Poitevin horse

Poitevin
Alternative names Cheval du Poitou
Mulassier
Trait Mulassier
Poitevin mulassier
Trait Poitevin Mulassier
Country of origin France (Poitou)
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

The Poitevin, also called Mulassier, ("mule-breeder"),[1] Poitevin mulassier or Trait mulassier is a draft horse from the Poitou area of France. Traditionally they were often bred to jack Baudet de Poitou donkeys to produce Poitevin mules; in 2010 about 25% of the 265 active brood-mares were bred to donkeys, and about 75% to Poitevin stallions.[2]

Contents

History

The breed developed from the crossing of native Poitiers mares with heavy draft stallions imported by the Dutch from the Netherlands, Norway and Denmark for use in land reclamation work. The breed was in danger of extinction during the 1950s, but is now enjoying a revival.[1]

Uses

The Poitevin has been used mainly for the production of Poitevin mules through crossing Poitevin mares with the jacks of the Baudet de Poitou breed. The resulting mules are prized throughout Europe. Poitevins are also bred for the European horsemeat markets.

Characteristics

The Poitevin stands about 1.65 metres (16.1 hands) at the withers,[3] males averaging 1.68 m (16.2 h) and females 1.60 m (15.3 h).[2] Their coat is usually gray, bay, black, or shades of dun (called isabella in France, but not to be confused with the cream-gene Palomino), with fairly heavy feathering on their lower legs. Their heads are heavy, with a straight or convex profile set onto a neck that is short and muscular. Their shoulders are sloped, their back is long, straight, and broad, and their croup is long and sloping. Their legs are fairly thick and short, with broad joints and hooves.[1] The breed is not as high-stepping and showy as some other breeds, quoted in old text as being somewhat slow, but it has been used as a reliable work-horse for centuries.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Bongianni, Maurizio (198). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponie. Simon & Schuster, Inc. pp. 9. ISBN 0-671-66068-3. 
  2. ^ a b Trait Poitevin Mulassier Association Races Mulassières du Poitou (in French) Accessed August 2011.
  3. ^ Le Poitevin mulassier UPRA Mulassières du Poitou. Les Haras Nationaux (in French) Accessed August 2011
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