THE PERCHERON DRAFT HORSE 173 



being natural horsemen, take pride in preparing their 

 horses for these shows. The more important shows are 

 held under different conditions. A great central show 

 is held at Paris each year. The annual Percheron show 

 is held in a migratory way, coming back to the same place 

 every 12 years. Each year the Percheron Society holds 

 a show in the district of La^Perche at either La Ferte, 

 Mortagne or Nogent-le-Rotrou. While the success of 

 these horse fairs and the rapid improvement in the breed 

 were due to the united effort of all the breeders, large and 

 small, yet a few of the more noted breeders are Perriot 

 Brothers, M. Fardonet, Sr., M. Tacheau, and Louis 

 Eveline. 



Endurance and speed of the Percheron. — It is interest- 

 ing to note the speed and endurance of the Percheron of 

 half a century ago, when he was used extensively in the 

 mail and coach service. Trials were made also under 

 the saddle and in light harness. These early tests 

 'demonstrate the endurance of the Percheron as well as 

 his ability to trot fast while carrying or drawing a heavy 

 load. 



\ The courses most frequented were those at Illiers, 

 kourtalain, Montdoubleau and Mortagne, which ..are 

 ■escribed as very crude, often consisting of plowed fields, 

 which became hard in dry weather, but cut up like peat 

 pog in wet times. In 1864 Julie trotted ij4 miles, under 

 the saddle, at Montdoubleau, in 3 minutes and 50 seconds ; 

 in the same year Vaillante trotted 1% miles, at Mortagne, 

 in 4 minutes and 38 seconds ; while in 186 1 Cocatle trotted 

 two miles at Illiers in 6 minutes 53^2 seconds. In 1865 

 Achille trotted two miles in harness at Illiers in 7 minutes 

 and 17 seconds; while in 1851, Vigoreux trotted 2}^ miles 

 in 8 minutes and 30 seconds over the same course. It is 

 stated that in 1854 a gray mare hitched to a traveling gig 

 and belonging to Mr. Montrevil trotted 55^ miles on a 

 hilly and difficult road in 4 hours and 24 minutes. 



