Percheron

The Percheron comes from the Perche region of Normandy, and unlike most draft breeds it carries substantial Arabian blood, added deliberately over centuries. That shows in the head, which is finer than other drafts, and in the way they move.

They are grey or black, large, and were bred first as war horses, then as coach horses, then for farm and city haulage. They were the most numerous draft breed in America at the turn of the twentieth century.

They are known for being active and quick for their size, which is why they were the coach horse of choice, and they remain the common draft cross for sport horses.

The trade is size and upkeep, as with any draft. Grey horses also carry a high lifetime risk of melanoma, which is a real consideration in a breed where grey is the most common colour.