The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1886-05-06
The Percherou Horse.

The authorities on the history of the
Percheron horse do not agree. This
horse differs from the true Norman
horse in being somewhat smaller and
more active. IL is claimed that the
stock is peculiar to. La Perche, q dis
trict in France. Some writer's assert
that it is descended from the pure
blood Arabian horse, crossed with q
stock of heavy draft horses existing in
that part of France prior to the Cru
sades. Others say that the Percheron
is descended from a remote cross be-
tween the Andalusian or Spanish Barb
stock and the OLD war-horse of the Nor
mans, and give this reason for its
origin: That the Norman horse, though
powerful, was too slow for a fully ca
parisoned knight, the Andalusian
horse was too light, and cross was
effected for the purpose of securing a
horse that combined speed with power.
On the other hand, some writer's APP
parently well acqua nted with the sub
iect say that the Percheron and Nor
man horses are only different strains
of the same breed, and do not differ
more than different specimens of other
breeds of horses. Mr.. Dillon, of Hi
nois, one of the largest importers and
breeders of French horses in this coun-
try, say that all the different kinds Of
French horses come primarily from the
Norman stock, which is so called be-
cause it was bred in Normandy and
existed there as a distinct breed
long before it became scatter
ed over the different districts of
France The Perche farmers, he says,
follow largely the business of training
omnibus horses for the Paris market,
and purchase colts for the purpose in
other districts, principally in Brittany.
This business has been carried on so
long that in arts all omnibus horses
are known as Percherons, regardless of
where they were bred or raised. AS
these horses are, as a rule, somewhat
lighter and more active than the heavy
draft horses, known as Norman, the
same distinction in point of size be-
tween Percheron and Norman is held
there as here, though in no instance,
proving q distinct difference in race.
How nearly correct either of these two
different views may be we cannot say,
but it should be noted that in the breed
ing of the Percheron horse in this coun-
try il has shown one important attrib-
ute of pure race, in the capacity of
reproducing its distinctive qualities
through successive generations. AS to
the question whether the horses i'm
ported under that name are always true
Percherons, it may be said that they
probably often are not. The distinct
strains which breeders in this country
notice of Percheron-N orman and Nor
man-Percheron, are not known in
France. The two breeds of horses are
classed together, and as the French
utterly ignore pedigrees it wo1ld be
very difficult to settle any question
concerning the origin of individual
horses. As to .the quality of the
Percheron horse, it is described as ex-
ceedingly muscular and powerful, q
fast walker, and having good trotting
action, and weighing from 1850 to
1,G00 pounds. For hard work on or
binary fare it is une1ualed, and will
keep in good condit on where another
would died of hard work and neglect.
1t has wonderful endurance and en-
ergy, and is full of spirit, yet is always
docile, good-tempered, and easily con-
trolled. Inter ocean.