Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1879-04-30
FARM AND FIREsIDE'
ORIGIN Of the Pereheron Horse.


tiles. and possessing remarkable
decree of uniformity in all their essen
tial characteristics. These horses
were called Percheron from the fact
that they were mainly bred and reared
in the ancient province OF La Perche.
Tt lisa well-known historical fact that
the Norman warehouses, as used by the
armor-clad knights in the days when
chivalry founshed, during the time
Of the crusades, were famed for their
stoutness as well as their activity; and
that, in spite ofthe lack of paper pedl-
gree and stud books, selection ofthe
best, and Survival OF the fittesP' had
owen to this part of France, many cen
turies ago. a race OF horses that was
pre-eminently adapted to the wants OF
that country.
But the little OF history that can be
found touching this breed definitely
points to an Eastern origin. Some
French authorities 90 as tar back as the
year 7Sl, when France was invaded by
the Saracens, 100000 under the COM
mand of the famous chief Abderame.
The utter defeat and overthrow OF this
barbarian host by the French, under
Charles Martel, on the plains between
Poitiers and Tours, left the fine Arab
and Barb steeds, upon which many OF
the invaders were mounted, in the
hands of the victOrs, and these horses,
crossed upon the large, strong native
mares of that region, if they did moi
form the starting point for the breed
which. since that time, has become so
famous. undoubtedly had much to do
with creating tie foundation upon
which it was ultimately built.
Another large infusion of the same
Oriental Hood took place upon the re-.
turn OF the crusad, RS. vi brought witt
them many Of The fin, ST Araiial
stall Ons, and Il csc were also exiri'
sivel u>,d 'p'n H." alread, exec Hen
sio,k Of LII Perchc. aud scr', to stanl
up. u Il en-. the form aud OIL or di>
tDciNe marks of tie Arab 10 Il ,tin
greater d,.r than hey ALREADY
p SD. Tin iniu i'n of irts
Ar,Llan nd Anda'u>ion blood VA
keep zap tor inanN ears. at Ii"-ua
iui, r>rl>. III, Lad al M"nldouhl' au
G,'nr. ". Ro'rou. C-uut al Maliar
("lI nl H. L rC e. { uni R"4eI {.
l.el su,r. at" mann Others OF IT,
mobility. iav II. urrn di>iiu@u >lrd f"I
tAe nl.urI III us nth. b them. ;ln"
tit il lert,l MhWi they took IN tie
Su' ict oi IRE gu hI'>rs; and a. la''
aS tom 1920 ~, hhd Il al ~, fan,"r-
Aral.au sIalh"b>. Coca II an
G eli. tot .rr,. Wi, IA rtcd II
tXlI.. lt.t u-,dtbd. IT, direction .
the 'nm. i.I.
7 it-.nGl / rh' a., '>p'.i
/, Il ..aile. III al -. ,i.u'nis II ."a
atd iua',. i"i lI,d,sI- i,r>, # Q
bisie-t Xc, Ilhc,. dls lnlraliaIr
iav, has le.l lIU:td iUl then aiiac,
n,,ht 80 ll.is J., IL, animal. lud. I'd. .,
i>Csui III II. 4 lis q, SET home. /
Atai at ioI>t ever i"uI.d a na.t,
90 H. p If 'iiOLaic oI kind as ~t
o. ec VII and IL ra'y "a >ulil
aiitIs want; IT. he fluid in ll> II, ~
hom, am"u. L., p'Upl o La P'rch,.
They were proui OF their horses. AMI
the ulmo st care was exercised. by both
Government aud the people, in the
selection of sires and dams.
Another cause which exercised a
powerful influence 10 the building up of
this breed, and in giving it adaptation
to the necessities Of the country in
which it was reared, was the custom,
which still prevails universally through
out France, Of leaving all the male
colts entire. None are ever gelded, and
it is only after young horse has proven
that he possesses qualities which are
especially desirable, that he is used in
the stud. All the males being left en-
tire. there is much wider range for the
selection Of suitable sires than there
would be if the custom Of gelding a
lar2e aionty of the young colts, which
pre- walls IN most other countries. wer'
followed.
1t ia from these sources al 'ne-V-z:
the large and constant infu>inn ul
Eastern blood upIn the stuck Of l.,
Perche, already di>linsui>h d for IN,
endurance aud >t"u'n,'>~ OF lis lGr>,-.
the natural adaptation Of the >ol aud
cliuare, aud the care and att,rmlion paid
hy he Government nd D. npl, " q
loved cir L.r~r>. and hveJ wiu
th'm Tor Successive encrIlIon,. .rlcl.
IN nl' he h'>l fnr BIZ din l.nr,o-. :.
tan formed. 70, -,adunl appr aches.
Il xccll'n p W e. iiIail, cam,
20 he kn"~n AID re n-niz Il rs tt
L. rch'rnt llsr>e
a idc if'm ne h -inrN aud trad, i, ms
Of ih' 'ru' tr'. III, Pr h,rnm hor>t
himself flni-'ur- uumi,iakall, ,,id.ntt
n his tom. pn-i on color n, {
.ri.er'. h.rac'rr r. tiai H., j. clos !,
al - ih A.nt. TIs, e. arn,,. p,
'~l"'- ~ '.,,su d. i ~,n.N.t
l. ira snifr " is been an,
g. Il W0. 10 Tn Land. , IN,
excel hi 1Or>rhr -. la = icnr. AN.
under he careful aud l,s.,riny SUI, r
visio 81 The q sverIn- ut. whicn e>er
clse direct c@,nIfoi over the select OF
of s.rss ne seems 10 have retained al
that was. good IA his Oriental ancestry