Breton bidet

Last updated
Breton bidet
Vieux bidet breton.jpg
Lignol, a 23-year-old Breton bidet, from a photograph published in 1931.
Country of originFrance, Britanny
UseSaddle and pack horse
Traits
Height
  • From 1.30 m to 1.45 m
ColorGenerally chestnut, more often roan, buckskin, grullo with markings on the legs. Bay, gray and black variations also possible.

The Breton bidet is a type of bidet, a small horse bred in Brittany. Characterized by its ability to move at amble, and bred for its working strength, the bidet has been around since the 5th century. In the Middle Ages, it may have been crossed with oriental horses brought by the House of Rohan. Widespread in Brittany until the mid-nineteenth century, bidets were used for all work requiring a low-value horse. The Haras Nationaux fought against this breeding. Transportation modernized in the 19th century, making the draft horse more sought-after. The Breton bidet disappeared at the dawn of the 20th century.

Contents

These small horses, measuring 1.30 m to 1.45 m in height, are generally chestnut in color. Reputed to be ugly, they have great stamina and proverbial resistance to effort. Bidets are mainly used for saddling or as packhorses, but some are also known for their racing abilities. They are bred in southern and central Brittany, near Briec, Carhaix, Loudéac, and on the Morbihan coast.

History

The Breton bidet has the particularity of going amble, which has earned it the name "bidet d'allures" throughout its history. [1] The Breton word for an ambling bidet is inkané (incâne according to the old spelling). [2]

Origin

The Breton bidet seems to have been used by the Celtic warriors who occupied Armorica in ancient times: [1] according to Commandant Saint-Gal de Pons, the Celts migrated with small horses with a primitive coat (buckskin or grullo with markings), which formed the stock of the Breton bidet. [3] Popular belief, supported by several scholars, has it that these bidets are descended from Arabian horses brought back from the Crusades, [4] but a few sources mention the presence of racing bidets going amble before that time. In 880, Landévennec abbot Gurdisten cites in the Cartulaire de Landévennec an amble race that took place four centuries before him, between Riwal the Duke of Dumnonia and his cousin Fragan. He refers to earlier authors who were eyewitnesses. According to Guy de Sallier Dupin, an ambler bidet existed in Brittany before any Arab influence, as early as the 5th century. [5] It may well have influenced the Norman bidet, or have a common origin with it. [6]

Externally, bidets are reminiscent of the Barb horse, leading some 19th-century writers to speculate that they "may have been crossbred". [7] Historian Guy de Sallier Dupin has noted several references to an Arab origin in his work, but also some oppositions, particularly from Éphrem Houël, for whom the Breton bidet is a native breed whose appearance is simply the result of a semi-feral lifestyle, [8] soil and climate. [9] A historical study of the peasants of Central Brittany reveals no evidence of large numbers of imported horses before the 19th century, apart from nine Arab stallions taken from Egypt by the de Rohan family during the Crusades, and brought back to their fiefdom in Brittany in 1213. [10] It is possible, however, that Breton bidets bred on the Rohan family's lands were sometimes crossed with Oriental stallions. [8] Guy de Sallier Dupin notes a correspondence from the 15th century, in which a Rohan son-in-law of François II deals with the Turks to import horses, falcons and greyhounds. [8]

From the Middle Ages to the 19th century

Historically, Breton bidets have been sought after for their amble, [11] which they either know naturally or are taught. This particular gait made them popular in the Middle Ages. [12]

They live wild or semi-feral in forests and on moors. [8] According to Commandant Antoine-Auguste Saint-Gal de Pons, medieval prints show horses measuring between 1.36 m and 1.45 m in height, notably in depictions of the Duc de Richemont. [13] An unverifiable tradition has it that several oriental horses contemporary with Godolphin Arabian (1730), perhaps of the Barb breed, influenced the livestock in Brittany's Lorge forest. [9]

Road improvements in Brittany in the 18th century led to changes in the bidets bred on the coast, as they were considered bad horses. This made them faster and stronger, better suited to pulling, and represented the beginnings of the development of the Breton draft horse. [14] Genuine bidets are generally described as ugly, small and miserable, despite their working strength. [15] After the French Revolution, the Haras Nationaux lost interest in the mountainous regions of inland Brittany where they were bred, and made no imported stallions available: the large horses brought by the stud farms from northern Europe were not suited to the size of the "bidettes". [16] As far back as 1756, an edict ordered breeders to trim or cut off one ear of superior quality animals, so as to differentiate them more quickly. [17] Similarly, in 1762, an order was issued to eliminate the stallions of local farmers who bred bidets. [16] As a result, many horses were castrated on authority. [17]

The animal has a bad reputation in the memories of the time, although some documents report crossbreeding with Barb horses and an Arabian stallion in 1785. [18] In 1780, 12 bidets were selected in the arrondissements of Quimper and Châteaulin, indicating that these animals had been selected for the native population. [18] In 1819, bidets were still a source of prosperity in the country, and their numbers increased, as did their size, while their conformation improved. [19]

Conflict between farmers and the Haras Nationaux

At the beginning of the 19th century, the majority of Breton farmers still owned bidets. Many bred these smaller horses to avoid having them requisitioned by the army, since a minimum size was required. [20] According to anthropologist Philippe Lacombe, the Haras Nationaux are engaged in a process of "nationalization" and "civilization" of animals and people, as they attack bidet breeding, which is being "stigmatized". [21] The Breton bidet, decried by the French stud farm administration for its lack of elegance, [22] is, in their view, the embodiment of peasant gaucherie. [21] Yann Brekilien speaks of a "merciless struggle" to impose standards in defiance of the real needs of Brittany's inhabitants. [4] Théophile de Pompéry is equally critical, saying (in 1851) that the stud system confuses and deteriorates horse breeds by denying their regional particularities. [23]

For Guy de Sallier Dupin, the work of the Haras Nationaux is more nuanced. The Breton bidet really improved over the course of the century, through crossbreeding with bidets from the Midi region and then with Thoroughbreds and Arabians. [24] The distribution of premiums by the Conseil Général and the Haras Nationaux, rewarding the best breeders, led to the emergence of pioneers who bred half-bloods, notably in Corlay, where the Corlay horse was born. [24] The stud officer in charge of Langonnet between 1837 and 1847, Éphrem Houël, reports on numerous efforts to force farmers to breed larger animals. [25]

Disappearance

Breton saddle bidet, from a photograph published in the early 20th century. Bidet de selle.jpg
Breton saddle bidet, from a photograph published in the early 20th century.

Opinions differ as to the precise date of the disappearance of Breton bidets. According to Mikael Bodlore-Penlaez and Divi Kervella, the last true bidets disappeared in the 1850s. [26] However, in 1897, Martial Cornic testifies to a clear distinction between the Breton draft breed and the bidet. [27] At the beginning of the 20th century, according to René Musset and Camille Vallaux (1907), Breton bidets were "no more than a memory", [28] [29] while a 1910 issue of the Journal d'agriculture pratique spoke of a "plan to halt the disappearance of the Breton bidet". [30] Other, more mainstream sources date their disappearance to the World War I, due to the demands of the French army. [31]

Several reasons are cited for this disappearance: modernization of transport, crossbreeding with hot-blooded or draft horses, and the influence of Haras Nationaux. Evidence from the period shows that the Breton bidet became much less sought-after, at least in central Cornouaille and Morbihan. The state of the roads led to the widespread use of horse-drawn vehicles. Around 1859, these small horses were no longer used except in their country of birth, despite their qualities of sobriety and robustness. [32] They were replaced by Breton draft horses from Léon and Trégor: [33] "the transformation of the old Breton bidet by crossbreeding was decided and hastened by road construction", according to Camille Vallaux. [28] Crossbreeding with blood horses also led to an evolution of the breed "towards blood". [11] According to Yann Brekilien [4] and Thierry Jigourel, [34] it was the Haras Nationaux's action against the breeding of bidets that led directly to the disappearance of this little horse throughout Brittany, an analysis previously defended by Jacques Charpy, director of the Finistère archives. [35]

Public action by the stud farms encouraged cross-breeding, notably with Norfolks, [34] but also with stallions from Boulonnais, Ardennais, Percheron, etc., causing the Breton bidet to evolve in the course of the 19th century into the larger Breton draft horse. [36]

According to history professor Bernard Denis, bidets disappeared without giving rise to any breeds, but they did influence some. [37] The Centre-Montagne, also known as the "petit trait Breton", originated in the mountainous areas of Brittany where bidets were bred. It is the smallest variety of the Breton breed. It was included in the breed's recognized types in 1927, along with the trait and the postier breton. At the time, it stood around 1.40 m tall. It is said to be descended from mountain bidets, and to have survived "because there have always been breeders to ride horses in the mountains". [38] [39] However, the Centre-Montagne also disappeared in the 1980s. [40]

Description

Briec bidet, from an engraving dated 1861. Bidet breton Briec.jpg
Briec bidet, from an engraving dated 1861.

The Breton bidet is probably a small, primitive type of horse, comparable to the Sorraia pony from Portugal and the Fjord from Norway. [41] These animals are not very homogeneous. [42] According to Mikael Bodlore-Penlaez and Divi Kervella, there are four types of Breton bidet. The Briec bidet (Kezeg Kernev bidochenn), bred in Cornouaille, [26] hence its other name of "Cornouaille bidet", has enjoyed great popularity. [43] Mountain bidet (Kezeg-menez) comes from the eastern Monts d'Arrée. The Landes bidet (Kezeg-lann) is bred in Loudéac, near Rennes. They also include the small Ushant horse (Kezeg bihan Eusa), [26] considered differently by other authors. In Loire-Atlantique, a heathland and woodland bidet is described at the end of the Ancien régime, near Derval and Blain. [33]

Height

The height is generally small, [44] averaging 1.30 m to 1.45 m, with some horses even smaller. [15] At the end of the Ancien Régime, the height of Breton bidet was from 1.24 m to 1.30 m, according to contemporary sources. [17] In 1840, Count Achille de Montendre estimated this height at between 1.35 m and 1.52 m, pointing out that the biggest are rarely the best. [45] Two years later, Eugène Gayot estimated the average height of bidets at between 1.38 m and 1.40 m. [42] A larger, stronger bidet is called a "double-bidet". [4] Mountainous countries produce bidets from 1.20 m to 1.40 m at most. [46] The bidet from Derval and Blain barely exceeds 1.20 m, [33] and the small horse from Ushant is the size of a Shetland pony. [26]

Morphology

Marc'h Land, a 1.48 m Breton bidet, from an early 20th-century photograph published in the magazine Sport universel illustre. Bidet breton.jpg
Marc'h Land, a 1.48 m Breton bidet, from an early 20th-century photograph published in the magazine Sport universel illustré.

All bidets are frustratingly inelegant, thin and dry animals. They are often puny and angular, [17] with a short, stocky build. [44] Animals from the Carhaix area are more angular and slightly taller than those from Briec and Châteauneuf. [42] Briec bidets have a fleshier, better-planted neck, a squarer head and rounder ribs. [45]

While some authors describe the head of Breton bidets as small, [17] others describe it as large and poorly attached, [45] fairly strong, square, with a cambered nose, dry and usually flat. [47] The forehead is broad [15] [42] and flat, with open gables. The eyes are bright, but those of stallions tend to be hidden by thick eyelids. The nostrils are wide open, and the ears are small and well placed. [17]

Body

The neck is short and strong, [15] curved [17] or straight, [45] and fairly slender. [15] It is often axed and spiked. [17] The withers are round, underdeveloped and not very prominent. [44] [45] Shoulders are dry, body rounded, ample, short and compact. [42] [47] The chest is broader than it is deep. [44] The loins are straight and short. [17] The rump is well-fleshed, rounded and low, [42] [47] or swallowed/folded. [44] [45] The tail is short and set high, well detached on the move. [17]

Limbs

Limbs are strong and short, lean, well joined, with broad, flat, well sunken hocks. The forearms are long, and the legs of the forelegs are said to be "perfect". The hocks are sometimes closed (hooked), [45] especially in mountain horses, whose topline is reminiscent of that of the mule. [45] Joints are good. [44] The fetlocks are full of hair, but without long dewlaps (some authors attest to the total absence of dewlaps). [45] The hooves are very well conformed, although some horses have "panard" or "crochard" legs. [17] [42] [47]

Coat

According to most descriptions, the most common coat is chestnut, in various shades. [17] [44] [42] [47] Dark manes (in red tones) are preferred, as horses with washed-out manes are generally castrated; [17] however, the actual presence of washed-out manes is frequent. [44] There are also dapple-gray, [17] strawberry roan, grullo with markings on the legs. [4] These primitive characteristics, notably the mouse-gray coat, are shared by many of Europe's ancient horse breeds. [41] Bidets from the Loudéac area can also be bay, or more rarely black. [15]

Temperament, care and gait

Trotting bidets have long, lively gaits. They work well into old age, without their legs or limbs suffering, while making do with little food, [47] usually a supplement of crushed gorse and very little hay in winter. They live outside on the moors, without shelter. [16]

"The Breton bidet is satisfied with what Mother Nature offers: a little hay, crushed heath, exceptionally bran and a few measures of oats. A marvel of a horse [...]". – Alexandre Bouët [48]

This sobriety would have earned the Breton bidet the nickname of "France's Cossack" during the Russian campaign, [43] but Guy de Sallier Dupin casts doubt on the veracity of this Napoleonic statement. [16]

The Derval bidet is reputed to be "of astounding vigor, sobriety and robustness". [33] Yann Brekilien also testifies to the qualities of hardiness, docility, resistance and courage that are uncommon in Breton bidets. [4] Period documents are full of praise for its vigor and stamina, [16] evoking "surprising" means despite its small size, unfailing hardiness, exceptional endurance and ability to bear the weight of traction. [44] A testimonial published in the press in 1894 reported that one bidet covered forty leagues in one day, with no signs of fatigue. [49]

Usage

Breton bidets in Zootechnie. Races chevalines by Paul Diffloth, 1923. Bidets bretons 1923.jpg
Breton bidets in Zootechnie. Races chevalines by Paul Diffloth, 1923.

The Breton bidet has seen many uses as a pack horse, saddle horse, and more exceptionally as a racehorse or traction horse.

Breton bidets were used in the trenches during the World War I, where 50,000 died. [34]

Saddle and packhorse

Breton bidets are mainly used at work, for carrying people or materials. Breton bidets carry all kinds of loads: grain, flour, salt, coal, linen, canvas or slate tiles. [16] Peasants used the "double-bidet" to carry flour sacks over rough roads. [4] At the beginning of the 19th century, the Breton bidet was, "in France, the mount of almost all those whose profession required them to ride daily". [47] According to Éphrem Houël, it was not uncommon for train bidets to cover distances of thirty to forty kilometers, at a rate of "twenty-four kilometers an hour". [50] Yann Brekilien, who holds a diploma in equestrian tourism, believes that the Breton bidet would have made an excellent mount for equestrian tourism in Brittany, had it survived. [4]

Military

Whether or not Breton bidets were integrated into Napoleon's army is a matter of debate. Although Brittany's horses were requisitioned in large numbers for this purpose, it's unlikely that they were bidets, as they were too small for the purpose. In 1812, the mayor of Corlay observed that the horses in his commune were below army size. [16] The horses used by Napoleon's army were probably crossbred animals, impregnated with Arab and Thoroughbred blood. [51]

Pulling and plowing

Bidets are not suited to pulling or plowing, jobs long reserved for oxen. In 1825, some mayors reported in a survey the lack of aptitude of these small horses for draft work. Exceptionally, however, one may be placed in a team in front of the oxen, [16] as reported by Chabert in the diocese of Vannes. [52]

An anecdote is recorded in 1850. A senior English officer urgently requested transport between Lannion and Morlaix in the middle of winter. He called on a local valet, who showed up with a heavy carriage hitched to a puny bidet. At first, the Englishman refused to get in, fearing for his safety on the rough, snowy and icy ground. But the carriage proves so efficient that he offers the driver 125 francs, or five guineas, to buy a few hairs from his bidet. The Englishman had the manes framed alongside those of the thoroughbred Eclipse, as a tribute to "the bravest horse he had ever met". [53]

Races

Amble bidet race at Langonnet in 1830. Course-bidets-Ambleurs.jpg
Amble bidet race at Langonnet in 1830.

From 1806 onwards, local races were organized in Morbihan. For a time, bidets took part in these races in Brittany. [54] They distinguished themselves at the Saint-Brieuc racecourse in 1807. [53] The tradition of the "clocher à clocher" race, well documented by 19th-century folklorists, saw riders compete on local bidets. Those from the Breton mountains are ambleurs. [29] Breton peasants also found plenty of opportunities to pit their horses against each other at weddings, pardons and other festivities. [55] In Nantes in 1835, Breton bidets and Thoroughbreds shared the racecourse. [56]

However, legends mingle with historical facts. Moggy, a "peasant bidet", is reputed to have beaten a Thoroughbred mare in a race between Saint-Brieuc and Guingamp. [53] Sallier Dupin's critical study reveals that Moggy is not a pure-bred Breton bidet, having been bred from an Arabian horse. The opposing mare was not a thoroughbred, but a strolling mare, barely half-blood. [24]

Breeding spread

Breton bidets are common in southern and central Brittany. [11] They are found around Briec and Carhaix, in the valleys and on the sunset of the Monts d'Arrée, and on the Morbihan coast, generally bred by fairly poor farmers. [42] [47] In the Côtes d'Armor region, bidets are mainly raised in the arrondissement of Loudéac near Corlay, Gouarec, a few communes around Mûr-de-Bretagne, in the south of the arrondissement of Guingamp, at Saint-Nicolas-du-Pélem, Callac and Rostrenen. [15] This type of breeding continues in areas where the nature of the pastures does not allow for the greater needs of draft horses. Farms have one or two mares. [16] Briec bidets were particularly expensive in the early 19th century, with the price of a good animal rising to 800 francs. [17]

Breton bidets were widely exported. In the 17th century, representatives of the breed were sent to New France (now Canada) at the instigation of the king. The Canadian horse breed still reflects this influence. [57] At the beginning of the 20th century, bidets were sent to Cochinchina to be crossed with native mares. [58]

A breeder in Haut Corlay is trying to revive the local bidet by crossing Breton draft horses with thoroughbreds. A first foal was approved by the Breton horse studbook in 2010. [59]

In the culture

The memory of bidets remains particularly vivid. A folk tale collected by Émile Souvestre, La Groac'h de l'île du Lok, tells of a stick that changes into "Saint-Thégonnec's red bidet" with an incantation: [60]

"From Saint Vouga, remember!

Bidet de Léon, lead me

On the ground, in the air, on the water,

Wherever I must go!"

- Émile Souvestre, La Groac'h de l'île du Lok. [60]

Painter Rosa Bonheur sketched a number of Breton bidets. [61] Brittany regularly celebrates the memory of these little horses, an integral part of local history. [62]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Breton horse</span> Breed of draft horse developed in Brittany

The Trait Breton is a French breed of draught horse. It originated in Brittany, in north-west France, from cross-breeding of local horses with various other breeds. It is strong and muscular, and often has a chestnut coat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trait du Nord</span> Breed of heavy draft horse from Belgium and France

The Trait du Nord, previously also known as Ardennais du Nord or Ardennais de type Nord, is a breed of heavy draft horse developed and bred in the area of Hainaut in western Belgium and in northeastern France. Originally considered a subtype of the Ardennes, it was recognized as an individual breed with the opening of a studbook in 1903. Developed in the fertile Flemish grasslands, it was bred for size and pulling power for agricultural work. By 1855, the horses bred near Hainaut were considered by some veterinarians to be superior to other Flemish draft breeds. The Trait du Nord was used extensively in mining from the late 19th century through 1920, with lesser use continuing through the 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglo-Norman horse</span> A horse breed developed in Lower Normandy in France

The Anglo-Norman horse is a warmblood horse breed developed in Lower Normandy in northern France. A major center of horse breeding, the area had numerous regional types that were bred to one another and then crossed with Thoroughbreds to form the Anglo-Norman. Various body types developed within the Anglo-Norman breed, two of which were split off to form the Norman Cob and French Trotter. The remaining types were eventually standardized, although there remained some criticism of the "hybrid" nature of the breed's conformation. However, it is successful as an international sport horse, especially in the sport of show jumping. The Anglo-Norman also contributed to the development of several other breeds in Europe and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norman Cob</span> Breed of light draught horse from Normandy

The Norman Cob or Cob Normand is a breed of light draught horse that originated in the region of Normandy in northern France. It is of medium size, with a range of heights and weights, due to selective breeding for a wide range of uses. Its conformation is similar to a robust Thoroughbred, and it more closely resembles a Thoroughbred cross than other French draught breeds. The breed is known for its lively, long-striding trot. Common colours include chestnut, bay and seal brown. There are three general subsets within the breed: horses used under saddle, those used in harness, and those destined for meat production. It is popular for recreational and competitive driving, representing France internationally in the latter, and is also used for several riding disciplines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henson horse</span> Modern horse breed from northeast France

The Henson Horse, or Cheval de Henson, is a modern horse breed from northeast France. It was created by the selective breeding of light saddle horses with the smaller, heavier Norwegian Fjord horse to create small horses suitable for the equestrian vacation industry. The breeders' association, Association du Cheval Henson, was formed in 1983. In 1995 the studbook was closed to horses not born from Henson parents, and in 2003 the breed was officially recognised by the French government agencies for horse breeding. A hardy breed of horse, each winter the broodmares and youngstock from several breeders are let loose together to graze freely in the wetland reserves in France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charentais horse</span> Breed of horse

The Charentais and Vendéen are extinct breeds of horse from western France. They were bred principally in the area around Poitou-Charentes and Vendée, France. They were used as a mount for light cavalry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bidet horse</span> Extinct breed of horse

The Bidet was a type of small horse from France, now extinct. It was a landrace developed principally in the area around Brittany, Morvan, Auvergne, Poitou, and Burgundy. It stood about 110–135 centimetres at the withers. Two distinct groups are documented, which were bred in a semi-feral state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haras Nationaux</span> French organisation regulating horse breeding

The Haras Nationaux in France was the French national public administrative body responsible for the regulation and administration of breeding of horses and donkeys in France. It administered twenty-two regional studs, or horse-breeding centres.

The Cheval du Morvan, also known as the Morvandiau, Morvandain or Morvandelle, is an extinct French horse breed from the Morvan massif in Burgundy, for which it is named. Horses were bred in the Morvan from before the French Revolution, both as saddle-horses for fox-hunting and as cavalry mounts, and for draught use. They were of small to medium height and known for their strength and tenacity. The Cheval du Morvan became extinct with the advent of industrialisation and improved transportation in the nineteenth century. As a draught horse it was replaced by the Nivernais and Comtois breeds, and as a saddle-horse by the Thoroughbred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haguard horse</span> Bidet poney from France

Haguard horse, also known as the Hague pony or bidet de la Hague, is a breed of bidet horse native to the natural region of La Hague, in the Manche in Normandy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cauchois horse</span> Normand horse breed

The Cauchois, or Norman bidet, is a breed of heavy draft horse native to the Pays de Caux, on the coast of the former Haute-Normandie region of France. Renowned for its ability to move at a high pace, it was much sought-after in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Although it was most often harnessed to heavy loads, such as the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus stagecoaches, it was also sometimes ridden by Cauchois peasants to market. They were exported to many parts of France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haras National de Lamballe</span> French stud farm form Britanny

The Haras National de Lamballe is one of five equestrian centers in the French region of Brittany. Originally, it was a depot for royal stallions, created in the autumn of 1783 in the sole stable of a barracks in the town of Lamballe. Abolished in 1790, briefly recreated in 1825, this national stud took on its definitive form in 1842, when it was given the task of making breeding stallions available to the owners of the 70,000 broodmares in its district. Numerous extensions led to the construction of eleven new stables until the beginning of the 20th century, housing up to 350 stallions of all breeds. The National Stud played a major role in the development of the Norfolk-Breton breed, the future Breton horse, by importing Norfolk Trotter stallions from England. It was also responsible for the success of the half-Ardennes stallion Naous, one of the founding stallions of the Breton horse breed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haras National d'Hennebont</span> French National Stud from Hennebont

The Haras National d'Hennebont is one of five equestrian centers in the French region of Brittany. It was created in 1856 in Hennebont, Morbihan, around the former Abbey of La Joie, as a result of an exchange with the Abbey of Notre-Dame de Langonnet. Inaugurated by Napoleon III on August 15, 1858, it was classified as a historic monument in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corlay (stallion)</span> French named Corlay horse

Corlay (1872-1897) was a stallion close to the Thoroughbred, head of the Corlay horse breed, considered in his day to be one of Brittany's most famous and influential stallions. The history of this sturdy roan horse is steeped in legend. It is generally accepted that he was the son of Flying Cloud, a Norkfolk Trotter stallion imported from England to Brittany in 1864, and a local three-quarter Thoroughbred mare, Thérésine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Corlay horse</span> French horse breed from Brittany

The Corlay horsebreed is a type of half-blood horse resulting from crossbreeding around the town of Corlay in Brittany, between local Breton bidet mares and imported stallions, mainly Thoroughbreds. Intended for racing, this variety of Breton horse is reputed to have impressed Napoleon III with its steeplechase abilities. Subsequently, local breeders specialized in this racehorse, optimizing feed by adding maerl to the ration. Corlay horse breeding earned an excellent reputation from the middle to the end of the 19th century. The most influential stallion in the breed was Corlay, who bred from 1876 to 1897 in the locality of the same name. The breed was considered fixed at the end of the century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horses in Brittany</span> Equine culture in Britanny

Horses in Brittany have a clear historical, economic and cultural importance, since their introduction often attributed to the Celts. In Brittany, the horse, generally a Breton bidet, was mainly used as a saddle animal until the middle of the 19th century. As roads improved, most breeders specialized in draft horses and carriage horses. They mainly settled in the west, in Basse-Bretagne, Trégor and Léon. The Breton draft horse, a renowned working animal, was exported in large numbers from Landivisiau in the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Horses in Breton culture</span> Equine presence in Breton culture

The presence of horses in Breton culture is reflected in the strong historical attachment of the Bretons to this animal, and in religious and secular traditions, sometimes seen from the outside as part of local folklore. Probably revered since ancient times, the horse is the subject of rites, witchcraft, proverbs and numerous superstitions, sometimes involving other animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equestrianism in Brittany</span> Equine racing in France

Equestrianism has been practiced in Brittany since at least Celtic times, and continues to be used for military purposes and travel. Although horse racing is a very old tradition in Lower Brittany, equestrian sport, codified in England, took root in the 19th century, to the detriment of more popular traditions. The practice of equestrianism declined as transport improved in the 19th and 20th centuries, before undergoing profound changes with the growth of the sports and leisure markets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrossier noir du Cotentin</span> Extinct French breed of horse.

The Carrossier noir du Cotentin is a large, black, pulling horse breed unique to Cotentin. It was regularly described and quoted during the Ancien Régime and may have descended from Danish horses. As its name suggests, this horse was mainly used to pull carriages, and its uniform color made it possible to form homogeneous groups.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merlerault</span> Ancient French breed of horse

The Merlerault is an ancient breed of horse that originated in the canton of Le Merlerault. Bred under the Old Regime, this reputedly elegant half-bred was used to ride and pull tilburys.

References

  1. 1 2 Bongianni, Maurizio (1988). Simon & Schuster's guide to horses & ponies of the world. New York: Simon & Schuster, Inc. p. 255. ISBN   0-671-66068-3.
  2. ↑ Troude, A. Nouveau dictionnaire pratique français et breton. J. B. et A. Lefournier. p. 104.
  3. ↑ Saint-Gal de Pons (1931 , p. 9)
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , pp. 9–10)
  5. ↑ de Sallier Dupin (1998 , pp. 30–31)
  6. ↑ Constant Charles, Hippolyte. Histoire du cheval boulonnais (in French). Aux bureaux de la France chevaline. pp. 101–102.
  7. ↑ Barral (1859 , p. 100)
  8. 1 2 3 4 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 29)
  9. 1 2 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 30)
  10. ↑ Le Tallec, Jean (1996). La vie paysanne en Bretagne centrale sous l'Ancien Régime : d'après les archives de la seigneurie de Corlay (in French) (2nd ed.). Coop Breizh. p. 253. ISBN   2-909924-50-5.
  11. 1 2 3 Lizet (1989 , p. 260)
  12. ↑ Hendricks, Bonnie (1994). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 486. ISBN   978-0-8061-3884-8.
  13. ↑ Saint-Gal de Pons (1931 , p. 13)
  14. ↑ Cegarra, Marie (1999). L'animal inventé : ethnographie d'un bestiaire familier (in French). L'Harmattan. p. 189. ISBN   978-2-7384-8134-4.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 31)
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 32)
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Saint-Gal de Pons (1931 , p. 37)
  18. 1 2 Saint-Gal de Pons (1931 , p. 36)
  19. ↑ Saint-Gal de Pons (1931 , p. 89)
  20. ↑ Houël (1842 , p. 36)
  21. 1 2 Lacombe, Philippe (2001). "Corps, cultures et techniques : entre tradition et modernité". Corps et sociétés, L'Harmattan (in French). Histoire & anthropologie. pp. 31–33. ISBN   2747502937.
  22. ↑ Hervé (1999 , p. 66)
  23. ↑ Nouveau guide du cultivateur breton. Brest, J.-B. Lefournier. pp. 203–205.
  24. 1 2 3 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 35)
  25. ↑ Houël (1842 , p. 31)
  26. 1 2 3 4 Bodlore-Penlaez & Kervella (2011 , pp. 50–51)
  27. ↑ Cornic, Martial. Le cheval en Bretagne (in French). Landerneau. pp. 6–7, 9–10.
  28. 1 2 Vallaux, Camille. La Basse-Bretagne : étude de géographie humaine (in French). E. Cornély & cie. pp. 156–162.
  29. 1 2 Musset, René; Frouin, E. (1928). "Contribution à l'étude du cheval breton, en particulier dans le département des Côtes-du-Nord". Annales de Bretagne. 38 (1): 249–252.
  30. ↑ Journal d'agriculture pratique (in French). Vol. 20. Librairie agricole de la maison rustique. 1910. p. 397.
  31. ↑ Auzias, Dominique; Labourdette, Jean-Paul (2014). Bretagne 2014 (in French). Petit Futé. p. 65. ISBN   978-2-7469-7759-4.
  32. ↑ Barral (1859 , p. 198)
  33. 1 2 3 4 Mulliez (1999)
  34. 1 2 3 Jigourel (2017)
  35. ↑ Charpy, Jacques (1951). "L'évolution du cheval breton". Positions des thèses soutenues par les élèves de la promotion pour obtenir le diplôme d'archiviste-paléographe (in French). pp. 51–53.
  36. ↑ Bléas, F.-M. (1913). Les chevaux bretons (in French). imprimerie À. Lajat.
  37. ↑ Denis, Bernard (2012). "Les races de chevaux en France au XVIIIe siècle. Et les idées relatives à leur amélioration". In Situ. Revue des patrimoines (in French) (18). doi: 10.4000/insitu.9677 . ISSN   1630-7305 . Retrieved 27 April 2023.
  38. ↑ Lizet (1989 , p. 254)
  39. ↑ Cegarra, Marie (1999). L'animal inventé : ethnographie d'un bestiaire familier (in French). L'Harmattan. ISBN   978-2-7384-8134-4.
  40. ↑ Lizet, Bernadette (2003). "Mastodonte et fil d'acier. L'épopée du cheval breton". La ricerca folklorica Retoriche dell'animalità. Rhétoriques de l'animalité (in French) (48): 53–70.
  41. 1 2 Aubert, M.; Marquart, J. J.; Richard, P. (1989). "Des chevaux primitifs polonais dans le marais de Pagny-sur-Meuse : une entreprise de gestion synécologique d'un milieu remarquable par une race à préserver". Bulletin des académies et sociétés lorraines des sciences (3): 81–82.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Moll & Gayot (1861 , p. 496)
  43. 1 2 Moll & Gayot (1861 , p. 497)
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 de Robien, Henry (1907). Le Norfolk-Breton devant l'opinion (in French). Paris: Lucien Laveur. pp. 18–21.
  45. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Comte Achille de Montendre (1840). Des institutions hippiques et de l'élève du cheval dans les principaux États de l'Europe : Ouvrage composé d'après des documents officiels, des écrits publiés en Allemagne, en Angleterre et en France et des observations faites sur les lieux à différentes époques (in French). Bureau du Journal des haras. pp. 243–244.
  46. ↑ Barral (1859 , p. 99)
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Barral (1859 , p. 98)
  48. ↑ Bouët, Alexandre. Galerie bretonne, Breiz-Izel ou Vie des bretons dans l'Armorique (in French).
  49. ↑ de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 37)
  50. ↑ Houël (1842 , p. 146)
  51. ↑ de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 33)
  52. ↑ Roche, Daniel; Reytier, Daniel (2007). À cheval ! : écuyers, amazones & cavaliers du xive au xxie siècle (in French). Association pour l'Académie d'art équestre de Versailles. p. 61.
  53. 1 2 3 de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 34)
  54. ↑ de Sainte Marie, Tanneguy (2012). "Races, types, tribus ou ethnies des chevaux de courses au xixe siècle". In Situ. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  55. ↑ Jigourel, Thierry (2010). "Les courses traditionnelles de chevaux". ArMen (178): 14–21. ISSN   0297-8644.
  56. ↑ Journal des haras, chasses, et courses de chevaux, des progrès des sciences zooïatriques et de médecine comparée (in French). Parent. 1837. p. 530.
  57. ↑ Hendricks, Bonnie; Dent, Anthony (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. p. 486. ISBN   978-0-8061-3884-8.
  58. ↑ de Sallier Dupin (1998 , p. 39)
  59. ↑ "Le Haut-Corlay – Y. Guilloux a reçu une approbation". Le Télégramme. 2010. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  60. 1 2 Souvestre, Émile (1998). Contes de Bretagne (in French). Ancre de Marine Éditions. p. 182. ISBN   2-84141-122-2.
  61. ↑ Klumpke, Anna (1908). Rosa Bonheur : sa vie, son œuvre (in French). E. Flammarion. p. 431.
  62. ↑ "Du bidet bas-breton à l'histoire des trains..." Le Télégramme (in French). 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2013.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.