horse occasionally referred older pony small horse native mountains southern france river flows northern spain near general types small light traditional mountain horse taller modern type found black color meet strict physical standards order registered stud book breed known sure mountain terrain endurance french breed registry regional offices partners national organizations europe preserve promote breed organization rigorous selection breeding stock goal increasing quality breed past farm work draft work pack horses today mainly saddle horse members breed successful carriage driving taken annual seasonal migration moved higher mountains summer valleys winter old practice fell recently emerged thought originated prehistoric times exact early history remains mystery theories origins include descent horses similar regional mountain horses possibly oriental horses brought area settlers east small black horses area recorded early time associated pulled artillery napoleon farmers dock workers miners moving goods mountains frequently seen local horse breed cross end 19th century gained reputation light cavalry horses time led decline population local agricultural society charge breed breed registry created stud book created control french national stud second half 20th century population sharply declined transferred work cavalry agriculture machines 1970s verge extinction horses registered stud book breed saved members movement settled mountains local economy breeding programs benefited new surge popularity riding horses population rebounded leading breeding program considered example conservation rare breeds herd size remains relatively small genetic study considers traditional type breed endangered recommends efforts focused preservation naming traditionally bred village les department french national stud calls breed officially mentioned time french horse breeding specialist considers use incorrect prefers names prefers saying refers village valley located horse breed characteristics traditional small light horse adapted mountains modern increasingly sporting style breed known ranked beautiful horse breeds french magazine horses meet certain physical standards order admitted stud book time admission criteria changed times currently general appearance strong compact energetic movement like mountain horses calm report comprehensive study breed temperament published versatile breed hardy able live year outside suffering weather known endurance agility sure require little care survive poor food working resistant cold react poorly heat born snow human intervention usually handled accustomed humans early age increased resistance properties varieties consumption cause bloody blood horses breed standard gives ideal height hands inches weight kilograms desired size hands inches hands horses smaller hands inches considered equestrian competitions horses bred valleys plains larger bred mountains average hands inches coat black reddish cast winter born black silver grey coffee colored black grow body desirable head straight slightly concave facial profile flat forehead wide short ears distinguishing characteristic breed beard hair growing small white markings allowed face legs neck medium length modern shorter broader traditional version shoulders sloping moderately long chest wide deep pronounced favored pack horses mountain horses traditional wide flat deep generally shorter modern traditional version horses long strong backs preferred use pack horses tail low set legs strong solid defined joints tend short set close fault mountain horses feet large formed allowing horses shoes abundant lower legs registration france breed organized des race members horses stud book regional offices purpose organize breeders enthusiasts role decide overall direction breed partnership promotes national shows international exhibitions publishing lists annual breed registered breed stud book selection rigorous based tests age breeding goal produce horses ideal good character subject particular observation year old perform test cross country jumping test test line physical inspection stringent inspection procedures breeders aim achieve steady increase quality breed evaluated breed competition organized french breeding divided schools thought traditional breeders seeking preserve original type light draft horse living high mountains year round retaining breed known second comes conversion leisure horse 1980s aims transform physical type breed sports oriented horse ensure survival breed source tension farmers users breed countries france populations breed stud books recognized french italy foreign breed breeds limited distribution recognised national breeders association found northwestern italy provinces spread mountain regions valleys italian breed registry based belgian non profit organization organizing breed country june recognized official stud book august agreement signed french breed registry recognize belgian stud book daughter organization present netherlands switzerland germany recognized stud books active breeding populations czech_republic members breed exported india tunisia department known annual seasonal migration cattle sheep horses including members breed year june hundreds horses moved summer metres altitude live semi feral state traveling steep mountain paths storms climactic variations october return valleys winter old tradition fell favor reintroduced association association worked local horse breeders promote return annual practice year usually led experienced mare marked bell cattle stallion accompany maintain herd prevent mixing mountain slopes behavior midway feral horses horses humans year round horses raised high mountains stay year round perform history history closely linked homeland evidenced myths legends plays role origins old commonly said lost time native upper valley near direct ancestor probably valley period approximately years ago wild horses probably moved mountains escape global warming accompanied end glacial period physical characteristics result harsh mountain environment live reminiscent horses cave drawings years ago images depict animals dense coats skull shaped like modern beard like hair origin breeds area resembles norwegian unlike crossed horse theory origin based straight concave facial profile distinguishes convex horses asserts descended oriental horses brought settlers east isolation mountain homeland undergone little foreign breeds antiquity middle ages mentions small black horses resemble commentaries war discussing defeat cavalry link animals discussed relationship definitely established location subject controversy authors placing district near pack animal romans taken animals left small black horse described antiquity mentions middle ages associated statue showing small horse examined shown animal resembles standing hands inches shoulder legend founding depicts traveler exhausted cold kills horse steaming swearing build small hospital place survives local held special place religion horses especially belief souls belief knights took horses died 12th century princess climbed fortress small sure black horse 14th century small black horses mentioned accompanying armies count 18th 19th centuries horses napoleon russian campaign mainly pull artillery horses type french territory beginning 19th century popular legend famous crossing battle long delivery horse local farmers dock workers continuing french armies appreciated endurance breed mines saddle harness moving goods mountains france spain mainly carrying wood minerals known endurance sense direction horses sold sur horse fair popular merchants large cities breed called town famous high quality legs ability survive poor food breed derived cross horses breeds world war born annually department breed organized end 19th century horses known use light cavalry praised agility sure robust endurance result semi feral existence mountains 20th century starting late 19th century created decline population early 20th century breeders les began work crossings outside breeds bred horses similar original breeders wanted alive traditional valued versatility control breeding given president agriculture agricultural society dedicated preservation breed breeding society created stud book created control french national stud french army ceased use drawing artillery mountains corresponded beginning decline breed population fell dramatically second half 20th century modernization transport agriculture attempts create horse tougher native breeding program significantly increase population use agriculture continued 1970s like french draft breeds bred slaughter produce horse meat mountains acted sanctuary preventing breeds cattle sheep disappearing completely early 1970s verge extinction early 1970s remained horses registered breed breed saved extinction communities believing ecological apocalypse movement people wanting live fringe society settled small villages boosted local economy including encouraging resumption breeding time story semi feral horse local phenomenon orphaned following accident raised bottle fed goat milk sold horse dealer later returning homeland winning prizes stallion died having returned herd high mountains breed revived fashionable animal leisure national expert horse breeding moved efforts farmers breeding sport pony style animals breed originally called horse renamed pony commercial administrative reasons good breeding management promotion population numbers breed gradually recovered number doubled animals rescue considered good example saving endangered breed introduced island breeding local economy saddle horse hauling breed equestrian tourism mountains island particularly suited steep terrain climate taking tourists volcanic regions covered ash national center breeding open offer support preservation breed equestrian center includes living museum presentation breed offered prime minister britain january removed classification pony returned category horse french national stud breed chosen launch breeding farm certified organic horses intended leisure use human consumption horses fed natural diet mixture clay treated combination moved high mountains year present today closest original type lifestyle found valleys high mountains near majority breeding takes place traditional homeland breed found regions france including alps centre france annual breed commonly seen major horse shows total herd size relatively small population numbers stabilized somewhat beginning 21st century active year new registered listed active breeding stock breeders term applied active year percent total horses france genetic study considers original type breed endangered author suggested conservation priority order maintain maximum genetic diversity french horse breeds uses past horses farm work particularly steep difficult terrain draft work mining hauling timber today following breeding selection slightly taller type principally saddle horses especially mountainous areas proved successful carriage driving jumping day considered multi purpose recreational horse attached cultural identity region leisure competitive trail riding consistently ranked french national competitive trail riding championships finished second crossing tourist facilities offer guided trail rides mountains horses centers having stable consisting entirely members breed therapy centers use program uses breed include agricultural work including logging sure mountain horses access areas equipment mounted police use bred milk manufacture products
Mérens horse