| Distinguishing features | Large, muscular draft breed |
|---|---|
| Alternative names | Ardennais du Nord |
| Country of origin | France |
| Breed standards | |
| French National Stud | Breed standards |
| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Trait du Nord, previously known also as Ardennais du Nord or Ardennais de type Nord, is a breed of heavy draft horse developed and bred in the area of Hainaut in western Belgium and in north-eastern France. Originally considered a sub-type of the Ardennes, it became an individual breed with the opening of a stud-book in 1903. Developed in the rich Flemish grasslands, it was bred for size and pulling power for agricultural work. By 1855, the horses bred near Hainaut were considered superior by some veterinarians to other Flemish draft breeds. The Trait du Nord continued to be used heavily for agriculture through World War II, but after the war this usage declined as farming became increasingly mechanized and by the 1970s the breed, along with many other European draft breeds, was in danger of extinction.
During the mid-20th century, the breed was in demand for the production of horse meat, and due to this became larger and heavier as higher production was demanded. In the early 1970s, the demand for horse meat began to decline and it wasn't until the 1990s that the breed experienced a slight revival through an increased interest in recreational riding and driving. The Trait du Nord was also used extensively in mining through a greater part of the 19th century.
The breed is large, with stallions weighing upwards of 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb), and is bred for traction ability and pulling power. They are found in many solid colors, although bay and roan are the most common, and are known to be gentle and easy to handle. Two slightly different types of Trait du Nord are found - a larger type used for heavier pulling and a lighter type used for faster work. The breed is considered to be endangered, with fewer than 100 new foal births a year. The national breed registry in France is working with local initiatives in an attempt to promote this breed and bring breeding numbers back up. The breed currently has a high risk of inbreeding, due to the low number of breeding stallions, and is also at risk of extinction.
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According the French National Stud, the official name of the breed is Trait du Nord.[1] However, the name of the breed has changed several times during its history. In the mid-19th century it is mentioned as the "large horse of Hainaut",[2] but before 1903 it was not considered a separate breed and was often thought to be the same as the Ardennes.[3][4] Beginning in 1913, it was known as the Trait Ardennes North, and from 1945[5] to 1965 was known as the Northern Ardennes Draft. The name of Trait du Nord became commonly used around 1961.[4]
Until August 5, 1903,[3][4] the Trait du Nord's stud book was merged with that of the Ardennes, with the former being considered a sub-type of the latter and called the Northern type Ardennes. The studbook was under the responsibility of the combined studbook group Studbook of Northern Workhorses.[3][5] In 1913, the name of Trait du Nord was used for the first time[5] and French mares began to be registered as their own breed,[4] although Belgian horses continued to be introduced to the line.[4][6] In 1919, the northern type was separated from the Ardennes, although the studbooks remained tied, and the horse was given the name "Northern Ardennes". A centralized breeding union for the Northern Ardennes was created in 1945.[5]
In France, the Syndicat d'Elevage du cheval Trait du Nord (Union of Trait du Nord Horse Breeders) is the national breed association recognized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Its mission is to promote the breed and assist in its recovery, as well as creating and executing a policy of genetic improvement through selective breeding. The association works with the French National Stud and Centre for Genetic Resources to develop breeding programs and represents the Trait du Nord on French breed committees. It also organizes and contributes to contests and events that help to promote and develop the breed.[7]
The Trait du Nord has a history that is very similar to the Ardennes, due to the influence of the latter breed on the Trait du Nord.[5]
The ancestors of the breed would have migrated to northern valleys of the Sambre and the Scheldt, near Valenciennes.[5] Like Dutch and Belgian draft breeds such as the Brabant, the origin of the Trait du Nord is found in the large, rich Flemish grasslands that cover the southern portion of the Netherlands, northern France and all of Belgium. The Hainaut region is the true birthplace of the breed in France.[4][8] The ancestors of what is today Belgian draft breeds, the Ardennes and the Trait du Nord were all the same.[6]
The region of Flanders is particularly conducive to agriculture, and in the 19th century the draining of the swamps and improved farming techniques led to a major expansion in cultivated areas and farm sizes. As there were no existing horses in the area that were suitable for plowing, the farmers found it necessary to create a breed of draft horse specifically for their use.[8] From the 1850s on, farmers selected horses that eventually became the Trait du Nord.[8] The farmers combined large Belgian breeds adapted to swampy ground[9] with the Ardennes and Dutch breeds for size, weight and strength.[8][10] The result was a muscular, powerful and tough breed, with long legs that facilitated movement.[8] The Trait du Nord was unique in being selected specifically for farming, as many draft breeds were also bred for use in transport.[8]
The Trait du Nord proved a successful breed for the farmers that conceived it,[9] and quickly spread throughout the Netherlands, Belgium and northern France.[6] It was given different names depending on the country, and was often confused with and crossbred with draft breeds from the Netherlands, Brabants and the Ardennes.[8] Breed associations began to organize in the late 19th century,[4] and at this point blood from the Boulonnais was introduced to bring more elegance to the breed.[10] The Trait du Nord gradually began to differ from the Ardennes as they gained in size and volume and improved their gaits, and the breed became popular in the north and east of France.[5] In 1855, before the breed had even been differentiated from the Ardennes, veterinarians described the heavy horses bred near Hainaut as superior to Flemish breeds.[11]
During World War I, Trait du Nord horses were among the those confiscated by Germans from Belgium and France. In 1919, however, these horses were returned to their homeland, allowing the reconstruction of the breed.[4][12] During World War II, the armed forces used all stocks of fuel, and the draft horse was used to continue agricultural production in France.[13] After the war, farmers quickly equipped themselves with mechanized equipment. The decline in the breeding of the Trait du Nord became noticeable in the early 1950s, and by 1960 breed numbers had collapsed completely.[8] By the early 1970s, breeding had slowed so much that the Trait du Nord, along with other French draft breeds, had become in danger of extinction.[14]
As horses were replaced by tractors, the production of horse meat became the main viable market for the Trait du Nord and other French breeds.[9] However, as the horses were sought for meat, the larger, heavier animals became more in demand, and these horses lost much of their power and pulling ability. A French decree on August 24, 1976, published in the Official Journal, encouraged farmers to select the biggest, heaviest stallions for breeding. The French National Stud backed this degree, and encouraged the breeding of foals that would fatten rapidly and were butchered at the age of eighteen months.[14] Between the mid-20th century and the 1980s, the average weight of the Trait du Nord increase from between 800 and 900 kilograms (1,800 and 2,000 lb) to over 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb).[15] Since the early 1970s, the consumption of the Trait du Nord by butchers has declined, contributing to a further reduction in breeding.[8]
In the early 1990s, recreational riding experienced a revival, and the consumption of horse meat continued to decrease. On March 11, 1994, the Trait du Nord was officially declared to be a workhorse again, and in 1996 another decree prohibited docking of tails in horses.[16]
The Trait du Nord was the subject of a limited-editing Breyer Horses model, available between January 1, 2007 and January 1, 2008.[17]
In the early 1930s, the breed reached the peak of its physical structure.[18] It was then described as a born laborer, built for traction and with a conformation that allowed it to move huge weights over short distances [19] Although some breeds of draft horses have declined in weight in modern times, the Trait du Nord has remained an impressive size and height.[5] The average size in the breed is 1.65 metres (65 in) for mares and 1.68 to 1.72 metres (66 to 68 in) for stallions,[4] weighing 800 to 900 kilograms (1,800 to 2,000 lb) for mares and 1,000 kilograms (2,200 lb) for stallions.[4] Foals of 30 months who are candidates to become registered must be at least 1.63 metres (64 in).[1] Bay and roan are the most frequent colors seen in the breed. Chestnut (including liver chestnut, although this color is quite rare) are also allowed, as are black, brown and gray, although the latter is extremely rare.[1][4]
In France, the National Stud regulates the physical standards of the Trait du Nord and eight other French breeds. The eligibility criteria have changed several times since the opening of the studbook in 1913, and now describe the ideal Trait du Nord as large, well built, short and powerful, with a large frame and well-developed muscles, energetic, with easygoing and beautiful gaits.[1][4] Members of the breed are described by enthusiasts as courageous and observant,[9] as well as gentle and easy to handle.[5] The head is generally small in proportion to the mass of the horse, and often snub, with a flat profile (neither concave nor convex). The neck is of medium length and strong, often slightly arched. The withers are prominent and the shoulder long and slightly oblique. The back is short and straight and the body compact, solid and very muscular. The chest is deep, with a broad, muscular breast. The croup is wide and powerfully muscled. The hooves are hard and strong.[1][4]
There are two main types of Trait du Nord. One is a heavier type bred for pulling heavy loads, while the other is a lighter type bred for slightly faster work, generally at the trot.[5] Auxois, Ardennes, Brabant and some Dutch draft breeds may be admitted to the Trait du Nord studbook after being inspected and approved by a review panel.[1] Registered horses are marked with a stylized "N" brand on the left side of the neck, signifying conformity to the breed standard.[20]
The Trait du Nord was originally used mainly for agriculture and mining. They also towed barges on waterways, although this use ended quickly with the increased use of the engine at the beginning of the 20th century.[4][12]
Since the 1950s, the Trait du Nord has been the preferred breed for farmers who practiced intensive cropping of cereals and beets in the Northern Great Plains of France.[4][5] The stamina and energy of the breed allows them to perform well in the heavy and compact soils in the region of North Pas-de-Calais and recover quickly after exercise.[21] The nature of soils in Hainaut required a horse weighing more than 800 kilograms (1,800 lb) for an effective plowing.[21] The peak use of the breed for agriculture was quite short, reaching from 1880 to around 1960 (ending due to increased use of mechanized equipment), but it allowed significant progress in agriculture in northern France.[21]
The pulling power of the Trait du Nord also made it popular for use during the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century in heavy industry, including mining. In mines, steam engines and internal combustion engines could not be used due to the possibility of a gas explosion. The first horses was used in the mines in 1821 and the Trait du Nord quickly became a favorite for hauling carts in the mines[22] and operating the pulleys used to lift coal to the surface.[23] Breeders worked to produce a horse that fulfilled the needs of the mines, and the breed became larger as more power was needed to pull heavier loads. Good horses were able to pull 16.8 tons, usually around twelve cars worth, along a railway. As early as 1920, the usage of horses in mines began to decline as electric locomotives came into use, and in 1969 the last horse was removed from the mines.[22]
Today, the breed is used mainly for meat and logging forested areas inaccessible to machinery. Since the mid 1990s, the male foals are not intended for breeding, recreational riding or horse-drawn are always fed and set out to slaughter before the age of eighteen months. Females are generally used for breeding.[8] The breed association and its breeders are trying to secure the future of the Trait du Nord by finding new markets, especially in the areas of recreational riding, agricultural work, recreational and competitive driving. The breed is also involved in several re-enactments and folk villages which attract good crowds.[5] Farmers, breeders and enthusiasts are promoting their use in logging in forests and fragile areas, with professional foresters using them to preserve the wealth and biodiversity of forested areas.[24]
The revival of the team driving has prompted farmers who use the Trait du Nord to attend competitions and improve the quality of their horses.[4] The qualities of the breed make it a popular horse for leaders in the areas of recreational and competition team driving, and the breed has the advantage of being able to be immediately returned to work even after a period of inactivity for several months.[5] When being driven, a traditional "Flemish collar" is generally used. The horses are trained to be driven with only one rein, leaving the driver's hands more free for other work.[25] When shown in hand, Trait du Nord horses are often presented in groups, generally four to eight to a string.[26]
Each year, the Trait du Nord is honored at an agricultural show and horse show in Paris.[5] In 1995, the breed won the International Workhorse Trophy at the Paris show[10] and in 2010, a Trait du Nord took the first place prize for weight pulling at the show.[27] Trait du Nord teams also participate in the Route du Poisson, a relay race commemorating the route that teams took to bring fresh fish from Boulogne to Paris until the 19th century. The race takes place every two or three years and is the biggest equine relay race in Europe.[28]
The Trait du Nord is an endangered breed; Haras de Compiègne (Compiegne Stud) had a major influence for saving the breed,[5] until it was closed in October 2009.[29] The national breed registry for the Trait du Nord is supported by other local initiatives. However, breed numbers were already low when these initiatives began to be implemented.[5] Media attention on the Trait du Nord is insufficient to maintain economically viable interest. The breed is bred mainly by enthusiasts returning to family farms, but even the number of farms has been decreasing as many young farmers prefer more to breed more lucrative cattle.[8]
Although breed associations and the French National Stud are making efforts to protect the breed, very low numbers are still seen[8] and it is one of the most threatened French horse breeds. The production of meat has declined due to a decrease in consumption, and most male foals are not selected for reproduction or work. Some enthusiasts say that more alternatives to slaughter are needed and that the steady decline in breed numbers is proof that the breed is slowly dying.[12] As of February 2010, the president of the breed registry is expected to soon sign a plan to preserve the breed.[27]
The main breeding areas are present around the former Compiegne Stud and include the departments of Nord, the Pas-de-Calais, the Oise, the Aisne and Somme. Some are also found in the central region of Normandy and the Paris area. This race is found mainly in Franch and is rarely exported abroad, or only very sporadically with related Belgian and Dutch breeds.[4][5] A map of mares in 2008 gives 121 mares in the region of North Pas-de-Calais, 46 in Picardie, 6 in Normandy and one to three mares in the other regions.[4]
Despite efforts to revive interest in the breed, numbers have steadily declined in the years before 1988.[30] In 1995, there were 33 stallions in service;[10] in 1996 this number remained the same and by 1998 it had declined to 30.[5] In 2004, there were 111 breeders and 119 Trait du Nord foals were registered.[31] By 2007 and 2008 there were only 17 stallions registered, a number which is exposing the breed to a dangerous increase in inbreeding. To combat this danger, farmers are cross breeding the Trait du Nord with approved Belgian and Dutch horses.[8] The number of farmers breeding the Trait du Nord decreased from 150 to 125 in 2002, then to 92 in 2007 and 86 in 2008.[4][5][12]
Number of Trait du Nord foals:
| Year | 1990 | 1992 | 1995 | 1996 | 2000 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of births[4] | 184 | 182 | 181 | 198 | 176 | 150 | 122 | 119 | 100 | 90 | 75 | ? |
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