CHAPTER XVI 

 THE FRENCH DRAFT HORSE 



In France, a number of types and breeds of draft horses 

 have been developed taking their names largely from the 

 localities in which they originated. Here they are recog- 

 nized as distinct breeds, but from time to time specimens 

 of most of them have been imported to America as French 

 Draft horses, which has led to some confusion in names, 

 as there is no single French Draft breed in France. The 

 matter has been still further complicated, in the United 

 States, by the organization of a French Draft Horse So- 

 ciety, which publishes a French Draft stud book in which 

 all draft horses introduced from France may be recorded. 

 The Percheron is, of course, the best-known French draft 

 horse in America, and by far the larger number of re- 

 maining draft horses introduced to this country from 

 France belongs to one of the following breeds : Boulon- 

 nais, Bretons, Ardennais, Nivernais and Picardy, of which 

 the first is the more important. 



Boulonnais draft horse. — This breed is a native of 

 Boulogne, a district in northeastern France, adjoining 

 Belgium, from which it derives its name. The Boulon- 

 nais horses, without doubt, had their origin in much the 

 same manner as the Percheron, although it is claimed by 

 the French that there is no interchange between the 

 horses of Boulogne and La Perche, and that the Boulon- 

 nais has mainly been improved by selection and care. 

 The breed has an excellent reputation in France, and is 

 regarded as second only in importance to the Percheron. 

 It is also growing in popularity in America. 



The Boulonnais resembles the Percheron in general 

 characteristics, so much so that it is impossible in the 

 best specimens to distinguish one from the other. They 



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