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Percheron

The Percheron is a cold-blooded draft horse known for its powerful build, typically grey or black in color, with an average lifespan of 25-30 years and a height ranging from 15 to 19 hands. Originally developed in France for agricultural work, they are now used in various roles including riding, driving, and therapeutic activities. Common health issues include equine polysaccharide storage myopathy and osteochondritis dissecans, and notable horses from this breed include Jean Le Blanc and March Viking.

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3 views8 pages

Percheron

The Percheron is a cold-blooded draft horse known for its powerful build, typically grey or black in color, with an average lifespan of 25-30 years and a height ranging from 15 to 19 hands. Originally developed in France for agricultural work, they are now used in various roles including riding, driving, and therapeutic activities. Common health issues include equine polysaccharide storage myopathy and osteochondritis dissecans, and notable horses from this breed include Jean Le Blanc and March Viking.

Uploaded by

lillie.guenther
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Percheron

Cold-blooded Draft Horse


About The Percheron Horse
Colors- Usually Grey or black
Can be chestnut, bay, roan, or sorrel.
(American)
Average Life Span- 25 - 30 Years
May be born black and turn grey by age
Average Height- 15 hands (60 inches) to of 3
19 hands (76 inches)
Markings- May have markings on the head
Average Weight- 1,800 - 2,600 lbs and
feet, but excessive white is
undesirable.
Temperament- Powerful, proud posture,
along with intelligence and eagerness to
please. Stamina, enable them to trot for
many miles.

Unique Characteristics- Lack the heavy


leg feathering of most draft horses. Legs
notably muscular, mane and tail is usually
wavy and could be thick

Developed in the Perche province of France's


Normandy region
Percheron
Purpose
Percherons were one of the
original agricultural 'work horses'
in America.

Today, they are a source of


enjoyment as a breeding horse,
in agriculture, pulling and logging
activities, as a competitive
driving horse, as a pleasure
driving or carriage horse, as a
riding horse, and as therapeutic
and rehabilitation companion Percheron the 'Do-All' draft
Common Health Issues
Equine polysaccharide storage myopathy:

Like many other heavy horse breeds, some


Percherons might develop this disease. The
muscles can’t properly store glucose, and
muscle tissue becomes damaged. It’s not
curable, but it can be managed with diet and
exercise.

Osteochondritis dissecans:

Young Percherons might develop this


painful joint condition in which cracks
form in the cartilage and bone. This is
often due to rapid growth and activity. To
treat this condition using surgery to
remove the OCD fragments. Arthroscopic
removal is usually preferable to
arthrotomy
Notable horses from this breed

Jean Le Blanc – The saviour


When Percheron Horses weren’t used as war horses anymore and
retired from the battlefield, they were used for agriculture mainly. When
gasoline became very affordable, the breed almost went extinct and
was saved by the most famous Percheron stallion, Jean le Blanc.

Jean Le Blanc was foaled in 1823 at Mauvres-sur-Huisne. A stud to which


all of today’s Percheron bloodlines can be directly traced back.

Color- Grey

JEAN LE BLANC Pedigree (allbreedpedigree.com)


Jean Le Blanc
Great x16
Notable horses from this breed
grandparent March Viking
of One of the greatest percheron stallions,
March Viking March Viking won three consecutive
championships in the British Percheron
Society’s Stallion Show, from 1935 to
1937.March Viking was foaled in England in
1929 by H.H. Truman of March.

MARCH VIKING Pedigree (allbreedpedigree.com)


Additional Percheron Facts
● Percheron feet can grow to as big as the size
of a dinner plate.
● The gestation period for draft horses is
approximately 340 days. Some mares can
be earlier; some later. It is not uncommon for
a draft mare to carry her baby for a full year.
● On average, most Percheron foals weigh
between 120 to 180 lbs.
● America is home to more Percheron’s than
anywhere else.
● A single Percheron might devour 30 pounds
of hay and 5 pounds of grain a day!
Sources
Percheron Horse Breed Profile (thesprucepets.com)
Percheron Disposition and Characteristics - PHAOA (percheronhorse.org)
Percheron Horse: Care, Cost & History (2024) | Horses Only
Hock OCD (Osteochondritis Dessicans) | Cave Creek Equine™
11 Interesting Facts About the Percheron Horse Breed (horseyhooves.com)

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