COMTOIS BREED HISTORY
The Comtois (pronounced con-twa) is a very old breed that is thought to have descended from horses brought to France from northern Germany by the Burgundians in the fourth century. In the sixteenth century, the Comtois was used to improve the horses of Burgundy and became famous as a cavalry and artillery horse. Louis XIV’s used this breed in his armies, as did Napoleon on his campaign into Russia. During the nineteenth century the Comtois was bred with other draft breeds like the Norman, Boulonnais and Percheron. Since 1905 a stronger horse with improved legs has emerged by using small Ardennais sires.
The Comtois has good qualities of endurance, hardiness and balance. They are also good-natured, easy to train and hard working. The breed has remained in the same area of eastern France since its original introduction, now called the Franche-Comté region, where the Jura mountains border France and Switzerland.
In 1910 the first Comtois Breeder’s Competition took place in Maiche, where the Breed Show is still held today.
In 1919 the Comtois Stud was created and is located in Besancon.
During the last century the Comtois became an everyday farming work-horse in the region and, despite the growing mechanisation of farming methods, the Comtois retained a strong presence in the fields throughout the Franche-Comté.
Today, the breed is still widely used for farming and is particularly suited to hauling timber in the high pine forests of the Jura and working in the hilly vineyards of the Arbois area of eastern France
BRETON BREED HISTORY
Bretons were originally bred for great strength and durability. Horses have been present in the Breton mountains for thousands of years, but nobody knows how they first arrived. One theory is that they were brought to Europe during the Aryan migration from Asia over 4,000 years ago, while another school of thought has them descending from horses bred by Celtic warriors before their conquest of Great Britain.
The original ancestors of the Breton were a population of horses that that lived in the Breton mountains, possibly descended from steppe horses ridden by Celts. During the Crusades, these mountain horses were crossed with oriental horses to create a type known as the Bidet Breton. In the Middle Ages, the ancestral Breton horse was sought by military leaders, partly because of its comfortable gait, which was said to be partway between a brisk trot and an amble.
The breed retained its mountain roots with its main stud, the National Provincial Stud, being located in the mountain country of Langonnet. From the Middle Ages until the early 1900s, the Breton was crossed with various horses, both native and foreign, including the Boulonnais, Percheron and Ardennes breeds.
In the 19th century it was crossbred with the Norfolk Trotter, which resulted in a lighter weight type of Breton.
Today, the Breton breed is controlled by the Syndicat des Éleveurs de Cheval Breton, an organization dating its studbook to 1909 when it was created, with separate books for the Heavy Draft and Postier types.
The Breton is used in many capacities, due to the various sub-types of the breed. Smaller types can be used under saddle and for fast, light draft work, while larger types are ideal for heavy draft and agricultural work. They are also commonly used to improve other breeds through crossbreeding.
Today, the breed is used as a draft horse on small farms, and is also used to gather seaweed. It is also bred for meat production; horse meat is a dietary staple in many European countries, including France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.
The Comtois (pronounced con-twa) is a very old breed that is thought to have descended from horses brought to France from northern Germany by the Burgundians in the fourth century. In the sixteenth century, the Comtois was used to improve the horses of Burgundy and became famous as a cavalry and artillery horse. Louis XIV’s used this breed in his armies, as did Napoleon on his campaign into Russia. During the nineteenth century the Comtois was bred with other draft breeds like the Norman, Boulonnais and Percheron. Since 1905 a stronger horse with improved legs has emerged by using small Ardennais sires.
The Comtois has good qualities of endurance, hardiness and balance. They are also good-natured, easy to train and hard working. The breed has remained in the same area of eastern France since its original introduction, now called the Franche-Comté region, where the Jura mountains border France and Switzerland.
In 1910 the first Comtois Breeder’s Competition took place in Maiche, where the Breed Show is still held today.
In 1919 the Comtois Stud was created and is located in Besancon.
During the last century the Comtois became an everyday farming work-horse in the region and, despite the growing mechanisation of farming methods, the Comtois retained a strong presence in the fields throughout the Franche-Comté.
Today, the breed is still widely used for farming and is particularly suited to hauling timber in the high pine forests of the Jura and working in the hilly vineyards of the Arbois area of eastern France
BRETON BREED HISTORY
Bretons were originally bred for great strength and durability. Horses have been present in the Breton mountains for thousands of years, but nobody knows how they first arrived. One theory is that they were brought to Europe during the Aryan migration from Asia over 4,000 years ago, while another school of thought has them descending from horses bred by Celtic warriors before their conquest of Great Britain.
The original ancestors of the Breton were a population of horses that that lived in the Breton mountains, possibly descended from steppe horses ridden by Celts. During the Crusades, these mountain horses were crossed with oriental horses to create a type known as the Bidet Breton. In the Middle Ages, the ancestral Breton horse was sought by military leaders, partly because of its comfortable gait, which was said to be partway between a brisk trot and an amble.
The breed retained its mountain roots with its main stud, the National Provincial Stud, being located in the mountain country of Langonnet. From the Middle Ages until the early 1900s, the Breton was crossed with various horses, both native and foreign, including the Boulonnais, Percheron and Ardennes breeds.
In the 19th century it was crossbred with the Norfolk Trotter, which resulted in a lighter weight type of Breton.
Today, the Breton breed is controlled by the Syndicat des Éleveurs de Cheval Breton, an organization dating its studbook to 1909 when it was created, with separate books for the Heavy Draft and Postier types.
The Breton is used in many capacities, due to the various sub-types of the breed. Smaller types can be used under saddle and for fast, light draft work, while larger types are ideal for heavy draft and agricultural work. They are also commonly used to improve other breeds through crossbreeding.
Today, the breed is used as a draft horse on small farms, and is also used to gather seaweed. It is also bred for meat production; horse meat is a dietary staple in many European countries, including France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.