Origin: Ardennes plateau, France
Color: Bay, roan, or chestnut.
Avg Height: 14.2 to 15.1 hh
Avg Weight: 1,500 to 2,200 lbs
Build: Deep, compact, heavily muscled body and short, very hard, lightly feathered legs.
Temperament: Docile.
Main use: Farm work.
Special abilities: One of the most hardy of the heavy draft breeds. Quick, vigorous action, and great stamina.
History: Once considered in some countries to be a division of the Belgian Brabant, the Belgian Ardennes is now generally regarded as a division of the French Ardennais. The Belgian Ardennes has been toughened into a hardy and frugal horse by the rigorous climate and very sparse pasture. It was once highly regarded by Julius Caesar and Nero, and in the 18th Century, it became ennobled with the introduction of Arabian blood. Napoleon used these horses for their exceptional endurance. In the 19th Century, characteristics distinguishing the present-day type were established. The Societé Royale pour le Cheval de Trait Ardennais records the genealogical records of this division of the Ardennes.
For Breeders, Farms, and Studs of this breed, click here.
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