 The origin of this large and beautiful horse is not clear, but it is known that horses of the Le Perche region of France were mated with Arab stallions more than a thousand years ago. A horse from this region foaled in 1823 is believed to be the ancestor of all modern Percherons.Thousands of these horses were imported into the United States during the last half of the 19th century, and they became popular with farmers and tradesmen; their great strength and stamina made them ideal as draft horses, pulling equipment and wagons of all sorts. By 1930, there were three times as many registered Percherons as the other four draft breeds combined. After the Second World War, the farm tractor and motor vehicles caused a near extinction of the Percheron, as they were no longer needed to pull things. However, small populations of this horse were kept by various groups across North America, particularly the Amish (who continued to use them as draft animals). Eventually the breed once again became popular, being used to haul timber, hayride wagons, and sleighs. Their impressive size makes them popular in parades and for displaying at fairs. They are also the horse of choice for the carriage ride business in major cities. |