Landais pony

Landais

A Landais pony and a Camargue horse in an engraving from 1861
Distinguishing features Small head, short back, hard feet, sloping quarters
Alternative names Barthais
Country of origin France (Landes)
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

The Landais or Barthais is a small pony from the Landes region of southwest France, and from the area of Pau in particular.

Contents

History

The Landais is an old breed, originally from the Landes region of southwestern France and probably influenced by Arab or English blood.[1] It is theorized that the breed descends from horse shown in the prehistoric cave paintings at Lascaux.{[dubious}} Some Arabian blood is thought to have been added around the time of the first Battle of Poitiers (AD 732) and, more certainly, again in the early 1900s. During World War II, they were crossed with heavier breeds to increase their build, but the result of this is that it is now hard to find purebred Landais. In 1988, Arab and Welsh Section B stallions were being used to rebuild the original breed.[2]

The breed currently also includes the Barthais, a heavier, taller type of pony that was once considered to be a separate breed.[2]

Breed characteristics

The Landais has a small head with a broad forehead and a straight profile. They have long, muscular necks and sloping shoulders. The withers are pronounced, and they have a short, wide back and a short, sloping croup. They are always bay, chestnut, black or brown and stand 1.15 to 1.33 metres (11.1 to 13.0 hands) at the withers.[2]

Uses

The Landais is noted for being a good trotter; the 100 km record set by the Landais Jongleur between Paris and Chartres was unbroken in 2010.[1] The Landais is used for driving, jumping, eventing and dressage, and as a family pony.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Le Landais A.N.P.L. - Association Nationale du Poney Landais. Les Haras Nationaux (in French) Accessed August 2011
  2. ^ a b c Bongianni, Maurizio (1988). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies. Simon & Schuster, Inc.. pp. 149. ISBN 0-671-66068-3. 
Horse breeds of France
These are the horse breeds considered in France to be wholly or partly of French origin.
Many have complex or obscure histories, so inclusion here does not necessarily imply that a breed is predominantly or exclusively French.

Ardennais  ·  AQPS  ·  Auvergne horse  ·  Auxois  ·   Barraquand horse (also known as Vercors horse)  ·  Boulonnais (Mareyeur, Cauchoix, Trait Picard, Bourbourien, Petit Boulonnais)  ·  Breton (Trait, Postier, Cheval de Corlay, Centre-montagne)  ·  Camargue horse  ·  Castillonnais  ·  Comtois  ·  Corse horse  ·  French Anglo-Arab  ·  French Saddle Pony  ·  French Trotter  ·  Henson  ·  Landais  ·  Mérens  ·  Nivernais  ·  Norman Cob  ·  Percheron  ·  Poitevin  ·  Pottok  ·  Selle Français  ·  Trait du Nord

Extinct breeds
†Angevin  ·   †Anglo-Normand  ·   †Augeron  ·   †Berrichon  ·   †Bidets  ·   †Bourbonnais  ·   †Bourguignon  ·   †Carrossier Normand  ·   †Charentais  ·   †Charolais  ·   †Demi-sang du Centre  ·   †Dombes horse (see also Bresse horse and Demi-sang de l'Ain)  ·   †Limousin horse  ·   †Loire horse  ·   †Morvan horse  ·   †Navarrin horse  ·   †Saône-et-Loire  ·   †Tarbésan  ·   †Trait du Maine  ·   †Vendéen
For additional breeds of horse please see the List of horse breeds