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59-743: The Russian Empire had no indigenous breeds of heavy draught horse. The Vladimir was created at about the same time as the development of the Russian Heavy Draught in Ukraine. The foundations of the Vladimir breed were laid between 1886 and 1924. Initial breeding began at the stud farm of Gavrilov Posad , in Ivanovo Oblast , where local horses were cross-bred with imported Clydesdale stock, with some limited influence from Cleveland Bay , Percheron and Suffolk Punch . Some use

118-599: A breed registry . One reason for this lay in the desire to protect the cradle of breeding Percheron horses: only animals born near the Perche were entitled to registration in the studbook , and hence to use the name of "Percheron". This limitation excluded several nearby populations of horses foaled outside of Perche, such as the Maine and the Augeron. The Percheron is the most famous and populous of all French draft breeds in

177-671: A day at a trot . The size considered ideal for the Percheron varies between countries. In France, height ranges from 15.1 to 18.1  hands (61 to 73 inches, 155 to 185 cm) and weight from 1,100 to 2,600 pounds (500 to 1,200 kg). Percherons in the United States generally stand between 16.2 and 17.3 hands (66 and 71 inches, 168 and 180 cm), with a range of 15–19 hands (60–76 inches, 152–193 cm). American Percherons average 1,900 pounds (860 kg), and their top weight

236-577: A record for the urgent delivery of cargo at a trot pace, covering a distance of 2 km with a load of 1.5 tons in 4 minutes and 21 seconds. - In 1988, the five-year-old Pevets / Певец (translated as Singer) set a record for urgent cargo delivery at a walk pace, covering a distance of 2 km with a load of 4.5 tons in 12 minutes and 24 seconds. This horse breed –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Russian Heavy Draught The Russian Draft or Russian Heavy Draft ( Russian : Русский тяжеловоз , Russkii Tyazhelovoz)

295-661: A result of the Orlov Trotter influence, the head is not heavy. The horses are usually either chestnut or strawberry roan , but may also be bay . Among common defects are sickle hocks and weakness of the back. The horses are fast-growing, fertile and long-lived . Stallions have a fertility rate in the range of 80–85 percent, and may continue to stand at stud after the age of twenty. Foals weigh about 250 kg when weaned , and reach approximately 75% of full adult weight and 97% of full adult height in their first eighteen months of life. The Russian Heavy Draft

354-446: A straight profile, broad forehead, large eyes and long thin ears. The chest is deep and wide and the croup long and level. The legs are heavily muscled, and the lower legs have little or no feathering . Enthusiasts describe the temperament as alert, and members of the breed are considered intelligent, willing workers with good dispositions, and easy keepers . In the 19th century, they were known to travel up to 60 kilometres (37 mi)

413-639: A year imported between 1898 and 1905. In 1906 alone, over 13,000 horses were imported to the United States from France. In the American traveling circuses of the late 19th century and early 20th century, the Percheron was the most frequently seen draft horse. Drivers appreciated the breed's agility, stamina and quick-footed gait . In 1876, the Norman-Percheron Association was formed by a group of Percheron breeders in Chicago, and at

472-404: A year. Although the first importations of Percherons were less than successful, the remaining stallion owned by Edward Harris II, named Diligence, was credited with siring almost 400 foals. In 1851, three stallions were imported: Normandy 351 , Louis Napoleon 281 and Gray Billy. Throughout their stud careers, each had significant influence on American draft horse stock. In the mid-19th century in

531-818: Is a Russian breed of draft horse . It was bred in Imperial Russia in the second half of the nineteenth century, and until after the Russian Revolution was known as the Russian Ardennes . It is one of a number of draft breeds developed there at approximately the same time, others being the Lithuanian Heavy Draft , the Soviet Heavy Draft and the Vladimir Heavy Draft ; it is both the oldest and

590-474: Is a draught horse of medium power, with energetic and active gaits. It is more solidly built than the Clydesdale, and unusually deep in the girth – thoracic circumference may reach 2.07 m. It is usually clean-legged, though feathering can occur. Bay is the most usual colour, with white markings to the face and legs. The Vladimir was bred for agricultural draught work . It may be reared for meat . It

649-452: Is around 2,600 pounds (1,200 kg). In Great Britain, 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) is the shortest acceptable height for stallions and 16.1 hands (65 inches, 165 cm) for mares, while weights range from around 2,000–2,200 pounds (910–1,000 kg) for stallions and 1,800–2,000 pounds (820–910 kg) for mares. Horses in the French registry are branded on

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708-436: Is fast-growing: at six months, foals may reach a weight of 200 kg. Because of its lively trot movement, it is found suitable for pulling the three-horse troika of the region. The speed record set by the Vladimir heavy draught for the urgent delivery of cargo at a trot pace is an absolute speed record for heavy draught of all breeds. - In 1968, the 10-year-old heavy draught Grozny / Грозный (translated as Fearsome) set

767-513: The Bashkir . Percheron The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province, from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of

826-623: The Bretons some time after 496 AD. Another may have been Barb horse cavalry stallions brought from Spain by Moors in the 8th century. The Moorish were defeated at the Battle of Poitiers in 732 AD, and some of their horses may have been taken by warriors from Perche. A final theory posits that the Percheron and the Boulonnais breed are closely related, and that the Boulonnais influenced

885-570: The Falkland Islands and northern Australia, Percherons have been crossed with local mares, primarily Criollos in the Falklands, to produce larger stock horses with greater stamina. These crossbred horses are used extensively in both the sub-Antarctic climate of the Falklands and the sub-tropical climate of Australia for working stock. In Australia they are also crossed with Thoroughbreds for use as mounted police horses. In 1978,

944-549: The North Caucasus , Udmurtia and Ukraine , in Western Siberia , and in the oblasts of Archangel , Kirov , Perm , Sverdlovsk and Vologda . The Russian Heavy Draft is a small powerful horse of heavy cob conformation , with lively gaits . The legs are short in comparison to the length of the body, and have little or no feathering ; cannon-bone circumference is approximately 22 cm. Perhaps as

1003-629: The Russian Empire from Sweden in increasing numbers; between 1875 and 1915, their number grew from nine to almost six hundred. These were put to local mares; some Brabançon , Percheron and Orlov Trotter blood was also introduced. The aim was to produce a compact draft animal suitable for farm work. The Russian Ardennes was presented at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1900. As with other Russian horse breeds,

1062-480: The Tournament of Roses Parade . In Great Britain, the Percheron is used for advertising and publicity, as well as forestry and farm work. They are crossbred with lighter horses by breeders of heavy hunters in order to increase size and improve disposition. Purebred Percherons are also ridden, and some have proven useful at show jumping . Crossbred Percherons have been used successfully in dressage . In both

1121-607: The "Caen Virois" breed with the Augeron in a 1904 text. In the 19th century, these horses were sold at fairs in Argences and Bayeux in Lower Normandy . They were noticed several times for their homogeneity, beauty, and high value. In 1858, Augerons were sold for between 600 and 1200 francs . The Société hippique du trait augeron , or Augeron Horse Society, was formed in 1913 by breeders in Auge to record these horses in

1180-539: The British Percheron Horse Society (BPHS) was formed. After a series of name and studbook ownership changes, the current United States Percheron registry was created in 1934. In the 1930s, Percherons accounted for 70% of the draft horse population in the United States, but their numbers declined substantially after World War II . However, the population began to recover; and, as of 2009, around 2,500 Percheron horses were registered annually in

1239-508: The Percheron Horse Association of America. At its height, the organization was the largest draft horse association in the world, in the early 20th century registering over 10,000 horses annually. In the late 19th century, Percherons also began to be exported from the United States to Great Britain, where they were used to pull horse-drawn buses in large cities. The first Percherons imported to Britain included some of

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1298-571: The Percheron when they were brought to Brittany as reinforcements for the legions of Caesar . It is known that during the 8th century, Barb stallions were crossed with mares native to the area, and more Oriental horse blood was introduced by the Comte du Perche upon his return from the Crusades and expeditions into territory claimed by Spain. Further blood from Spanish breeds was added when Rotrou III imported horses from Castile . No matter

1357-504: The Percheron's lower legs made them easier to care for in the mud that they often worked in during wartime. Their quick trot on paved roads made them more versatile than motorized vehicles, and they were useful for work with guns and in forward units due to their calm temperaments. Between 1918 and 1922, over 350 Percherons were imported to Britain from France and, combined with stock from the US and Canada, were used as breeding stock to establish

1416-620: The US Percheron population, and breeding was reduced to only a few farms. These breeders kept the American population alive through these years, however, and the 1980s saw renewed interest in the breed. In 1966, the French stud book was changed to include draft types from other areas of France that were closely related to the Percheron—including the horses of Berrichon , Nivernais , Marne , Augeron , Bourbonnais , Loire and Saône-et-Loire . French Percherons were also hit hard by

1475-550: The United States alone. The breed is still used extensively for draft work; in France, they are also bred for horse meat . They have been crossed with several light horse breeds to produce both stock horses and sport horses . Purebred Percherons are used for forestry work and pulling carriages , as well as work under saddle, including competition in various English riding disciplines, including show jumping . Percherons are generally gray or black in coloring. The head has

1534-482: The United States, Percheron stallions were crossed with homebred mares to improve the local stock, resulting in thousands of crossbred horses. After the American Civil War in the 1860s greatly reduced the number of horses, there was a significant need for large draft horses, especially in growing cities and in the expanding West. Large numbers of Percherons were imported to the United States beginning in

1593-434: The United States, rising to 2,257 by 1998. As of 2009, the Percheron Horse Association of America had horses registered in all 50 states, and had nearly 3,000 members, with around 2,500 new horses being registered annually. The French Société Hippique Percheronne de France (Percheron Horse Society of France) registered between 750 and 885 horses in each year between 2007 and 2010. The Augeron, also known as Caen or Virois,

1652-503: The United States, with the next most popular breed, the Belgian, having a population of less than 10,000. One Percheron historian attributes this popularity to the breed's "strength, energy, activity, robustness and endurance". After World War II , increasing mechanization prompted a decline in the Percheron population. In 1954, only 85 Percherons were registered in the US, a record low. The 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s were bad years for

1711-460: The United States. However, after the war began, an embargo was placed on French Percherons, disallowing them from exportation. Other than an exception in April 1916 to allow 59 horses to be shipped from France to the US, this embargo remained in place until the end of the war. The war took its toll on the Percheron breed as horses, fodder, and handlers were requisitioned for the fighting, and even after

1770-425: The advent of mechanization, and between 1970 and 1990 focus was placed on breeding horses of greater mass for the meat market. The largest and heaviest stallions were selected for breeding. Beginning at the 1989 World Percheron Congress, French breeders realized that they needed a lighter breed for tourism, export to Japan for draft work, and other markets. In 1993, a trend of importing American stallions to France

1829-440: The breed also became larger, with horses from other French districts being imported to Perche to change the Percheron from a coach horse averaging 1,200–1,400 pounds (540–640 kg) to a draft horse averaging 2,000 pounds (910 kg). The Percheron stud book was created in France in 1893. By 1910, French registrations had risen to almost 32,000 horses. Between 1880 and 1920, Percheron breeders in France exported horses all over

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1888-470: The breed in the country. In 1918, the British Percheron Horse Society was formed. British breeders and owners continue to import Percherons from France, and also occasionally from Canada, when not prohibitively expensive. By the 1930s, Percherons accounted for over 70 percent of the purebred draft horses in the United States, and all of the major land-grant universities maintained stables of Percherons. A 1930 census of horses found over 33,000 Percherons in

1947-422: The breed were present in the valley by the 17th century. They are believed to descend from war horses . Over time, they began to be used for pulling stagecoaches ; and later, for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Arabian blood was added to the breed. Exports of Percherons from France rose exponentially in the late 19th century, and the first purely Percheron stud book

2006-647: The casket-bearing military caisson during funeral details. As of 2019, the Fort Sam Houston Caisson Platoon had 11 working Percherons and one lighter horse used as the riderless horse in a funeral procession. In addition to funeral details, which they perform year round, the Caisson Percherons are routinely featured at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and other United States Army recruiting events in

2065-403: The days of the armored knight , the emphasis in horse breeding was shifted so as to develop horses better able to pull heavy stage coaches at a fast trot. Gray horses were preferred because their light coloring was more visible at night. This new type of horse was called the "Diligence Horse", because the stage coaches they pulled were named "diligences". After the stage coach was replaced by rail,

2124-523: The early 1870s, and they became popular with draft horse breeders and owners. In the 1880s, approximately 7,500 horses were exported to the United States. This extensive importation lasted until 1893, when the US experienced a financial panic , and virtually no Percheron imports occurred between 1894 and 1898. In addition, many existing horses were lost as people were too poor to purchase or care for large draft horses. In 1898, importations began again as abruptly as they had ceased, with an average of 700 horses

2183-582: The early 20th century, the Percheron was one of the four major draft horse breeds, along with the Belgian , the Clydesdale and the Shire . Breeders could sell their horses for significant amounts of money, especially in the United States and Canada, where breeding stock brought a premium price. Prior to World War I , a flourishing trade route for Percherons existed between Nogent-le-Rotrou , Le Havre and

2242-404: The embargo was lifted France did not have the quality or quantity of stock to fulfill the needs of American breeders. The embargo created a breeding boom in the US, replacing the previous practice of importing the majority of Percherons from France, and late in the war horses were shipped the other way – from the US to Europe – to supply those needed in the war. The lack of feathering on

2301-589: The events of the First World War and the Russian Revolution caused a severe decline in numbers; in 1924, fewer than a hundred stallions remained. By 1937 the breed was re-established; the name was changed in 1952 to "Russkii Tyazhelovoz" or "Russian Heavy Draft". In the 1980s a population of almost fifty thousand was recorded, distributed in many parts of the Soviet Union – in Byelorussia ,

2360-756: The first World Percheron Congress was held in Great Britain, and has been held annually ever since. Although the majority of the shows have been held in North America, four – in 1980, 1989, 2001 and 2011 – have been held in France. Each year, in July, the French national breed show is held in Haras du Pin . Since the early 2000's the United States Army's Fort Sam Houston Caisson and Funeral Honors Platoon have used Percherons for pulling

2419-542: The heavier meat-type horses of the late 20th century. Also in 1993, the Société Hippique Percheronne anticipated the increasing tourist and exportation markets by prohibiting docking , which was not prohibited for other draft breeds until 1996. This was partly at the request of the Germans, and partly due to the influence of magazines such as Cheval . In 1988, there were 1,088 Percherons in

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2478-571: The influence of soil and climate over the years, creating the Augeron type. Augerons are light gray in color, tall, strong, well-built, and energetic. They stand 158–170 cm (15.2–16.3 hands ) in height, but those horses bred in Vire are known to be smaller than the standard. In the 19th century, the existence of the Augeron population was, despite its popularity, generally ignored by authors. In Paris, they were named "Caen" and "Virois", after their region of origin, although specialists included

2537-399: The modern Percheron type arose as a slightly heavier horse for use in agriculture and heavy hauling work, moving goods from docks to railway terminals. Arabian stallions were made available to Percheron breeders for use in breeding army mounts, beginning in 1760 at the royal stud at Le Pin . Between 1789 and the early 1800s, the Percheron was in danger of becoming extinct as horse breeding

2596-597: The neck with the intertwined letters "SP", the initials of the Société Hippique Percheronne . The Percheron breed originated in the Huisne river valley in France, which arises in Orne , part of the former Perche province, from which the breed gets its name. Several theories have been put forth as to the ancestry of the breed, though its exact origins are unknown. One source of foundation bloodstock may have been mares captured by Clovis I from

2655-566: The same time the stud book was begun. The Norman-Percheron Association was the United States' first purebred livestock association. In 1877, the word "Norman" was dropped from the name. Later, in the panic of 1893, the Percheron Association went bankrupt and ceased to function. In 1905, also in Chicago, Percheron breeders met again to reform as the Percheron Society of America. Since 1934, the group has been known as

2714-960: The smallest of them. The present name dates from the Soviet era , and was used from 1952. Selective breeding of what would become the Russian Ardennes began in the 1860s at the Petrovsky Agricultural and Forestry Academy in Moscow and at various stud farms including the Khrenov Stud in Voronezh Oblast , and the Derkul Stud in Ukraine. From about this time, stallions of the Franco-Belgian Ardennais heavy horse were imported to

2773-524: The theory of origin, breed historians agree that the terrain and climate of the Perche area had the greatest influence on the development of the breed. A possible reference to the horse is made in the 13th-century romance Guillaume de Dole , in which the title character asks for "the Count of Perche's horse" to be made ready, possibly indicating the "'great horse,' which could accommodate an armored knight" and

2832-525: The thousands of crossbreds from the United States. In Britain, many of the horses, once they finished their bus-pulling career, were sold to farmers. Other imported horses were sold to the British Army, and in 1900, 325 horses were shipped to South Africa for use in the Boer War . In 1911, the French society restricted registration to horses with both parents already registered with the society. In

2891-604: The world today. They were used to improve both the Ardennes and Vladimir Heavy Draft horses, and to create the Spanish-Norman breed, a cross between the Andalusian and the Percheron. By the end of the 19th century, Percherons made up the majority of driving horses in Paris. The Percheron is still used extensively for draft work and, like other draft breeds, it is also used in France for meat production. Around

2950-565: The world, Percherons are used for parades, sleigh rides and hayrides , as well as being used to pull carriages in large cities. The largest team of working Percherons in Europe is found at Disneyland Paris , where the breed makes up 30 percent of the horses in the park and the horses work to pull trams on the main park street. One of the most famous horse teams in the United States is the Heinz hitch of Percherons, having appeared multiple times at

3009-402: The world, including South Africa, South America, Australia and North America. Percherons were first imported into the United States in 1839 by Edward Harris II of Moorestown, New Jersey . Only one of the initial four horses survived the ocean trip. Soon after, two stallions and two mares were imported; one mare died shortly after arrival and one stallion went blind and was retired within

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3068-460: Was bred in the geographical setting of the poem. During the 17th century, horses from Perche, ancestors of the current Percheron, were smaller, standing between 15 and 16 hands (60 and 64 inches, 152 and 163 cm) high, and more agile. These horses were almost uniformly gray; paintings and drawings from the Middle Ages generally show French knights on mounts of this color. After

3127-477: Was created in France in 1893. Before World War I , thousands of Percherons were shipped from France to the United States, but after the war began, an embargo stopped shipping. The breed was used extensively in Europe during the war, with some horses being shipped from the United States back to France to help in the war effort. Beginning in 1918, Percherons began to be bred in the United Kingdom; in 1918,

3186-585: Was developed from the Percheron during the 19th century and was merged back into the Percheron in the 1960s. Bred mainly in the Pays d'Auge region, it previously had its own studbook, registered by the Société hippique du trait augeron . The status of the subtype has been repeatedly debated because of its origin from Percherons bred in Pays d'Auge, a breeding group that was modified from the original breed standard due to

3245-404: Was enough breeding stock left after the early 19th century to restart the breed without further Arabian influence, and state that it is unlikely that two horses of unremarkable breeding and conformation had a significant influence on the breed. Jean le Blanc, a founding stallion of the Percheron breed, was foaled in 1823. Today, all Percherons trace their ancestry to this stallion. At this time

3304-421: Was made of Shire mares between 1919 and 1929. The three foundation stallions of the breed were all Clydesdales. Two of these – Border Brand and Lord James – were foaled in 1910, while Glen Albin was born in 1923. The amount of cross-breeding was progressively reduced during the 1920s, and over the next twenty years the character and type of the breed were fixed. Official recognition came in 1946. The Vladimir

3363-476: Was originally bred for draft work in agriculture. In modern times, it is kept for its high milk yield. Mares may give approximately 2500 kg of milk in a normal lactation lasting six or seven months; the highest yield recorded for one lactation is 5540 kg. The milk is much used in the production of kumis . The Russian Heavy Draft is also raised for slaughter to supply meat . It has been used in cross-breeding in attempts to improve other breeds such as

3422-517: Was started with the black stallion Silver Shadows Sheik. This stallion and others were used to create a more elegant, smaller and sleeker look in the French Percheron, while still retaining the traditional bone and foot structure. All the imported stallions were black, reviving the popularity of black Percherons in France. French breeders continue to import American-bred Percheron stallions in order to produce lighter foals, moving away from

3481-511: Was suppressed during the French Revolution and its aftermath. Early histories of the breed point to two gray Arabian stallions from Le Pin, Godolphin and Gallipoly, as the blood that helped to restart Percheron breeding. However, later research found that Godolphin was a chestnut Arabian of ordinary conformation and no special worth, while Gallipoly was a gray saddle horse of unknown breeding. Modern breed historians contest that there

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