Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1869-04-01
For The Chronicle.


The Percheron or Norman Horse.
There exists at this present time great desire
with the horse-breeders. buyers and horse-fan-
ciers, to improve the stock by introducing into
our country larger horses than we now have
The value OF fast trotters, their encouragement
by Agricultural Societies, and the enormous
prices which have been paid for animals valua-
Die simply for their speed as trotters, has, no
doubt, had tendency to direct the aims Of
horse-breedersi in a wrong direction. The result
Is, from whatever cause it comes, that the true
horse Of all work has been neglected. Most of
the horse dealers want large horses, and the
difference in prices paid for horses is. the small
and medium sized horse will sell at from one
hundred and seventy-fi to two hundred doll
ars, while the large horse will sell at from two
hundred and fifty to three hundred dollars, the
latter costing no more to raise them. The large
horse finds market at any season of the year
while the small horse only part of the year
All will agree that the large horse is what we
now want. The only question then is, where
shall we look for the horse to supply the de-
mands of the country answer the Percheron
or Norman Horse of France, no doubt, stands
hrst among the draught-breeds of the world
His value has been thoroughly tested in this
country, and has been established beyond a
cavil, that with careful breeding and, probably,
an occasional renewal by the importation of
fresh blood, the Percheron maintains his supe-
rior characteristics and impresses them upon
his decendents OF only one-quarter or one
eighth blood to a very marked degree The
Percheron, combining as he does, q certain at
tracifveness Of style; q very free action; con-
siderable speed, united to power; with aston
ishing strength; and the greatest kindness and
docility; excellent health; and hardy elastic
tenn nnf hi
spirited and light. Heexhibits great endurance
and possesses the inestimable quality of NOV
ing fast with heavy loads. He is particularly
valuable for his astonishing precocty, matur-
ing earlier than any other horse; and produces
by his work as two year old. more than the
cost OF his feed and keeping. He knows neither
the whims or bad humor, nor nervous excite
ment, and is exempt from the hereditary bony
defects of many other breeds; and where he is
rails SPAWN, jardes, bone-spavin, periodical
information and other dreaded infirmities, are
not known, even by name. He seems to offer
to American horse-breeders' an exceedingly
useful animal, either to be maintained distinct
or used to maintain our stock OF both light and
heavy draft horses by crossings.
Interest in the Percherons has increased
greatly Of late. Several importations, of this
noble breed are to be found in this State The
obechtioi, NV ouiy Vi OuT own, DQL OIQer COu0-
tries are seeking after the French Horse with
an eagerness that amounts to a passion.
In Percher and Normandy there are three sizes
ofFrench Horses, each having somewhat differ
ent temperament. First, the light Percheron
in which the sanguine temperament pre-
dominates. Second, the Draft Percheron, in
which thelymphatict temperament is most fully
deyeloped-this variety is powerful in muscu.
lar developement. He is from 16 to IL hands
high, and weighs from sixteen to seventeen
hundred p9gnds-Third, the type intermedi-
ate between these two. partakipg of the one by
its lightness and of the other by its muscular
fibre.
The second variety or large draft horse is the
one generally brought to this country, and there
is from 600 to 1000 per year imported to America
and other countries. sss..'
ASS draft horse, the Percheron or Norman
has no equal. In London traction of only about
2ooo pounds is required of Q draft horse, they
being the English Blood or English prapght
Horse. In Paris the Percheron Horse is har-
messed 20 the heavy store carts and required to
drag as much rs 5000 pounds, and often more,
As horse Of all work or q roadster the medi- |
um or light sized Percheron has no superior |
their power Of endurance being very remarka-
BILE; and their speed over rough ground and
with o weight to draw has no equal. One Of
the distinctive qualities of the Percheron Horse,
and one which has won for him universal
esteem, was fast trotting while drawing heavy
loads. Itwould be, however, an error to suppose
that this faculty Of fast trottlng puts him on
level with the blooded horse. The latter draws
little 1t is tras, bpt he has long stride; and as
regards more speed. he beats the Percheron out
and out, yet there are some OF them who have
trotted against blooded horses of the first ORDER
sometimes honorably beaten and more often
The presence ofsuch horses is, how
ever, rare example, The speciality of the
Percheron, quick draught has then its limits
and IL is these limits I wish to make known,
and can do that best by means of examples
given from the trials made. which have been
COLLECTED, by Cha,zes Da Hugs an
eminent French author Of several books on the
Horse. He says the Percheron travels from one
relay 10 another, never dragging less than two
and more often three thousand pounds, In hot
weather or in cold. and oyer billy difficult roads,
he made his three leagues to the hour easily,
and sometimes fonr
In Pernher and Normandy they test these
horses as trotters with great severity and unfa-
vorabls circumstances, Their poHptry is very
rough; having but little level land for courses.
The tracks are often made In plowed fields that
are very hard in dry weather, but cut up like o
peat bog in wet times. They. also, have steep
Inclines, many places up and down like the {
roof Of Q house, the horses are hsrnessed, with
gears. and compelled to drag
either big heavy running wagon or poor low
tilbury, and driven by men totally
ignorant Of the Jockeys art. and with these