Breed characteristics Boulonnais horse

the characteristic facial profile of breed

the boulonnais today stands 14.3 16.3 hands (59 67 inches, 150 170 cm) or more. has short, elegant head broad forehead , short, muscular neck. members of breed have full chests, rounded rib cages , sloping shoulders. legs short robust , strong. unlike other draft breeds such shire or clydesdale, has no heavy feathering on lower legs. breed branded small anchor mark on left side of neck. due many additions of oriental blood, boulonnais has elegant appearance not seen in heavy draft breeds , has been called europe s noblest draft horse . fineness of skin , delicate appearance of veins has allowed horse described looking polished marble , leading white marble horse nickname.

in 1778, french national stud performed initial survey of breed , found black or dark bay. during 1800s, gray horses began appear, , predominating color end of century. gray became popular color during time due use of horses haul fish @ night – gray horses more visible in dark, , therefore more valuable. in later years of 20th century, breeders again began prefer darker colors such bay , chestnut. today, chestnut, gray , black colors allowed french breed registry, vast majority of horses being gray – popular phrase says horses have coats color of clouds coast .

sub-types

there several types of boulonnais. petit boulonnais, mareyeuse or mareyeur used in rapid transport of cartloads of fresh fish (la marée) pas-de-calais paris; stood 15.1 15.3 hands (61 63 inches, 155 160 cm) , weighed 1,210 1,430 pounds (550 650 kg). picard draft came picardy region, , called horse of bad land , in comparison cauchoix horse pays de caux area, called horse of land . grand boulonnais , stood 15.3 16.3 hands (63 67 inches, 160 170 cm) high , weighed 1,430 1,650 pounds (650 750 kg), bred in 19th century farm work in sugar beet fields. of these types bred create modern boulonnais horse.