardouet, who was succeeded by his son Alphonse 

 of Le Bois' Joly, near Nogent. 



Celestian Caget. — Clearly one of the ranking breed- 

 ers of his time in the Perche was M. Celestin Caget. 

 He had two properties, one at Medavy in the Mor- 

 tagne district of Ome and another at St. Scolasse 

 in the district of Alencon. 



In 1870 Caget had 3 approved stallions, at least 

 one of which, the famous old Selim (749), bred in 

 Ome and foaled in 1866, was one of the best horses 

 of his day. The official record reads : ' ' Selim, fine 

 draft horse, great depth of chest, good in shoulders, 

 good loins, fine action." Again in 1872 Selim is 

 referred to as "a good Percheron, well built, near 

 the ground." This horse was in service for 8 years 



