Breton horse

The Breton is a breed of horse that comes from Brittany. It contains three types: the Trait Breton - a heavy draft horse - the slightly smaller and lighter Petit Trait Breton and the lighter built Postier.

Background information on the evaluation and breeding horses can be found at: exterior, interior and horse breeding.

Exterior

The Trait Breton has a broad, powerful, well- muscled body, a short, strong neck and short legs without feathering. His whole appearance conveys strength and stocky. Its shoulder height is approximately 160 cm.

The Petit Trait Breton draft horse is similar to the strong, but is built a bit smaller and lighter weight with a Height of 150 cm. It is often used for crossing with indigenous breeds in Italy, Spain and Greece.

The lighter and drier built Postier also reached a shoulder height of 150 cm. He is more of a heavy warmblood, than a cold blood.

Interior

The Breton is a typical train and carriage horse, a good-natured and willing horse power. However, the cumbersome appearance can easily be fooled, because he can develop a considerable speed and agility.

Breeding history

Brittany has for centuries been a renowned French breeding area for horses. From here comes the Breton, of which there were four different types in earlier centuries, but now only three, the heavy Trait Breton, the slightly smaller Petit Trait Breton and the slightly drier to warm blood type prone Postier. The Trait Breton is a compact, heavy-weight cold-blooded animals, which goes back to the influence of Arden agents, Percherons and Boulonnais.

The breed evolved supposedly from horses that were held by Celtic warriors, and long remained virtually unchanged, until it came to cross-breeding with Oriental blood during the Crusades. This led to the development of the Breton bidet, and by the end of the Middle Ages, two different types of the Bretons had emerged: the divan and the Rossier. The divan was the heavier type, Rossier the other hand, was known as lighter riding horse and for its beautiful passages.

The lighter built Postier goes back to the introgression of Norfolk Trottern and Hackney. Also it is suitable for farm work - especially in steep vineyards where no mechanization is possible - but it is also often used as a sport horse, especially in the driving sport.