The Breton horse comes from the homonymous region of France and is an animal that has always been at the side of man, especially helping him in agricultural work, in the past. There are three variants that are distinguished by size but for the rest these creatures have rather homogeneous characteristics. The chestnut coat, a robust neck, square head, small ears and a lively look like the character that is also sweet and resistant. We can find ourselves in front of three types of Breton horse, the Petit Trait Bretone , which weighs 700 kg and is 152 cm tall, the Postier Breton, which ranges from 157 to 160 cm at the withers and weighs from 700 to 900 kg, and then the Trait Bretone which has the same height as the previous one but is decidedly more robust and can weigh up to 950 kg.
Breton Horse: Origins
Let’s start investigating the origins of this horse that comes from France and was chosen and bred to be a strong and resistant animal. There are two theories about its genesis, some believe it arrived with the Aryans 4000 years ago who came to Europe from Asia, others think that the Celts are responsible for their presence on the continent. Of course in the Middle Ages it was already grazing in the French meadows and was used by farmers while the breed continued to evolve through various crosses. In 1500 two types of Bretons were already described, the pack horse, used in the fields of northern Brittany, and the war horse and for long journeys, used in the town of Briec.
Even in the 17th century , there were two distinct versions, one present in northern Brittany and ideal for work in the countryside or for carrying loads, the other lighter, in central and southern Brittany, more suitable for the saddle. The revolution was a hard blow for breeding which then recovered and in the 19th century we find the Breton horse among the most sought-after horses for taxiing services, artillery train, postal services and stagecoaches. And even in the military field this animal has made a career, especially for artillery. In 1909 the stud book of the Breton horse was opened, in 1970 it risked disappearing and then from the 90s it has recovered.
Breton Horse: Characteristics
Brachymorphic and versatile, this is a horse suited to serving the small farms of Brittany . It is particularly massive and muscular, depending on the variety to which a specimen belongs, it can measure from 145 to 170 centimetres at the withers and weigh from 700 to 950 kg, today three types are recognised including the Trait Breton (or Grande Breton) for heavy draft, and the Breton Postier for lighter draft, and then there is the Petit Trait.
The heavy draft trait was developed by crossing the Ardennes, Boulonnais and Percheron. The smaller Postier has Boulonnais, Percheron and Norfolk Roadster bloodlines.
The Trait Bretone is heavy, compact, endowed with great strength and tenacity, and is ideal for agricultural work, the Postier type is small and dynamic, has dry legs, similar to the light Suffolk Punch and is perfect for pulling carriages or loads for rapid heavy transport.
These horses have a square head and a straight or slightly snub profile, a broad forehead, very small but mobile ears and lively and kind eyes . The neck is short, broad and muscular, the withers are muscular and not very prominent, the back is broad and the croup is oblique, broad and muscular.
The chest and shoulders are very muscular, the tail is set high and the chest is deep. The limbs of the Breton horse are not slender but particularly muscular , with wide and resistant joints and strong and vigorous tendons. The hoof is robust and on the lower part of the limbs there are tufts of longer hair. If we look at the coat that this breed has, it is almost always chestnut, often with lighter hair than the body, but we can also find bay and roan specimens while it is almost impossible to find black.
Breton Horse: character
Sweet, generous and lively, these horses are appreciated for their robust body but also for their character. They are not demanding or capricious and know how to relate to humans in a balanced way. It also resists hot climates well and it is for this reason that it was exported to North Africa, especially Algeria and Morocco.
Breton Horse: Diseases and Pathologies
There are genetic diseases that this horse can be affected by. Let’s see some of them like junctional epidermolysis bullosa whose recessive gene is present in about 14% of horses of the breed. If affected by this disease, horses generate foals without skin in some parts of the body that are undoubtedly destined to die early. Today there is a genetic test that can detect it and thus avoid the mating of two carrier subjects.
Breton Horse: Aptitudes
Depending on the type of Breton horse we find in front of us, we can use it in one way or another. In general we can say that it is ideal for sporting competition but also for draft tourism , being also very docile. Even for agricultural work in some areas it is still used even if machines have stolen its place. Unfortunately the Breton is also used for the production of meat , consumed in many European countries including Italy, as well as France, Belgium, Switzerland and Germany.
Breton Horse: breeding
Finistère, Côtes d’Armor, Ille-et-Vilaine and Morbihan are the departments of Brittany where the Breton horse breeding is concentrated , also present in the north of the Loire-Atlantique and west of the Maine-et-Loire. Over time it has spread a lot and is present almost everywhere in France and mainly in the areas of the Massif Central and the Pyrenees.