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| Country of origin | France |
| Standard | Association Nationale du Cheval de Trait Breton (in French) |
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TheTrait Breton is a Frenchbreed ofdraught horse. It originated inBrittany, in north-west France, fromcross-breeding oflocal horses with various other breeds. It is strong and muscular, and often has achestnut coat.
There are two principal subtypes: the Postier Breton is an agile harness and light draught breed; the Trait Breton is heavier, and best suited to agricultural work. The Breton was used as aworking animal foragricultural andmilitary purposes; in the twenty-first century it is reared principally forhorsemeat. Astud book was started in 1909.
The Breton was originally bred for strength and durability.[4] One theory is that they were brought to Europe during theAryan migration from Asia over 4,000 years ago, while another school of thought has them descending from horses bred byCeltic warriors before their conquest ofGreat Britain.[5]
The original ancestors of the Breton were a population of horses that lived in the Breton mountains, possibly descended fromsteppe horses ridden by Celts. During theCrusades, these mountain horses were crossed withoriental horses to create a type known as the Bidet Breton.[6] In theMiddle Ages, the ancestral Breton horse was sought by military leaders, partly because of its comfortablegait, which was said to be partway between a brisk trot and anamble. Due to its gaits and the fact that it only stood about 1.40 m (13.3hands) high,[7] it was nicknamed theBidet d'Allure orBidet Breton. Horses of other bloodlines brought back toEurope during theCrusades had a strong influence on the Breton, and two types subsequently developed.[7] TheSommier was the common, heavier type, used mainly as apack horse and for farm and draft work. From theSommier, theRoussin was developed, was used mainly inwars and on long journeys. TheRoussin's naturalambling gait made it popular as a lighter riding horse.[7][8]
Astud-book was started in 1909.[2] There were originally separate books for the Trait and Postier types, which in 1912 became two sections of a single book, and in 1920 were merged.[8]: 267 Also in 1920, abreed association, theSyndicat des Éleveurs de Cheval Breton, was formed. In 2018 theAssociation Nationale du Cheval de Trait Breton was made the official national association in its place.[9]
The breed retained its mountain roots with its main stud, the National Provincial Stud, being located in the mountain country ofLangonnet. In 1920, the decision was made to permit no new outside blood into the studbook, and in 1951 the studbook was officiallyclosed to outside horses.[8]
In France, breeding is concentrated mainly in the four Bretondépartements ofCôtes d'Armor,Finistère,Ille-et-Vilaine andMorbihan, but extends into northernLoire-Atlantique and parts ofMaine-et-Loire, theMassif Central and thePyrenées.[2] New registrations in 2017 were just over 2300; of these, more than 900 were in Brittany, and almost 900 in theregions ofNouvelle Aquitaine andOccitanie in the south-west of the country.[10]
The Breton has been exported to many countries, and has influenced a number of breeds. It may have influenced theCanadian Horse,[3]: 449 theFreiberger or Franches-Montagnes of Switzerland,[3]: 467 and the ItalianTiro Pesante Rapido.[11]: 60 In India, Breton mares were used to producemules, and contributed to the development of theIndian Half-bred; atSaharanpur some were put to anAnglo-Arabstallion named Mystère to producecarriage horses.[8]: 165 TheHispano-Bretón breed of Spain derives fromcross-breeding of imported Breton stallions with local mares;[12] the Bréton Empordanès is a population in theEmpordà region of Catalonia.[3]: 447 After theSecond World War a Breton stallion was used to improve the conformation of the GermanSchleswig Coldblood.[11]: 78 In Japan the Breton is among the imported heavy breeds that contribute to theBan-ei Race Horse.[3]: 441
The Breton normally stands about 1.55 to 1.63 m (15.1 to 16.0hands) at thewithers, depending on type.[13] It is most commonlychestnut,flaxen chestnut orchestnut roan;bay and blue roan are less usual, andblack is rare.[14]: 154 Limitedwhite markings are tolerated.[15]: 7 The head is of medium size, the profile straight or convex; the neck is long and well set on, the shoulder long and sloped, the chest broad, the breast deep, the back broad, the croup broad and double, and the legs muscular.[15]: 7
Registered animals may bebranded with aheraldic ermine on the left side of the neck.[15]: 4
There are several subtypes of the Breton breed. Two, the Trait Breton and the Postier Breton, are officially recognised,[13] while others such as the Centre-montagne or Central Mountain Breton are not. Older types that have disappeared include the Grand Breton and the Bidet Breton or Bidet d'Allure.[7]
The Postier Breton was developed as a result of cross-breeding with theNorfolk Trotter and theHackney during the 19th century.[4] Its name originates from its use in pulling mail coaches.[7] The Postier was used extensively by theFrench Horse Artillery, and it has been described as a lighter version of theSuffolk Punch draft breed from Great Britain.[8]
The Trait Breton is derived from an infusion ofArdennes andPercheron blood. It is very strong relative to its size and has short but muscular legs.[4] This type has absorbed another, older type, called the Grand Breton, a heavier horse that was used to improve many other draft breeds.[7] The Centre-montagne or Central Mountain Breton is a smaller draft type.
The Breton is used in many capacities owing to the various sub-types of the breed. Smaller types can be usedunder saddle and for fast, light draft work, whilst larger types are ideal for heavydraft andagricultural work. They are also commonly used to improve other breeds through crossbreeding. Today the breed is used as a draft horse on small farms and to gather seaweed. It is also bred formeat production;[5] horse meat is a dietary staple in many European countries, including France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland.[16]
