Ardennes (horse)

Infobox Horse
name= Ardennes


image_caption= Ardennes Stallion
features =
altname= Ardennais
French Ardennais
Belgian Ardennes
nickname=
country= France, Belgium, Luxembourg
group1= Ardennes Horse Society of GB
std1= http://www.thejoyofhorses.com/oct98/ardennesbreed.htm
group2=
std2=
group3=
std3=
extinct=
note= |

The Ardennes or Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse originating from the Ardennes area in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs and are used for draft work. Their history reaches back to Ancient Rome, and the breed was instrumental in Napoleon's Russian campaign. Ardennes today are used mainly for heavy draft and farm work.

Breed Description

Ardennes generally stand between 15 and 16 hands high, and weigh between 1,540 to 2,200 lbs. Their heads are heavy and broad, with a straight or slightly convex profile. Their conformation is broad and muscular, with a compact body, short back, and short, sturdy legs with strong joints, and a cannon bone diameter of about 9 inches. Their fetlocks are feathered.

Their coats may be bay, roan, chestnut, gray, or palomino. Variations on chestnut and bay such as Brown (dark bay) and light chestnut are acceptable. cite book
last = Bongianni
first = Maurizio
title = Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies
publisher = Simon & Schuster, Inc.
date = 1988
pages = p. 92
isbn = 0671660683] . Black is excluded from registration and is very rare.cite web | title = Ardennes | url = http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/ardennes/index.htm | work = Oklahoma State University | accessmonthday=December 14 | accessyear=2007]

Breed History

Ardennes are thought to be descended from the type of horse described by Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico, and could possibly even be a direct descendent of the prehistoric Solutre horse. Later, Napoleon added Arabian blood to increase stamina and endurance and used the breed in his Russian campaign. In the 19th century, Belgian draft blood was added to give the breed the conformation it has today.

The Ardennes was used to create several breeds, including the Baltic Ardennes, Swedish Ardennes, and Russian Heavy Draft.

References