Poitevin horse

The Poitevin Mulassier, also Poitevin or simply Mulassier, is a French heavy horse breed. It owes the name Mulassier its main original function, namely the breeding of mules (French: le la mulet and mule ), which are highly appreciated for their strength and endurance. The name Poitevin is derived from its formation region, Poitou. The number of Poitevin has decreased greatly with the motorization and today this breed is in danger of extinction.

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

Exterior

• The Poitevin is an elegant cold blood, which is very durable and able to work for over 20 years.
• The simple head is large, heavy, and Roman nose with wide jowls, the nostrils wide and ears are strong and somewhat immobile.
• The neck is fairly long, strong and runs in a strong, steep shoulder, which is not lacking in power. The chest is broad and deep.
• The fuselage is long and large-boned and the ribs flat.
• The withers is not very pronounced and extends into a long, straight and strong back.
• The croup is slightly cut off, the hips are wide and upstanding and the tail is set on low.
• The limbs are strong and covered in lush, curly curtain. The hind legs are stable and great in power, the proportions good overall.
• The large Tellerhufe are hard and flat, as for old European Moor cold blood breeds typical.
• The average shoulder height is between 1.60 m and 1.75 m.

Coat colors

Most Mulassier are dun with dorsal stripe and zebra stripes on the legs, in all shades. There are gray, brown, mouse, and Rotfalben. But all the other basic colors ( chestnut, black, brown and gray ), when, also represented in small numbers. The Poitevin is one of the few breeds of horses, which produces also Isabellen. Some of them have Stichelhaare; other markings are not typical. There are all colors allowed except piebald.

Interior

The Poitevin is a hardworking, honest and gentle horse and calm character, which estimates the human contact, and thus is an ideal companion for riders, coachmen and agricultural use. At work, it shows great intelligence. Although it can sometimes be stubborn, it is very attentive and energetic. His weak point is tedious work, since he lacks stamina, which can be offset by regular work but.

Breeding history

King Henry IV commissioned in 1599 höllandische engineers with the draining of the swamps. They brought their horses, Friesian and Belgian draft horses, with and crossed them with local mares. From this junction comes from the so-called " Poitiers ". The Poitiers mares were finally crossing with Poitou donkeys used a large, rustic mule breed to breed. The stud book of the Poitevin was established in 1884. It includes both horses and donkeys. In 1922 it was closed after ingestion of 424 stallions to allow a pure breed based on coat color and the performance of the horses.

A study jointly with the INRA sees the race as threatened with extinction. In order to obtain maximum genetic diversity of French breeds, a high priority is placed on the preservation of the breed of the Poitevin. A genetic investigation in 1994 revealed that the entire stock of Mulassier have a common solitary ancestors (father, grandfather, great-grandfather ), born in 1960 the stallion Quebec. This is a significant risk of inbreeding. Maintained by the UPRA a backup plan will be implemented for the recovery of genetic variability since then. Recently, the birth of Mulassiers has gone back into the air, but the Poitevin is still an endangered breed of horse.

Areas of application

Originally used for the breeding of mules, the Poitevin is now often used as a carriage horse, when elegance and strength are required, and under the saddle because of its quiet and safe way. Versatile, it can be used for both train and farm work (eg the wooden back ) as well as in hippotherapy. In the last 40 years, meat production was one of the few economic reasons which have contributed to the continuation of the breed.