Ardennes
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Names: Ardennes, Belgian Ardennes. I am rather confused about this breed. It seems that there is an Ardennes and an Ardennais. Some places that I have looked it up have them as two different breeds; others say that Ardennais is simply a French pronunciation and spelling of Ardennes. For now, I will only have the Ardennes.
Origin: Ancient
breed from Belgium (and France). Thought to be descended from the ancient
"Diluvial Horse" whose remains have been discovered in France. The
Ardennes was an ancestor of the Great Horses of the Middle Ages. It was
known and prized in Caesar's time. Arab blood was crossed in during the
Early Middle Ages and at the time of the Crusades; and recently repeated.
An interesting variation on the above paragraph from another
source states that the Ardennes was first used by the French army for riding and
working, and only later cross-bred with other heavy horses to make it bigger and
stronger.
The Ardennes or Ardennais is a
French or Belgian draft breed of two types: one a small (58-61 inch) mountain
type, the other a taller, heavier draft type. The breed traces back to the
beginning of the Christian era.
Breeding: Breeding areas and studs are in the Belgian and French Ardennes, and Luxembourg. (I guess the Ardennes region is on the border between France and Belgium.)
Description: A heavier type than its French counterpart, but lighter and smaller than the Belgian Heavy Draft. Today, the French version is a useful, short-legged, small draft horse, that, given lush feeding, grows into a much heavier animal.
Action: Energetic movements in walk and trot; the trot often active, covering the ground.
Body: Heavy, broad, and muscular neck. Heavy, massive, and well-packed shoulders. Short, powerful back and adequate girth. Round, spacious rump and short croup, often quite steep.
Color: Usually roan, bay or chestnut.
Head: Square and expressive.
Legs: Strong, muscular forearms and gaskins. Short, strong limbs with round, but strong, joints and correspondingly strong hooves.
Size: About 15.2 hands. Height 15.1 to 16.1 hands. In the mountains the old type of Ardennes is still bred; this is a smaller, more compact animal of about 14.2 to 15 hands.
Temperament: Energetic and extremely quiet temperament; often dignified.
Features: Powerful and gentle. Can live out in bad weather. Heavy, exceptionally keen and willing worker; a native horse of sturdy, healthy constitution; absolutely reliable as a draught horse.
Uses: Once used by Napoleon's cavalry (probably the French version). Used with half-bred mares to produce the Belgian Country Bred, a useful working horse of about 16 hands. Popular as a 'middle heavy' agricultural horse. Ardennes were sought after as cavalry chargers in the 17th century and as artillery 'wheelers' in World War I.
Accomplishments:
Curiosities: Julius Caesar approved the Ardennes.
Profiles:
Conclusion: