| called La Perche. Once again, a draft breed has at its | | | | The preferred Percherons are black or grey but |
| roots the Belgian-Flemish blood. | | | | browns, sorrels, and bays are acceptable for |
| While modern-day Percherons are notable for their | | | | registration. Due to the Oriental-type blood |
| heavy draft work, during the 8th century the heavier | | | | throughout their history, while a heavy horse, the |
| native and cob stock were crossbred with Arabians | | | | elegance of the heritage shows. The Percheron is not |
| and other Oriental horses. The Percheron produced | | | | as choppy in its movements as other heavy draft |
| by this breeding made the horses more suitable for | | | | horses tend to be. The head is ideally medium sized, |
| riding and lighter draft work. As time passed, the use | | | | has a lean, clean cut, and a broad width between the |
| of a Percheron as a carriage horse developed into | | | | eyes. While the chest is deep and wide, the shoulders |
| the more practical need as a heavier draft animal. | | | | of the Percheron should not stand out prominently, |
| The smaller-boned breed of the late 1800s was | | | | as they tend to do on other drafts. The back is |
| crossed with the heavier mares of Brittany, resulting | | | | straight and strong in proportion to the neck length |
| in the stockier Percheron that is most familiar today. | | | | and shoulder height. |
| Description and Conformation | | | | |
