French draught horse - Poitevin

[chickflick1066]

Any one know anymore infomation about this truely gorgeous draught horse. I was googling and came across this picture *drool, drool*

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y24/chickflick1066/Other%20horses%20etc/Poitevin.jpg

So far I've found that they originate from western France and it's the least known about of the french draughts like Percheron, Boulonnais or Ardennais for example. Is commonly known to be 'ugly' and some people believe an undesired conformation. Closely related to Shires and cyldes.

I'd love to know if anyone has had any personal experience of the Poitevin? It's now on my 'favourites' list along with the dales pony, boulonnais, percheron and ardennais :D

[CMR]

I don't know anything about them, but how could someone consider them ugly!:eek:

[Rips]

Lol, I know Ardennais are all branded with anchors because they come from marine backgrounds but doesn't he look like you pulled him straight from the sea!! :D
Nice horse :)

[chickflick1066]

I don't know anything about them, but how could someone consider them ugly!:eek:
I know, I think they are so striking and outstanding!

Anyone else got any more infomation?

[neen]

The name makes me wonder if that's the horse that used to be bred with the giant Poitou donkeys to create mules. I read about them this summer, after coming across a Poitou donkey on a trip to Berlin zoo. What an amazing beast that was -- I saw it from quite a distance (hard to miss, at that size!) and just couldn't believe my eyes. When I got home I looked them up and discovered that the Poitou donkeys were kept just for siring mules, and there was a particular breed of mare that was use to supply the horse end of the equation. This struck me at the time as rather poignant -- to have a breed of horse (and one of donkey) whose main purpose is to create mules.

Where's jinglejoys when you need her -- I'm sure she would know!

[iloveshearer]

wow gorgeous horse!!!!! big feet though, i bet that woud hurt if it trod on your foot!!!:eek:

[Just.Jump]

http://www.poitevin.org/

[chickflick1066]

Thanks JustJump, thats the site I got too ;)

Neen: It's bizarre isn't it, having that great big horse just to sire mules:rolleyes:

Iloveshearer - Aren't the feet like dishplates!

[ponylover88]

hes rather cute...:D
oh, iloveshearer and chickflick, those feet are smaller than Berthas..:p:p