|
| |
ANSF - Selle Français Breeders Society
56 avenue - 92120 Montrouge
Station de métro : Porte d'Orléans
Tél. +33 (0)1 46 12 34 00
Fax. +33 (0)1 46 12 34 09
Email:
info@sellefrancais.fr
Website:
www.sellefrancais.fr
Contact: Henri Ginoux
|
The French have had a long and admired history of
horse breeding. Through one of their intensive breeding program has
emerged one of the finest sport horses today, the Selle Français or
French Saddle Horse. Like all warmbloods the Selle Français is a mix of
breeds yet what sets it apart is the influence of crosses with trotting
breeds.
The breed was developed in the area around the government stud farms of
Saint Lô and Le Pin in the French department of Normandy. During the
nineteenth century, Norman breeders imported English Thoroughbreds and
Norfolk Trotters to cross with their native stock. These crosses
resulted in two types of horse: the French Trotter, a fast harness horse
and the Anglo-Norman, with both a saddle and Draught type. The saddle type
of the Anglo-Norman would be the prototype for the modern Selle Français.
The Anglo-Norman horse is the most recognized foundation stock for the
Selle Français. However, many of the local French breeds which were bred
as saddle horses like the Vendeen, Charollais, Limousin, Corlais,
Angevin, Angonin and Charentais played an important role in the breeds
development.
Following World War II, the French began to emphasize the production of
a riding horse possessing speed, stamina, and ability. As the
Anglo-Norman began to be crossed with the regional breeds the resulting
stock began to resemble each other more and more. Because of this
growing similarity among the regional breeds they were merged together
under one name, "le cheval de Selle Français," meaning the French Saddle
horse in 1958.
Since then the Selle Français has become the epitome of what a sport
horse should be, athletic, strong with good conformation and an
intelligent and tractable disposition. The Selle Français has excelled
internationally in show jumping. They have also been bred to race as
AQPSA (autres que pur sang association, meaning "other than
Thoroughbred") and also participate in cross-country racing, dressage
and eventing. |
| Origin:
France. |
| Colour: Chestnut is most common, but can be
any colour. |
| Height: between 15.2 and 17hh. |
| Conformation: neat, attractive head, set on to
a long neck, shoulders usually sloping, chest is deep and body is long
and muscular. |
| Character:
intelligent, tractable. |
| Uses: All
equestrian disciplines. |
| |
| |
|
