394 A HISTORY OF THE PEECHERON HORSE 



horses were already in most general use and where 

 their value was best known. It is significant, how- 

 ever, of the widespread interest in Percherons to 

 note that the breeders were scattered over 41 states 

 and Canada by 1910. 



In Illinois. — Oaklawn maintained its position as 

 the leading Pereheron breeding establishment in Illi- 

 nois during this period. Selling horses proved so 

 much more profitable than breeding them that a 

 large number of the Oaklawn mares were sold and 

 the breeding operations were materially curtailed. 

 Nevertheless, 162 Percherons bred at Oaklawn were 

 recorded during this period. Every effort was made 

 to keep the best sires available in service. Theudis 

 25015 (40871), one of the best-known sires in France, 

 was imported in 1900 and placed at the head of the 

 stud. He had been for some time the stud sire of 

 M. Tacheau, the younger, at whose establishment 

 he had divided honors with his sire Besigue (19602). 

 Theudis' get had won high honors in France and 

 many of the best stallions imported in the late '90 's 

 and the early years of the new century were sired 

 by him. His get won first and third at the Inter- 

 national Live Stock Exposition in 1901, beating the 

 get of Jules (37987), another of the well-known 

 contemporary sires of the breed. Theudis was an 

 eight-year-old when imported. He was one of the 

 largest of the sons of Besigue, a stallion of great 

 substance, standing about 17 hands high, and weigh- 

 ing approximately 2,200 pounds in show condition; 

 he was very deep-bodied, massive and well proper- 



