horse breed eastern france large breed individuals weighing kilograms bred horse meat agricultural work leisure pursuits overall members breed solid muscular appearance usually bay bay color colors accepted breed registry known power direct descendant middle ages 19th century blood added french draft breeds creation stud book creation stud book crosses registered world war interrupted efforts set breed standard testing resumed world war pride regional farmers breed reached peak 1930s 1960s began decline advent 1970s extinct french government began pushing breeding native draft horses meat production opposed agricultural usage meat considered high quality combined lower expected market meat led continued decline french draft horse populations 1990s french government reversed position breeding meat began promoting draft breeds leisure pursuits continues rare having eighth smallest population numbers native french draft breeds annual breed held frequently seen breed characteristics horse great size larger large trait massively muscular build built heavy pulling average height hands inches ideal height hands inches hands inches hands inches weigh kilograms kilograms depending individual horse bred meat agricultural work leisure pursuits head relatively short wide forehead neck relatively short muscular shoulders long sloping chest wide deep body solid broad short legs robust appear small relation mass body usually legs french draft horse breeds horses registered branded left neck letters brand generally applied breed competitions age horses usually bay bay color chestnut red similar gray seal brown called black breed registry horses genetically brown black markings accepted registration colors excluded known power having calm gentle temperament like easy keeper able survive outdoors seasons harsh climatic conditions seen majority bred meat production horses bred intended slaughter power breed valued competitive leisure driving equestrian tourism smaller horses breed milk production celebrations weddings historical logging recent years increasingly agriculture found gardens farms use maintenance rural roads planning history history closely tied homeland named rich area including french parts northern breeding large draft horses recognition dates early 20th century making relatively new compared french draft breeds direct descendant middle ages small robust tough horse riding driving theory held descendant older horse bones found area breed developed originally horse existed area absorbed extensive 1840s blood introduced breed followed blood 1860s possibly blood late 19th century care taken fix specific breed type physical characteristics variable breeders introduced foreign creating stud book breed breed took rich valley selection new breed took place local created 19th century breeding crossed trait sought large size power valuable agricultural work birthplace breed originally considered sub type breed attempts create breed registry failed attempt time successful stud book created creation stud book crosses registered physical characteristics breed fixed leaders community critical doubtful breed right merely unsure good idea accept recognition regional breed france world war world war world war interrupted efforts secure breed standard stud book selection resuming years ideal height set hands inches breeding spread neighboring regions world war world war pride regional farmers advent preferred pulling animal slow work winning local cattle breed bred solely agricultural work exclusively purpose strongest horses multi horse fields logging competed popularity horse uncommon farmers region black coated red coated satisfy color preferences potential buyers early 1930s reached peak physical development described like trait born neck naturally held low nose touched ground developed entirely traction allowed huge weights short distances time popular considered southern representation breed merchants visiting horse appreciated breed deemed bay coloration better able hide dirt light gray black peak populations usage french draft horses short advent 1960s post war 1990s world war fuel stocks armies unavailable farmers allowed horses remain key aspect agriculture transportation end war war farmers rapidly operations draft breeds quickly abandoned favor machines population numbers began fall early 1950s collapsed completely 1960s 1970s disappeared villages breed homeland retained small number traditional competitions early 1970s appointed new director began conversion french draft breeds animals bred slaughter horse meat stud encouraged farmers longer find buyers animals slaughter markets breeding production meat helped safeguard breed keeping gene pool intact transformed previously powerful breed bred solely weight main consideration slaughter official french decree changed category fit draft horses heavy horses encouraged farmers select heaviest breeding possible increase average weight breed approved change 1950s 1980s average weight increased kilograms kilograms conversion meat unfavorable preferred quality meat closely related considered lowest quality meat addition promised market horse meat french overwhelmed imports cheap horses americas eastern_europe lack population french breeds including continued decline collapse prices forced draft horse related activities early 1990s recreational riding enjoyed revival france consumption horse meat dropped began production horse milk published decree restoring draft horse year use heavy horse decree prohibited docking tails french horses french farmers moved production animals recreation agricultural uses began supporting aim july promotional center opened regional grants national stud promote breed focuses mainly training young horses riding driving showcases performances providing services assistance study undertaken breeders showed opposition changes breed author recommended expanding breed standard open new markets save extinction present creation stud book horses trait crosses allowed registered ensure selection desired breed characteristics lighter active horse seen time breeding horse meat horses bred artificial embryo transfer allowed registered potentially bred trait national registry managing stud book breed standard promotion breed annual breed competition held september region continues celebrate breed museum dedicated regularly seen paris population low french draft horse breeds eighth smallest population breeds making threats extinction real active breeding reported breeders term applying person owning active breeding mare represented percent total french draft horse far main breeding area horses regions known registered living outside france unknown outside home region rest france french draft horse breeds exported born year numbers ranging
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