Breton
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Names: Breton, Breton Heavy Draft. There is more than one type of Breton; I don't know yet how I will sort them. For now, I will call this the Breton. When I find more about the other types, I will make separate pages for them.
Origin: Comes from northwest France. Northern coastal regions of Brittany. Indigenous breed of Brittany.
Breeding: Related to Postier Breton (carriage horse), this very old breed of heavy horse has been kept in northwest France for over 1,000 years.
Description: This is a strong, massive French farm horse of three different types, ranging from light to heavy draft.
Action: Short but lively, energetic walking and trotting movements. Relatively high trotting action.
Body: Thick, broad neck with double mane. Compact, straight shoulders. Deep, broad chest, sound barrel. Strong, short, broad loins. Quarters are muscular, short, broad, cleft and sloping. Thick, bushy tail set low.
Color: Usually strawberry roan, also bay or chestnut. Predominately dapple brown and grey. Usually a shade of chestnut or chestnut-roan, with a flaxen mane and a short tail. Usually grey or bay.
Head: Usually heavy, thick-set head with strong cheeks.
Hooves. Large and flat.
Legs: Strong with powerful hocks, although tendons are often weak. Short, strong fetlocks.
Size: 15-16 hands. 15.2 to 16.2 hands. 59-64 inches.
Temperament: Energetic with lots of stamina.
Features: Strong and rugged. Heavy, native draught horse.
Uses: Working horse, especially on farms, but originally also used as a warhorse. Today, it also takes part in driving competitions. (This last statement I wonder about, as to whether it should apply only to the Postier Breton or not, but it may actually apply to the draft as well.)
Accomplishments:
Curiosities: Breton horses were used to pull loads of seaweed that had gathered on Brittany's beaches. The seaweed was used as a fertilizer.
Profiles:
Conclusion: