Draft horses include the Boulonnais, native to the northern regions of France from the area round Boulogne.
Two types were bred, a smaller horse which was fast moving and energetic with great strength, used for deliveries and transporting fish from the coast to the restaurants of Paris.
The second type was larger and heavier and used for draft work.
It is a noble and elegant looking horse with Arab and Barb ancestors.
Typical height ranges from 15.1hh – 16.3hh with colours of grey, dapple grey, bay, red roan, blue roan and dappled grey.
The breed is similar to that of the Percheron but the head differs slightly.
The head is short and elegant with a broad forehead on a solid muscular, crested neck and powerful sloping shoulders.
Hindquarters are muscular, legs are strong, fairly short and carry little feather, unlike the Clydesdale or Shire.
The breed is generally branded with a small anchor mark on the left side of the neck.
The breed can move quite quickly for a heavy horse due to having a lower knee action.
The breed has provided part of the base for the Anglo-Norman breed, which was later to play a large role in the creation of the Selle Francais.
It was also used in the creation and refinement of the Italian Heavy Draft, the post-World War II improvement of the Schleswig breed, and the creation of the early 19th century Ardennes types.
Today with the falling demand of the breed, it is bred mainly for horsemeat.
Draft horses > > Home
Horse breeds
Pony breeds
Horse Types
