Ardennes (horse)

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Ardennes
Ardennes Stallion
Ardennes Stallion
Alternative names: Ardennais
French Ardennais
Belgian Ardennes
Country of origin: France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Breed standards
Ardennes Horse Society of GB: Stds

The Ardennes or Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse originating from the Ardennes area in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs and are used for draft work. Their history reaches back to Ancient Rome, and the breed was instrumental in Napoleon's Russian campaign. Ardennes today are used mainly for heavy draft and farm work.

[edit] Breed Description

Ardennes generally stand between 15 and 16 hands high, and weigh between 1,540 to 2,200 lbs. Their heads are heavy and broad, with a straight or slightly convex profile. Their conformation is broad and muscular, with a compact body, short back, and short, sturdy legs with strong joints, and a cannon diameter of about 9 inches. Their fetlocks are feathered.

Their coats may be bay, roan, chestnut, gray, or palomino. Variations on chestnut and bay such as Brown (dark bay) and light chestnut are acceptable. [1]. Black is excluded from registration and is very rare.[2]

[edit] Breed History

Ardennes are thought to be descended from the type of horse described by Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico, and could possibly even be a direct descendent of the prehistoric Solutre horse. Later, Napolean added Arabian blood to increase stamina and endurance and used the breed in his Russian campaign. In the 19th century, Belgian draft blood was added to give the breed the conformation it has today.[1]

The Ardennes was used to create several breeds, including the Baltic Ardennes, Swedish Ardennes, and Russian Heavy Draft.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Bongianni, Maurizio (1988). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies. Simon & Schuster, Inc., p. 92. ISBN 0671660683. 
  2. ^ a b Ardennes. Oklahoma State University. Retrieved on December 14, 2007.
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