by DC Sitnik

Created on: April 20, 2007   Last Updated: June 25, 2009

Want to see a warhorse just like the one a knight may have ridden in the middle ages? Take a look at the Percheron.

The Percheron is a centuries-old draft breed originating from the La Perche region of France. The breed was derived from a combination of heavy Flemish breeds with Moorish horses in the 8th century, further refined by a heavy infusion of Arab blood beginning in the Crusades. In fact,one of the most important sires, Jean Le Blanc, was the son of a pure Arabian horse.

Percherons are almost exclusively gray or black in color, and usually stand between 15.2 and 17 hands high. There is minimal feathering on the legs. Although powerfully built, the strong Arab influence can be seen in the Percheron's more refined head and limbs, and more energetic and animated gaits.

Although originally famous as a warhorse in medieval times, the Percheron's beauty, grace of movement, and docile nature have made it one of the most well-loved draft breeds worldwide. Today it is still one of the most popular draft breeds in the world for hauling, pulling carriages, and as a riding horse. In Europe the Percheron was commonly crossed with lighter breeds, such as the Thoroughbred, to produce a heavy hunter-type horse, and this type of horse is currently enjoying huge popularity in the United States today.

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