I was given a very nice horse 10 years ago when his elderly owner passed away. The previous owner’s daughter told me that his sire was Selle Français but I’ve recently found his papers and his sire was by a TB stallion out of a French Coach Horse mare. I’d never heard of this breed. I found a few photos & paintings on Google but that’s it and it appears to be an extinct breed. Or is it the same as a French Trotter/Trotteur Française? Any information or history would be appreciated! Thanks in advance.
Seems to be a demi-sang. From the Wiki:
The origins of the Selle Français begin with native French horses. In 19th century Normandy, native mares were crossbred with Thoroughbred or Norfolk Trotter stallions.[5][7] The most common crosses were between native mares used by the military,[8] or those bred for pulling carriages, and Thoroughbred stallions. In 1914 these types were recognized as demi-sang or “half-blood” horses. Half-blood horses were found in many French regions, and different types were usually named after the regions in which they were bred.[9] The three main types of French saddle horses were the Anglo-Norman (bred around Caen), the demi-sang du Centre (bred around Cluny) and the Vendeen (bred around La Roche-sur-Yon).[8]
I am not sure of the specifics of the “French Coach Horse”, but the “Selle Francais” was formed in the late 50s as a combination of all the regional lightweight breeds. I would guess that “French Coach Horse” was one of those breeds, and that the horse in question “became” a Selle Francais when the registries were merged.
I’d go to the French pedigree website here: http://www.webpedigrees.com/
and put the horse in. They will show how it treated today, I believe.
The French trotter was/is their trot racing breed; it’s also a favorite mount for French hunting. I wouldn’t think a Coach Horse would be the equivalent of the Standardbred.
You will find lots of interesting crosses and breeds and registries in a selle francais horse. Because europeans are always refining their horses with other breeds/registries. This makes a better performing horse. Registries contain many horses of different breeds.
Trotter is more like a racing horse and coach horse is a pulling horse. A “coach” horse in France I think would likely be more of a long distance coaching horse not so much a fancy high stepping carriage horse (although I cannot remember the name of those in France and I might have it backwards). So a strong horse with good paces, especially trot, for distance big heads, good feet, like to go but not a racer. They liked a standard size so the harness fit and usually bay.
Thank you all. It’s been very helpful so far, especially the “web pedigrees” site. My horse’s grand-dam is referred to there as “demi sang” but of course that just means “crossbred” right? Many Selle Français have “demi sang” horses somewhere in their pedigree. Most of the information I’ve found on these horses is from antique books that have been digitized. It seems like the French Coach Horse-Clydesdale cross was popular in Canada for awhile and is seen in the lines of many Canadian Sporthorses. It was crossed with the TB to breed field hunters.
… and a Clydesdale/TB cross has just completed Badminton, (“Mulrys Error”) so it’s a useful cross!
