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Breeds of Horses - A to Z | |
Comtois
A small chunky draught horse from the Franco-Swiss borderland in eastern
France. The breed is believed to date back to the sixth century A.D. and
takes its name from the Comte mountain region. During the sixteenth century
the Comtois was used to improve the horses of Burgundy and it later went on
to be used as a cavalary and artillery horse. Its environment has made it
sure footed and well adapted to working on steep hillside country. Today it
is one of the favoured French breeds for working on tricky terrain in the
hilly vineyards of the Arbois and in the forestry hauling wood in the high
altitude pine forests of the Jura. The Comtois is also bred for meat and is
second only to the Breton in numbers in France.
It stands between 14.3 and 15.3 h.h. and is usually bay, brown or chestnut
with a flaxen mane and tail. It has a heavy, large head with small ears and
bright eyes; a straight neck; the back is long and strong; the body is
strong with a deep girth; the quarters are strong and powerful; the limbs
are short and strong with a small amount of feather; the feet are good and
sound. It has active paces and is extremely hardy often living to an old
age. It has a very willing, easy to train, kind temperament.
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