Henson horse

Last updated

Henson
Cheval henson.JPG
Henson horse in the Somme
Other names
  • Cheval Henson
  • Cheval de Henson
Country of originFrance
Use Combined driving, Pony trekking, Endurance riding, Horseball
Traits
ColorDun
Breed standards
A Henson horse Henson-baie-d-authie03.JPG
A Henson horse

The Henson horse, or cheval de Henson, is a modern horse breed [1] 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.

Contents

History

Hensons at Hable-d'Ault Henson Ault.jpg
Hensons at Hâble-d'Ault
Typical landscape of the Marquenterre, birthplace of the breed Marquenterre 25-09-2008 13-03-12.JPG
Typical landscape of the Marquenterre, birthplace of the breed

Unlike the majority of French horse breeds, the Henson was created in the late 20th century with the goal of obtaining a hardy horse adapted to all forms of equestrian tourism, outdoor riding and pleasure riding; [2] :67 [3] it is therefore the most recent of all French horse breeds. [4] :4 The birthplace of the breed was the Baie de Somme in Picardy (now part of Hauts-de-France), a natural area of 70 km2. [3] [2] :68 The Henson became one of the emblems in the same way as birds, [5] :215 thanks to its mode of breeding "in the sense of a preserved area". Its economic impact remains modest but is growing from year to year with the rise of ecotourism. [6] It is considered a regional success "in the new logic of horse riding". [4] :4

Near the end of the 1970s, horseback riding became a popular form of outdoor recreation for nature-loving families. This led to increased interest in pony trekking as well as driving in the Somme, creating a need for a leisure horse suited to the region. [3]

The Henson breed was originally an experimental cross between first generation Fjord horses and various other riding horses [2] :68 [7] :143 from the breeders Bernard Bizet and Lionel and Marc Berquin. [5] :191, 215 In 1972, Bernard Bizet bought a Fjord stallion and four fillies with the idea of using them to breed a leisure horse, following a trip to Denmark in his youth. Fjord horses are an ideal breed for activities geared towards a younger clientele, and are hardy enough to live outside year round. In 1973, Bizet's Fjord stallion was too young to breed with his mares, so he decided to take them to the Haras Nationaux, and breed them to an Anglo-Arab. [8]

In 1974, the birth of two Fjord cross Anglo-Arab foals attracted the attention of Lionel Berquin, attendant at the Centre Équestre de Morlay (Morlay Equestrian Centre). He discovered the talents of these foals. Adopted by the Association des Cavaliers de la Baie de Somme (located in Port-le-Grand), they were named "Henson" a few years later. They combine the Fjord's dun coat colour, hardiness and mental balance with the Anglo-Arab's fiery temperament and body adapted to driving and recreation. This cross resulted in heterosis, such that the hybrids retained the desired qualities of both parent-breeds. [2] :68 [7] :143 With the success of this breeding, the Fjords were also crossed with Trotters and Selle Français horses, but the Anglo-Arab proved to be the best cross. [8]

Members of the breed's development project, including Berquin and Bizet, joined in 1982 and became the Association des Cavaliers de la Baie de Somme. [2] :68 Lionel Berquin co-created the Association of the Henson Horse that same year with Dominique Cocquet, then leader of the "Syndicat Mixte Pour l'Aménagement de la Côte Picarde" (Mixed Union for the Development of the Picardy Coast), to "give life to this crazy bet" which was to create a new breed of horse, promote it, and establish it. [9] They gathered all their Fjord-cross horses, and bred their mares to the stallions. [10] The goal was to get horses with similar phenotypes, so the genotype would be stable and reproducible, but also to have sufficient first generation animals that were 50/50. [2] :68 From 1984 to 1986, the 50/50 Fjord mares were bred to Anglo stallions; the progeny being 25% Fjord blood. The morphology and character were interesting but the dun coat colour was lost in more than half of the cases. The same mares were then bred to Fjords to produce foals that were 75% Fjord, in order to better establish the coat colour for selection criteria. [8]

In 1986, the creation of the Henson horse breed was formalized by Bizet and Berquin. The little horse from the Baie de Somme had an identity, although it remained unrecognized by the Haras Nationaux. The fillies with 75% Fjord blood were bred in 1992 by Riesling Pierre and Agmar D'Oc, to two Anglo-Arabs from the Boismont stud belonging to the Haras Nationaux. [8] In 1993, the first foal with 37.5% Fjord blood was born, Fantasio de Morlay, and was voted Best Foal of the Year at the Henson Festival in Marquenterre  [ fr ]. The goal of the breeding was to create a horse for recreation through breeding registered mares, where the breeding of mares to their sires was forbidden in order to avoid inbreeding and its resultant health and genetic problems. [8]

In 1989, the Association des Cavaliers de la Baie de Somme moved to the Marquenterre property, land of the Jeanson family. [11] In 1995, they believed the population of first generation horses was sufficient, the breed studbook was closed to horses whose parents were not of the Henson breed. Purebred breeding continued exclusively on horses of second and following generations. [2] :68 [7] :144 This is why Henson horses born after this date are no longer bred from a cross between Fjord and saddle horses, contrary to popular belief. [3]

The Henson was recognized as a breed by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Haras Nationaux in July 2003. [12] :57 Dominique Cocquet thought in 2010 that this breed had a future because 12 million French thought they would like to practice horse riding in contact with nature. [13]

Characteristics

The Henson has between 25% and 50% Fjord blood and measures between 1.50 and 1.60 metres (14.3 and 15.3 hands ; 59 and 63 in). [3] [14] As a result, it looks a lot like the Fjord, but is slightly taller and more slender. It is well-structured but not heavy. [10] Its phenotype has well-marked features even though the relatively recent creation of this breed led to a certain lack of homogeneity. [2] :69 It is ranked among the 23 most beautiful horse breeds in the world by the "Cheval Pratique", a French equine magazine. [15]

Henson foal in the Somme. Poulain henson.JPG
Henson foal in the Somme.

Morphological features are those of a pleasure horse, with extended gaits and a strong use of the hind limbs. [14]

The head is refined, expressive and as light as possible; [2] :69 it is generally medium-sized with relatively deep jowls and a straight or slightly concave profile. The ears are short and well-sculpted with a darker tip. The eyes are sharp, but with a sweet expression, and are surrounded by black skin. [14] The neck is sufficiently long and not heavy, [2] :69 well set on the shoulders, [14] but is usually relatively short and wide. The chest is broad, the shoulder long and sloping. [2] :69 The body is stocky, the back often short and wide but preferably of medium length. [14] [2] :69 The hindquarters are large, the pasterns are short, legs solid and muscular with a hoof wall as strong as that of the Fjord. The hooves should not be light coloured. [2] :69

The coat colour is most often a dark beige colour ranging from sand tones to brown, [3] [16] known as dun, and arises from the presence of the dun gene seen in the Fjord. Bay colouring is also acceptable. [14] The presence of a dorsal stripe along the back is mandatory, and a lot of horses also have zebra-like striping or bars on the legs. White markings (stripe, blaze, socks, etc.) are discouraged, and are prohibited in breeding stallions so that they do not appear in their offspring. The mane is solid black or two-tone black-and-gold or black-and-white. [11] :69 [2] The coat still lacks a bit of stability and periodically non-dun horses or carriers of white markings are born. [7] :144

Cattle egret accompanying a Henson horse in La Bassee, Baie de Somme Heron garde-boeufs, Le Crotoy.jpg
Cattle egret accompanying a Henson horse in La Bassée, Baie de Somme

The Henson is described as having a confident manner, sociable and friendly. It is easily approached in the pasture. [10] It is quiet, docile, versatile and hardy. [3] [11] [2] :69 Undemanding in the level of care and feeding, it can live outdoors year-round thanks to its hardiness and resistance. [6] [12] :57 It is often reared in a natural manner outside, [3] and reproduces unassisted, which gives balance and hardiness from birth. The many swamps and other wetlands in the Baie de Somme form the main area where it is traditionally bred and lives part of the year, living off the barren pastures and sandy or marshy ground without problems. This hardiness comes from its Fjord ancestors which are accustomed to harsh conditions. [2] :68 The presence of horses in Marquenterre attracts cattle egrets, [17] and it complements the presence of salt-meadow sheep. A study done at the University of Lille I concluded that this horse integrates well into this ecosystem. [6]

Selection

The Henson Horse Association has been the national breed association since 3 February 1983. Its purpose is to consolidate breeders and owners of Henson horses, manage the studbook, guide the direction of the breed, develop it, and promote it. [18] To help renew the blood in the breed, the Henson studbook has a "Henson factor" section open to horses crossed between a Fjord horse and a Thoroughbred, Anglo-Arabian, Selle Français, French Trotter, Andalusian or American Quarter Horse — maintaining 25% to 50% Fjord blood and a coat colour that meets the Henson breed standard.

There is a limit to the number of breedings permitted per stallion — a maximum of ten mares for stallions up to six years old, and up to fifty mares for stallions over six years. Artificial insemination and embryo transfer are not allowed, and the approval of a stallion or a mare for breeding is subject to passing a qualification test as to appearance, character and gait. [14]

Uses and distribution

The Henson is used for all kinds of outdoor and pleasure riding [3] [12] :57 [2] :69 and is suitable for beginners to advanced riders. [5] :215 It is widely used for this activity in Marquenterre. [5] :191 Described as an "interesting experience" in the field of leisure, according to Lætitia Bataille, the Henson does not have the qualities of horse breeds that have been selected for several centuries. [2] :68

Polocrosse competition between the Marquenterre team (on the Henson horses) and the English national team. The two riders in the center are trying to catch a ball in the air with a net. Polocrosse Marquenterre 192 9280.jpg
Polocrosse competition between the Marquenterre team (on the Henson horses) and the English national team. The two riders in the center are trying to catch a ball in the air with a net.

The Henson has great endurance, and is both handy and fast. [3] It can participate in polocrosse and is used for hunting. Driving, where a team of four Henson horses earned a bronze medal in the Championship of France, horse-ball, in which the women's team of Marquenterre was national champion of France in 2002, [12] :58 endurance and Le TREC, where the Henson is seen at the national level, are among its preferred disciplines. [3] [2] :68, 69 Thanks to its coat colour, it is striking in the field of traditional driving. [2] :69

It is also used for the maintenance of the marshes of the Somme, in its role as a grazing animal. [12] :59

In 2007 the FAO had no data on the conservation status of the breed; [19] :44 population data was first reported to DAD-IS in 2020, according to which the total population in 2018 was 977, with 515 breeding mares and 49 stallions. [1] The breed is now stabilised and bred mainly for pleasure, [2] :70 while some find opportunities in sport. These horses are found in all pastures of the Baie de Somme and in the Marquenterre. [10] The Baie de Somme, and in particular the Marquenterre, birthplace of the breed, is the main breeding area. The horses are also found throughout France and in Belgium. [12] :58 Since 2008, this horse is found in Nord-Pas-de-Calais, the departments of Oise and Eure, [2] :70 and on a farm located in Berry. [3]

There were about 400 Hensons identified in France in 2010, including 200 in the equestrian "Henson-Marquenterre" area, in Tourmont-Saint-Quentin, and equestrian "L'Étrier" area, in the Baie d'Authie  [ fr ]. [3] [5] :191 In 2011, a new equestrian area dedicated to this horse began in Rue, the "Henson Stud". [20] In 2006, there were 31 breeders, 9 stallions standing at stud, and 36 new births. [2] :70 These numbers were relatively stable over the following years. [3]

Year20042005200620072008
Number of births in France.20324343?

Trans'Henson gathering

Trans'Henson 2014. Trans'henson2014-03.JPG
Trans'Henson 2014.

The last weekend of October, during All Saints' Day, marks the "Trans'Henson", a gathering by Henson horse owners who assemble the year's foals, broodmares and young stock (from one to three years old) to reunite them on the winter pasture close to the centre of Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont. [11] [21] It is an opportunity to see more than 200 horses gathered. A "Ferya" is organized in mid-July, exhibiting horses and selecting the most beautiful colt and the most beautiful filly. [22] Otherwise, these animals participate in other events such as the Paris International Agricultural Show, where they were the stars in 2003. [5] :215

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Percheron</span> Breed of draft horse from France

The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Huisne river valley in western France, part of the former Perche province, from which the breed takes its name. Usually gray or black in color, Percherons are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were present in the valley by the 17th century. They are believed to descend from war horses. Over time, they began to be used for pulling stagecoaches; and later, for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, Arabian blood was added to the breed. Exports of Percherons from France rose exponentially in the late 19th century, and the first purely Percheron stud book was created in France in 1893.

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

The Selle Français (SF) is a breed of sport horse from France. An athletic horse with good gaits, it is usually bay or chestnut in color. The Selle Français was created in 1958 when several French riding horse breeds were merged into one stud book. The new breed was meant to serve as a unified sport horse during a period when horses were being replaced by mechanization and were transforming into an animal used mainly for sport and leisure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boulonnais horse</span> Heavy draft horse breed originating in France

The Boulonnais, also known as the "White Marble Horse", is a draft horse breed. It is known for its large but elegant appearance and is usually gray, although chestnut and black are also allowed by the French breed registry. Originally there were several sub-types, but they were crossbred until only one is seen today. The breed's origins trace to a period before the Crusades and, during the 17th century, Spanish Barb, Arabian, and Andalusian blood were added to create the modern type.

<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">Auxois</span> Horse breed from eastern France

The Auxois is a horse breed from eastern France. It is a large breed, with some individuals weighing over 910 kilograms (2,010 lb), bred for horse meat, agricultural work and leisure pursuits. Overall, members of the breed are solid and muscular in appearance. They are usually bay or bay roan in color, although some other colors are accepted by the breed registry, and are known for their power and docility.

<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">Mérens horse</span> Breed of horse

The Mérens, Cheval de Mérens or Caballo de Merens, still occasionally referred to by the older name of Ariégeois pony, is a small, rustic horse native to the Pyrenees and Ariégeois mountains of southern France, where the river Ariège flows, and northern Spain, near Andorra. Two general types, a small, light traditional mountain horse and a taller, sportier modern type, are found. Always black in color, Mérens must meet strict physical standards in order to be registered in the stud book. The breed is known for its sure-footedness on mountain terrain, as well as for its endurance, hardiness and docility. The French breed registry organizes regional offices, and partners with other national organizations in Europe to preserve and promote the breed. The organization enforces rigorous selection of breeding stock, with a goal of increasing quality in the breed. In the past, the Mérens was used for farm work, draft work and as pack horses. Today it is mainly used as a saddle horse, although some members of the breed have been successful in carriage driving. Many Mérens are taken on an annual transhumance, in which they are moved higher in the mountains during the summer and into the valleys for the winter. An old practice, it fell into disfavor, but has recently re-emerged.

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

The Poitevin or Poitou is a French breed of draft horse. It is named for its area of origin, the former province of Poitou in west-central France, now a part of the region of Nouvelle-Aquitaine. It was formed in the seventeenth century when horses of Flemish or Dutch origin, brought to the area by engineers working to drain the Marais Poitevin, interbred with local horses. Although it has the size and conformation of a draft horse, the Poitevin has never been bred for draft abilities, and has been little used for draft work. Its principal traditional use was the production of mules. Poitevin mares were put to jacks of the large Baudet du Poitou breed of donkey; the resulting Poitevin mules were in demand for agricultural and other work in many parts of the world, including Russia and the United States. In the early twentieth century there were some 50,000 brood mares producing between 18,000 and 20,000 mules per year.

<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">French Trotter</span> French breed of trotting horse

The French Trotter is a French breed of trotting horse bred for racing both ridden and in harness. It was bred specifically for racing in the 19th century (1800s), principally in Normandy in north-western France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castillonnais</span> French breed of small saddle-horse

The Castillonais or Cheval Ariègeois de Castillon , also formerly called Cheval du Biros or Saint-Gironnais, is an ancient breed of small rustic saddle-horse from the Ariège département of south-western France. It may be dark bay or seal brown. It stands 135–155 centimetres at the withers, with an average height of about 145 cm. It is used principally for trekking and for driving.

<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">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">Haras national du Pin</span> Stud farm in Le Pin-au-Haras, France

The Haras national du Pin is a French national stud located in Le Pin-au-Haras district, in the Orne (61) department of the southern Normandy region. It is the oldest of the French "Haras Nationaux".

<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">Arabo-Friesian</span> Recent breed of horse, selected since the 1960s

The Arabo-Friesian is a recent breed of horse, selected over several generations since the 1960s to obtain the morphology of the modern Friesian combined with the endurance qualities of the Arabian. The creation of this breed was strongly contested by some Dutch Friesian breeders, who went so far as to set fire to the stables where the first crosses were made.

<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">Horses in Brittany</span> Equine culture in Brittany

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 Denmark</span> The main horse breeds in Denmark are pony and saddle and sport horses.

Pony breeds and saddle and sport horses are the main horse breeds in Denmark.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Meat horse</span> Horses bred specifically for horse meat

A meat horse, or slaughter horse, is a horse bred for its ability to yield meat. Coming from draft horses formerly used for agricultural work, these horses are threatened with extinction by the mechanization of agricultural activities. This state of affairs has prompted breeders to look for new economic outlets. Breeding for meat horses was very popular in France in the 1980s, helping to safeguard these breeds. It has developed in Italy and Spain, but is declining in France, due to the further reduction of work activities with draft horses.

References

  1. 1 2 Breed data sheet: Henson / France (Horse). Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed November 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 Lætitia Bataille (2008). Races équines de France (in French). France Agricole Éditions. ISBN   9782855571546.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Le Henson (in French). Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation. Accessed December 2016.
  4. 1 2 [s.n.] (2008). Le cheval en Picardie (in French). Conseil Inter-régional du Cheval Nord - Pas de Calais - Picardie. Archived 20 January 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dominique Auzias (2007). Le Petit Futé Amiens (in French). Petit Futé. ISBN   9782746918399.
  6. 1 2 3 Bénédicte Durand (2004). Le henson, un cheval agent de développement local? (in French). Hommes et terres du Nord2: 57-68. ISSN   0018-439X
  7. 1 2 3 4 Laetitia Bataille (2007). Les poneys : Races et élevage (in French). France Agricole Éditions. ISBN   9782855571409.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Carole Bizet ([n.d.]). Histoire du cheval Henson (in French). Ferme Equestre de Morlay. Archived 6 March 2016.
  9. "Témoignages de personnalités (Testimonies from personalities) M. Dominique Coquet : Directeur général adjoint de Disneyland® Paris et Directeur Général de Villages Nature et co-fondateur, avec le docteur Lionel Berquin, de l'Association du Cheval Henson en 1982" (in French). Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 4 (fr) Jacques Béal, Guide de la baie de Somme à vélo, Renaissance Du Livre, 2006, 167 p. ISBN   9782874155901, read online), p. 54
  11. 1 2 3 4 (fr) Le Pays du cheval Henson en côte Picarde (Saint-Quentin-en-Tourmont) Archived 31 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine (accessed 16 July 2009)
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Isabelle Leclercq (October 2003). Le Henson, désormais race officielle (in French). Cheval magazine (383): 56–59.
  13. (fr) Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation, Le cheval précurseur du tourisme durable Archived 20 January 2015 at the Wayback Machine [PDF], Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation, 25 March 2010 (accessed 20 January 2015)
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 (fr) Christophe Sodore, Règlement du stud-book du cheval Henson, Haras nationaux, January 2008 (accessed 9 January 2012)
  15. (fr) C. Hercy, E. Feuillerac, F. Halm and N. Lazarus, Zoom sur les 23 plus belles races, Cheval pratique, no 178, January 2005, p. 42-95
  16. (fr) Jacques Béal (ill. Robin), Côte picarde et baie de Somme, coll. L'esprit des lieux, Renaissance Du Livre, 2001 ISBN   9782804605049, p. 83
  17. (fr) Société ornithologie de France, L'oiseau et la revue française d'ornithologie, vol. 62 to 63, Société ornithologie de France, 1992, p. 216
  18. "Mission, Assoc Cheval Henson". www.anr-cheval-henson.fr (in French). Henson Horse Association. Retrieved 15 September 2019.
  19. Barbara Rischkowsky, Dafydd Pilling (editors) (2007). List of breeds documented in the Global Databank for Animal Genetic Resources, annex to The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Rome: Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. ISBN   9789251057629. Archived 23 June 2020.
  20. (fr) Espaces équestres Henson Archived 28 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved from henson.fr (accessed 9 January 2012)
  21. (fr) Transhenson en Harmonie Archived 6 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine , retrieved from Henson.fr (accessed 8 January 2012)
  22. (fr) Jean-Paul Labourdette et Dominique Auzias, 52 Week-ends en France 2010-2011, Petit Futé, 2010 ISBN   9782746927643, p. 40 read online

Further reading