Percherons
Percherons are noted for their equable temperament, intelligence, ease of handling and willingness to work and please. Basic good conformation and balance is essential. They are usually gray or black in colour but dark chestnuts have been registered. Size: there are two varieties, the smaller “Postuur’ type stands 14,3hh – 16,1hh and weighs 600 – 800kg. The heavy draught type stands 16,1hh – 17,3hh and weighs up to one ton, as originally imported from France, their country of birth. The original Percheron horses were bred as early as 732 AD to be used in the war when France overcame the Moor army in Central France.
It is believed that the Arabian horse played a fundamental role in the development of the Percheron, using Arabians captured from the Moors. Unfortunately, the French kept very few records in those early years. In the early 1900’s the French government established a stud in Le Pin to further improve the breed and increase the numbers of these sought after horses.
The USA in particular had imported many Percherons. World War 2 and the invention of the tractor had the breed in serious decline. Fortunately some dedicated farmers, mostly the Amish, kept the breed alive during the draught horse depression in the 1950’s and 1960’s. The late 1960’s saw a renaissance in the draught horse business in the USA and France, as many rediscovered the usefulness of these draught horses.
Percherons in South Africa
During 1908, the first Percherons to be imported to SA from France, were two stallions, Hammer and Jones. They were recorded in the SA Stud Book in 1911 and 1912. During 1913 another four stallions and the first four mares were recorded into SA Stud Book, Volume 8. Two stallions were at the government stud in Standerton, one at the experimental farm in Potchefstroom, while the last stallion, Joliet, and three mares were at Elsenburg, near Stellenbosch. Elsenburg registered two foals, sired by Juliet during 1917, but the accent on Percheron breeding was at the agricultural colleges at Grootfontein, Glen and Cedara, registering eight stallions and six mares during 1934.
Elsenburg stopped breeding during the early 1930’s, but it was resumed in 1941 when Grootfontein transferred a stallion and ten mares to this institution. One of the most influential stallions ever to imported was Histon Hallmark from the UK. He stood at Grootfontein until he was transferred to Elsenburg during 1955. In the 1960’s Elsenburg became the heart of Percheron breeding in South Africa. During the late 1980’s the French government donated semen from Jongleur and Piston to Elsenburg to increase the Percheron gene pool in South Africa. In 2003 the French government donated semen from Isidore to Elsenburg.
Five mares conceived from the frozen semen producing two fillies and three colts, Lindore, Misidore and Mbeki. In the late 19th and early 20th century the Percheron horse played a major role in feeding the South African nation, cultivating vineyards and wheat. There are very few Percherons left in this country, with less than 100 animal registered with SA Stud Book. Recently there has been a growing interest in these horses for agriculture, driving, vaulting, showing and dressage and even for disabled riding.
Geyerspan
Prices at the annual Elsenburg auction have increasing dramatically, indicating this growing interest in the breed. A record price of R56 000 was paid for a mare at the 2008 auction. On the same day Piet Botha, the owner of the Geyerspan Friesian stud, in North West, bought the three year old stallion, Elsenburg Marnus, for a SA record price for a stallion, namely R32 000. He would like to use this black stallion for purebred breeding and in crossings with Friesian mares.
Some of our Percherons
