Selle Français

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Selle Français

The Selle Français
Distinguishing features Warmblood type, Showjumper
Alternative names Selle Française, Cheval de Selle Français
Country of origin France
Breed standards
French National Organisation Association Nationale du Selle Français - the French national organization Breed standards
Horse (Equus ferus caballus)

The Selle Français (SF) is France's most important sport horse. It is renowned primarily for its success in show jumping, but many have also been successful in dressage and eventing.

Breed characteristics

Because of the diversity of the breeds which contributed to the Selle Francais, it does not have set breed standards.[1][2] It can range from 15.1 to 17.3 hands (61 to 71 inches, 155 to 180 cm),[3] although it usually stands a relatively tall 16.1 to 16.3 hands (65 to 67 inches, 165 to 170 cm).[4] It is an athletic horse with balanced, harmonious and powerful gaits.[5][1][2] Some morphological traits remain the same throughout the breed. The forehead is broad[1] and the facial profile is straight or convex. The neck is strong and rather long, well connected to the withers, and the back straight. The croup is elongated, muscular and slightly oblique, and the powerful hindquarters are an asset in show jumping. The chest is deep, and the shoulders long and sloping. The legs are strong and muscular with wide joints and hard hooves.[6][3]

A Selle Francais

The Selle Francais is generally bay or chestnut in color, the latter being a legacy of its origins in the Anglo-Norman breed. Gray is found, but is much more rare, with its origins in the Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arabian horses that contributed to the breed. White markings, such as white on the lower legs, are fairly common within the breed, and are again inherited from its Norman ancestors.[6][1] The temperament of the Selle Francais is highly variable from one horse to another. This is due to the selection criteria for breeding stock, which since the beginning of the breed have been based on physical ability. In recent years, however, the ANSF and breeders have been working to create selection criteria that focus on temperament. The vast majority of Selle Francais have good temperaments, quiet but energetic, patient and friendly.[3][7] The breed is reputed to be intelligent and quick to learn.[5]

History

The origins of the Selle Francais are based on the history of native French horses. In 19th century Normandy, native mares were crossbred with English Thoroughbred or Norfolk Trotter stallions.[6][8] The most common crosses were between native mares used by the military[4] or for pulling carriages and Thoroughbred stallions, and in 1914 these types were recognized as "demi-sang" or "half-blood" horses. Half-blood horses were found in many French regions, and different types were usually named after the regions in which they were bred.[9] The three main types of French saddle horses were the Anglo-Norman (bred around Caen), the demi-sang du Centre (bred around Cluny) and the Vendeen (bred around La Roche-sur-Yon).[4]

A Selle Francais training for the Cadre Noir

In 1958, it was decided to merge all of the half-blood horses in France under the name "Selle Francais" or French Saddle Horse. The merged types included the Angevin (from the Angers region), the Anglo-Norman, the Charentais (from the Charentes region), the Charolais (from the Charolles region), the cheval des Dombes, the demi-sang du Centre and the Vendeen. The merger was done to create a sport horse that would meet the needs of a mechanized society where horses were used for leisure and sport.[5] The first Selle Francais were not homogeneous in type,[9] but offered a wide genetic diversity, due to the wide variety of local horses crossed with Thoroughbreds, Anglo-Arabians and French Trotters.[5] Norman origins, however, were the most widely represented,[10] as the Anglo-Norman had been used for breeding throughout France.[11]

Since its creation as a breed, the Selle Francais has been selected solely as a sport horse. Because of this, the breed has homogenized and refined,[9] and since its creation has been a successful competitor in international equestrian sport.[4][5] In July 2003, the Association nationale du selle français (ANSF or National Association of French Saddle Horses) was approved as the breed association. The ANSF plays an advocacy role with stakeholders and partners in the equine world and ensures a proper orientation of selection and genetic improvement within the breed.[12] Breeding of Selle Francais is centered in Normandy, mainly due to its origins in Norman-related bloodlines.[13] As of 2009, there were 7,722 farms that reported breeding activity of Selle Francais, although the vast majority (around 77 percent) were very small operations with only one mare.[4] In 2008, there were 7,638 Selle Francais foals born, which made up 57 percent of the total saddle horses bred in France. In 2009, over 13,500 Selle Francais mares were bred, of which 11,830 were mated to approved stallions to produce Selle Francais offspring. In the same year, there were 505 active Selle Francais stallions.[4]

The Selle Francais is bred throughout France and abroad, and artificial insemination plays an important role in the dissemination of the breed.[13] The Selle Francais has also contributed to several other breeds in Europe, including the Holsteiner, Zangersheide and Oldenburg warmblood breeds.[14] The ANSF has branches in several countries. The United Kingdom organization, called Equicours, led to the opening of a British stud book for the Selle Francais,[15] and the ANSF-US manages the stud book for the breed in the United States.[16] Brazil, Argentina and Morocco have agreements with the French stud book to register horses bred in those countries.[17]

Registration and stud book selection

Brand of the Selle Francais

The Selle Francais stud book has long allowed crossbreeding with four other breeds: the Thoroughbred, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and French Trotter. Today, restrictions exist to harmonize the stud book with directives for other European warmblood breeds.[6]

In order for a Selle Francais to be registered, it must be from two registered Selle Francais parents or from a cross between a Selle Francais and a facteur de selle français (non-Selle Francais horse that has passed stud book selection procedures). Stallions must pass through a selection process before their progeny is allowed to be registered as Selle Francais. The process involves an approval committee that judges stallions on criteria based on the age, breed and nationality of the horses. The qualification criteria involve the conformation, gaits, performance and are scored against national indices.[17]

Mares can be of several origins and be listed as facteur de selle français. Thoroughbred, AQPS, pure or crossbred Anglo-Arabians and French Trotting horses may also qualify under this designation, as do mares that are the product of two facteur de selle français horses. Mares belonging to other saddle horse breeds recognized by the European Union (EU) are also listed in this category. Pure and crossbred Arabians, saddle breeds not recognized by the EU and some other mares may be listed on an individual basis by performing at a high level in show jumping, three-day eventing or dressage competition. If mares come from countries or territories that do not have access to high-level competitions, they may be granted special listing status.[17]

In 2003, the stud book was divided into two parts: a section for pure Selle Francais from two registered parents and a section for horses with one facteur de selle français parent.[9][18] In 2009, this distinction was abandoned and the two sections were recombined into a single stud book.[17]

Uses

The Selle Francais is a French sport horse,[5][19] now recognized internationally as a top breed for show jumping and three-day eventing.[6][5] Selection criteria for breeding stock focuses on their jumping abilities. Show jumping is a technical sport, calling for lively and responsive yet powerful horses. Horses with more Thoroughbred blood in them have also been very competitive in three-day eventing, where speed and stamina are needed to be successful in all three portions (dressage, three-day eventing and show jumping) of the event.[20] Thanks to these qualities, the Selle Francais is seen on international show jumping and three-day eventing teams, both in France and elsewhere.[21] In dressage, the Selle Francais has gradually improved,[5] but has faced stiff competition from northern European breeds, which often have more active gaits. In addition, many French breeders guide their horses to the more popular and profitable sport of show jumping, which sometimes deprives the dressage system of good horses.[22]

The Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation (French Institute of Horse Riding), the École nationale d'équitation (National Riding School) and the Cadre Noir all use mainly Selle Francais. Young horses are selected according to their skills and are trained by students within the schools. Horses representing the Cadre Noir are selected at the age of three and are trained according to their abilities, with some reaching the highest levels of haute ecole dressage.[23] Selle Francais are also used for combined driving, equestrian vaulting and competitive trail riding,[19] and have competed at the international level in all three sports.[5]

Selle Francais are also used for the production of race horses in France.[21] By crossbreeding them with Thoroughbred and Anglo-Arabians, horses are produced which are competitive in steeplechase (racing over obstacles). These horses are registered as AQPS (meaning "other than Thoroughbred") in France.[5]

International success

Selle Français competing in the 2010 French Show Jumping Championships

Many Selle Francais compete each year in international competitions in many equestrian disciplines.[5] Some have been particularly successful:

Almé Z (1966-1991), while not a successful international competitor himself, was a sire of huge importance to the international show jumping world. Among his numerous successful progeny was I Love You (a World Cup winner) and Galoubet A[24] (1972-2005), part of the gold-medal winning French show-jumping team at the World Championships in 1982.[25] Galoubet A, in turn, is known for both his competition career and the success of his offspring. He is the sire of Baloubet du Rouet (b. 1989), who with rider Rodrigo Pessoa won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was a three-time winner of the World Cup.[5]

Flambeau C (b. 1971) became a pillar of the French show jumping team in the 1980s. He participated in the 1984 Summer Olympics, where he took 7th individually, and the 1988 Summer Olympics, winning the bronze medal with the French team.[26] The 1980s also saw the rise of Jappeloup (1975-1991), a small black horse with a conformation and gaits that were considered disadvantageous for show jumping.[25][27] Despite this, he had an impressive jumping style, and won two French championships in 1982 and 1986, a European championship in 1987, several team medals at the European and World Championships, and a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics with rider Pierre Durand, Jr..[5][27]

In the 1990s, several Selle Francais rose to prominence in international competition. Quidam de Revel (b. 1982), was on the French bronze medal winning show jumping team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, ridden by Hervé Godignon, and Quito de Baussy (b. 1982) was a European champion, world champion and another member of the French team in 1992, ridden by Éric Navet. Rochet Rouge (1983-2008) was a show jumping European champion in 1999 and an individual bronze medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics.[5] The 2000s saw Selle Francais among the world leaders in both show jumping and three-day eventing. Four stallions made up the champion show jumping team at the 2002 World Equestrian Games,[5] while four more Selle Francais made up the winning three-day event team at the 2004 Summer Olympics.[28] In 2003, a Selle Francais became the European champion in vaulting, and another was named the world champion in competitive trail riding.[5] The Selle Francais continued to lead international show jumping competitions in the 2010s, with Swiss rider Steve Guerdat rode a member of the breed to individual gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[29]

Notes

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bataille, p. 111
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Hendricks, Bonnie (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 374–376. ISBN 978-0-8061-3884-8. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ravazzi, Gianni (2002). "L'encyclopédie des chevaux de race" (in French). De Vecchi. pp. 46–47. ISBN 2732884170. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 "Le Selle Français" (in French). Les Haras Nationaux. December 2010. Retrieved 2014=01-30. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 5.8 5.9 5.10 5.11 5.12 5.13 5.14 5.15 "Le selle français" (in French). Association nationale du selle français. Retrieved 2014-01-30. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (2006). Les chevaux (in French). Éditions de Borée. pp. 72–73. ISBN 9782844944498. 
  7. ↑ Gérard, pp. 18-23
  8. ↑ Collective (2006). Les races de chevaux et de poneys (in French). Éditions Artémis. p. 64. ISBN 2844163386. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Bataille, p. 110
  10. ↑ France, Ministère de l'agriculture, Service de l'information et de la documentation generale (1966). Revue française de l'agriculture, Numéro 14 (in French). Ministère de l'Agriculture. 
  11. ↑ Sevestre, Jacques and Rosier, Nicole Agathe (1994). Le cheval (in French). Larousse. pp. 125–126. ISBN 2035171180. 
  12. ↑ "L'ANSF qui est-elle ?" (in French). ANSF. Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2012-02-03. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bataille, p. 114
  14. ↑ Bataille, p. 113
  15. ↑ "New British studbook for Selle Français". Horse&Hound. Retrieved 2014-01-30. 
  16. ↑ "Studbook Selle Français North America - ANSF-US". ANSF-US. Retrieved 2014-01-30. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 "Règlement du stud-book français selle français" (in French). ANSF. Retrieved 2014-01-30. 
  18. ↑ Gérard, p. 9
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Bataille, p. 112
  20. ↑ Draper, p. 44-45
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 Pereira, Carlos Henriques (2002). Marketing et management de l'équitation: suivi de Élevage et commercialisation du cheval de selle à la fin du XXe siècle (in French). Editions L'Harmattan. p. 66. ISBN 2747521737. 
  22. ↑ Gérard, pp. 26-29
  23. ↑ "Les Chevaux de l'IFCE". Les Amis du Cadre Noir. Archived from the original on 2011-01-27. Retrieved 2012-05-21. 
  24. ↑ "Almé". Sporthorse-Data. Retrieved 2014-01-30. 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Draper, p. 45
  26. ↑ Trapier, Patrice (1991). "Flambeau C". Princes de sang (in French). Solar. pp. 102, 109. ISBN 2-263-01663-5. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Trapier, Patrice (1991). "Jappeloup". Princes de sang (in French). Solar. pp. 90, 101. ISBN 2263016635. 
  28. ↑ Gérard, p. 26
  29. ↑ "Olympic show jumping individual gold goes to Steve Guerdat of Switzerland". HorseChannel. August 8, 2012. Retrieved 2013-01-30. 

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Selle Français.
Horse breeds of France
Extinct breeds
  • Angevin
  • Anglo-Norman
  • Berrichon
  • Bidets
  • Bourbonnais
  • Charentais
  • Charolais
  • Demi-sang du Centre
  • Dombes horse
  • Limousin horse
  • Loire horse
  • Morvan horse
  • Navarrin horse
  • Saône-et-Loire
  • Trait du Maine
  • Vendéen

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