THE FRENCH DRAFT HORSE 185 



more refined. He has an intelligent head, a clean-cut 

 neck of medium length, a round, well-muscled body with 

 a short back. As a rule, the croup, and rump is longer 

 and straighter than in the other French breeds. The legs 

 show more quality, though not so free from long hair as 

 the Percheron, while the feet are larger and more rounded 

 than the Boulonnais. The color is usually gray, although 

 there are exceptions, as in the Boulonnais. 



Ardennais draft horse. — This breed is a native of Ar- 

 dennais, a district adjoining the Belgian frontier in north- 

 eastern France. The early origin was much the same as 

 the Percheron, though, no doubt, Belgian blood was used 

 to a more or less extent, which is suggested by the resem- 

 blance between the Ardennais draft horse and the Belgian 

 draft horse, though the latter possesses more substance. 



In general appearance the Ardennais is more massive 

 and blocky than the Percheron, although not so large. 

 The head is large and strong, with small, clean eyes and 

 small ears ; the neck is short and thick, and the shoulders 

 are rather straight and heavily muscled. The body is 

 short, but thick and deep; the loins powerfully muscled, 

 with the croup and quarters broad and heavily muscled. 

 The legs are short and well muscled, of fairly good qual- 

 ity, although the feet are often rather high and narrow. 

 In color the Ardennais draft horse is more frequently roan 

 and chestnut, although bay and brown are sometimes 

 found. Gray, the common color among other French 

 draft horses, is seldom found. 



Nivernais draft horse. — This breed is a native of the 

 department of Nivernais or Nievre in central France. 

 The origin of the Nivernais draft horse is to be found in 

 the large black horse, native to the low fertile valleys of 

 France, from which it obtains its size and color. It is 

 only within the last few years that its interests have been 

 looked after and choice specimens of the breed are not 

 very numerous. It is stated that the transformation in 

 size and color of the Percheron horse in the past few 



