The name of the horse breed Percheron comes from the name of the French province of Perche, where they were bred. The emergence of this breed took place gradually and for many centuries.
Breed history
After constant crossbreeding (starting from the 13th century), the eastern Arabs and the western heavy carriers brought the Percheron breed. However, most sources date back to the mid-19th century. At this time, the most famous and brightest Percheron horses were bred.
In the remaining centuries, their gradual and regular improvement took place. At the well-known stud farms, the crossing of the existing Percheron horse with Arabian horses continued. This allowed the withdrawal of a large and strong heavy truck with a soft and at the same time active step. In the future, for example, the Percheron breed became the basis for the withdrawal of the Belarussian draft breed.
The purpose of the breed
Horses of Percheron breed were bred for work in a harness, cart or carriage. They were supposed to serve the knight with the armor all day tirelessly, and at the same time the rider himself had to tire of riding such a horse. She had to gently trot and also gently stop. If the percheron is harnessed to the carriage, then the course of the carriage must be soft and smooth so that the ride is as comfortable and convenient as possible for passengers.
Percheron horses were bred with the qualities that were in demand at that time. After the knights go down in history, pedigree breed breeders focus on perchers who carry heavy loads in the city and countryside. Lighter individuals were brought out for the army so that they could easily and for a long time go under the saddle.
Over time, the Percheron breed began to be divided by growth:
- Small perchers. They go for horse riding and can ride fast in a harness.
- Medium. These are more suitable for a horse-drawn ride. They were harnessed to carriages for travel, they delivered mail and doctors to their destination on time.
- Large. Such horses were used for transportation of very heavy loads or for agricultural work.
In times of lack of railroad and cars there was a high demand percheron horse, the price was very high. Breeding hardy, strong and at the same time soft, with Arabian delicacy, the breed was a big breakthrough in breeding horses.
Horse breeders bred and sold percheron worldwide. Demand for them has grown rapidly. The Perhersons worked in the fields and helped the army, carried goods and delivered people to different cities. Horses of this breed were almost universal. They easily learned everything that their people taught. The horses coped with almost all equestrian functions and were multifunctional for humans.
Percheron Exterior
The horse of Percheron breed has an excellent aesthetic appearance. The photo shows a good exterior - a large strong horse with a wide bone and massive chest. The height of the withers of perchers is from 1.60 m, the circumference of the chest is from 2 m, the length of the torso along the oblique is 1.7 m. The indications differ depending on the gender and functional purpose of the percheron.
The suit of percheron also undergoes changes depending on the time - from roan or red to black and gray. At present, it is customary to consider the color of the Percheron breed to be only gray, usually in apples, and black in color.
Perchersons have one very rare quality - this is a smooth and non-stop ride both in a harness and under a saddle. The endurance and patience of this breed is the most valuable quality and puts it at an elite level in the equestrian world.
For some Perchers, tails have been cropped for a long time. It was a tribute to fashion or customs or a guarantee of safety when riding in a harness. The tail of a horse is absolutely necessary to protect it from insects. Only in 1996, with the help of animal advocates, was a ban on stopping tails in percherson introduced.
Percheron size
Horse breed Percheron growth is very diverse, depending on the type and purpose of the horse. There are large perchers, they reach the withers up to 2 m and even higher. There are horses of medium and small stature, whose height at the withers is from 1.5 m to 1.75 m. Small growth Perchers are quite rare. Medium and large horses are more common.
The highest percheron recorded at the beginning of the 20th century is a horse with a height at the withers of more than 2.13 m and a weight of 1.37 tons.
Breed adaptation
Due to the centuries-old breeding of the breed, Percheron has acquired excellent ability to adapt to existing conditions. It is easily kept outdoors in the French weather - mild winters and a lot of natural food in the form of green grass.
Perchersons can live and adapt to any conditions - from sultry heat to severe cold. Due to the gradual breeding of the breed, they underwent adaptation to various climatic conditions and now have some resistance to the most common equine diseases.
The character and disposition of Percheron
Persheron has a good disposition and great patience. However, he is quite active and agile. Persheron has a quick reaction and quick wit. They do not require careful and special conditions of detention, for example, like some demanding riding horses.
Horses of this breed are trained quickly. They are sensitive and understanding and have a calm disposition. Percheron is very simple to teach to plow or to teach performance on an arena of a circus. He is malleable, has a good disposition. Such a horse is efficient and graceful.
Breeding history
In the 19th century there was a peak in the breed's popularity. Percherson was widely bred and actively sold throughout France. This breed was bought by such countries as the USA, Canada, Japan, Australia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay. The Percheron Society, which was created to breed pure breed, is widely spread.
The first such societies were created in the USA. They helped spread and breed the breed. Horses were brought into the country and bred for use in field work. They plowed and harrowed the land, for example, in Canada 8 perchers were harnessed to a plow, and they plowed up to 6 ha per day.
Since the mid-20th century, with the advent and rapid development of mechanization, the activity of their distribution has been reduced, and the horse of the Percheron breed has been used less. The size, growth, and exterior of the breed become important elements for maintaining and continuing a clean breed. Persheron moves away from rural work and is more often used as a transport, in sports and recreation.
Breeding in Russia
Russia began to import perchers in 1891. The best pedigree stallions with mares from France were imported to the Khrenovsk stud farm. Over time, the plant introduced a new type of percheron, which was different from the European or American types. In 1941, the Khrenovsk plant was transferred to the October plant in Ulyanovsk.
The Ulyanovsk plant successfully distributed the horse of the Percheron breed. Photos and cost of the sold "Ulyanovsk French" could be seen on all well-known equestrian markets. However, in 2011, the plant went bankrupt, and the court sold perchers for debts.
The stud farm in Tambov has been engaged in the Pershers since the 60s of the last century. There were 26 horses of this breed in this factory. The stud farms of Voronezh and Bryansk were also engaged in their reproduction.
As a result of the breeding of perchers, the Russian stud farms identified the following new breed lines: Ixoda, Apra and Bardadyma, Vuytri. However, due to the lack of constant updating of the breed, the last three lines were lost, and at the moment only Perchs along the Ixoda line have been preserved.
For the growth or preservation of perchers, regular updates and replenishment at the stud farm with Western stallions perchers are needed. The latest breeding replenishment was in 1991 at the October plant in Ulyanovsk.
Russian perchers have a number of differences compared to Western ones, which are larger and stronger. With the correct crossing of such breed lines, it is possible to improve the quality of new horses of the Russian Percheron line.
Coordination of rock distribution at the plant level on a large scale in Russia at the moment practically does not occur. Percherson is bred and raised by private breeders and amateurs. This reduces their number in Russia, but at the same time increases their value.
Cost
At the moment, you can buy a horse of the breed Percheron in any country in the world. The price for it at the age of 5-10 years is on average 8-10 thousand dollars. The cost of a foal 6 months will be cheaper. - 1.5 g, but it must be grown up healthy and properly nurtured, which will also add costs. The Percheron horse will cost more, the photo, the description and pedigree of which prove the presence in the family of famous horses of this breed.
Both pedigree breeders and individuals sell them. The price depends not only on the age and condition of the horse, but also on the purity of the breed, the conditions of the seller and other related factors.
Percheron Development
Percheron mares breed foals very well. From lighter and not massive species excellent foals are born for hunting or for sport. All foals of Percherons, like heavy carriers, have late ripening. The foal has a childhood period of up to 2 years.
Percheron foals need enough complete nutrition and a lot of movement. They should walk a lot in the sun and air, only in this case they will form the correct physical composition and the development of the bone structure.
Percheron foals can be outdoors for a long time and feed on grass. They quickly adapt to new conditions, and the period of adaptation and acclimatization in them passes very quickly, sometimes even imperceptibly.
Modern perchers
At the end of the 20th century, 7 French perhers appeared in Baltika in St. Petersburg. A team of 4 huge gray horses rides around the city with a big barrel in the form of the original Baltika advertisement. For procreation, the company has 3 mares.
Perchers in the circus have proven themselves perfectly. They are wonderful artists: spectacular, powerful, beautiful, at the same time graceful and graceful in movement. In Russia, for example, the 21-year-old white percher Pompey has been playing in the arena for many years. The famous balancer Y. Shanikova perfectly shows with him a number with hoops.
No matter what the name of the horse breeds is and what fame they have, any of them is part of an interesting, multifaceted and informative world that immerses everyone in the good. A horse is an assistant on the field, an ally in battle, a healer for depression and cerebral palsy, as well as a reliable friend.