Percheron Horses, Everything You Need to Know

Percheron horses are one of the oldest horse breeds, originating in France. They were bred for farm work and pulling carriages.

Although Percheron horses were originally bred as agricultural workhorses, the Percheron horse breed has been used for other purposes including pulling carriages and logging. They are typically large animals weighing between 900-1200 pounds with a height of up to 18 hands high.

Percherons have a docile temperament that makes them an excellent choice for first-time riders or those just starting out with carriage driving. The breeds also make great family pets with their gentle temperaments and incredible patience for children.

Percheron Horse Characteristics

Percheron horses have heavy, but well proportioned to their body size with wide nostrils and ears set on both sides of their head. The coat is usually black bay or black roan with white markings around the eyes, muzzle, chest, or lower legs.

Percheron Horses need little maintenance. They typically live for 25-30 years and eat about 2 1/2 to 3 percent of their body weight daily. The feed may consist of a combination of hay, grasses, corn, or oats depending on availability and affordability.

Percheron Horse Characteristics

Breeding Percherons takes special care as the mare must be brought to the stallion in order to procreate. It’s imperative that she is given two weeks’ rest before mating again to ensure her well-being.

Where did Percheron Horses Originate

Percheron horses are a breed of draft horse that originated in the northern French region of Perche. They were bred for their large size and gentle temperament, which made them good work animals because they could carry heavy loads easily while being tolerant to mistreatment.

Today, there are around 15,000 Percherons in the United States with many people owning one as pets or having them used for recreational purposes such as riding through trails.

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The name “Percheron” comes from the town of Perche where these types of draft horses have been bred since at least 1700 AD. The word has its roots in Old French meaning “from or pertaining to Perche.”

Can Percheron horses jump?

Yes, similar to other draft horses these Percheron horses are very strong and athletic. What they lack in speed is more than made up for with power so Percherons can jump well!

Percherons have an average vertical leap of 76 cm or 30 inches. While this might not seem like much compared to the world’s best show jumpers, it’s still impressive considering their size.

Percherons were originally bred for their size and strength, so it’s no surprise that they excel at jumping too! In fact, many times you’ll find them being used for showjumping events because they’re just so good at it!   

This means that if you own a Percheron horse then there’s a chance he or she might be able to jump tall fences with ease.

How long do Percheron horses live?

Generally speaking, Percheron horses are known to live up to about 25 years on average but some have lived past this age quite easily. The record was 38 years which even exceeded many breeds of dogs’ life spans.

How long do Percheron horses live?

So you can see, they’ve got a lot of life, energy, and power in their years.

If you’re hoping to keep your Percheron horse for that long then you’ll need to put some work into looking after it and giving it the love and attention it deserves.  

What do I need to know about feeding my Percheron Horse?

Don’t worry too much about how much you should feed your Percherons because like most horses they will simply eat when they are hungry. However, if you really want to make sure that he or she is getting enough sustenance then aim for around 2% of his/her body weight.

If this seems like too much food then bear in mind that Percherons are very active and they will burn through that much anyway.

What type of food should I feed my Percheron Horse?

If you’re not buying food, then simply giving your Percheron some hay and a few chaffs along with his normal meal is perfectly fine. However, if you are planning on buying horse feed then it’s worth letting him/her try out different types.

Percheron Horses

Good quality hay is the main staple of a Percheron diet, which should also include a small amount of grain at least twice a day to keep up with their high metabolism.

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If your new horse isn’t very active then you may want to supplement his food with oats or barley as well.

There are so many different brands and mixes of horse feed available these days, each one promising to be better than the last.

Before deciding which one to go for you might want to look at reading some reviews about them first because the perfect mix isn’t always available in all areas.

Why do Percheron horses have strong legs?

Percherons are so good at jumping due to the fact that their bones are incredibly structured and dense. They have very large muscles in comparison to other horses which is why they can jump so far!

Another characteristic about Percherons is the perfect pitch in which they carry themselves – you’ll find that many jump professionals often use these horses for training shows or competitions.

These horses also have extremely powerful legs because of this added weight on top of them when jumping high fences.

Are Percheron horses good for beginners

Percherons are often thought to be the best for beginners and children or those with less experience. This is because they are gentle giants and are usually known to be one of the more docile breeds. 

Some other reasons you may want a Percheron: their size, how well-mannered they typically are, and their levelheadedness, in general, make them an excellent choice if you’re looking for a happy, healthy horse that can do it all. 

Are Percheron horses good for beginners

A good rule of thumb when choosing which breed is right for you would be to ask yourself what kind of environment your new horse will live in most often; this will help narrow down your options significantly.

These powerful animals will bring you years of love and companionship if you chose one as your first horse.

Are Percheron horses fast

The American Percheron Horse Association states that the average weight for these horses is 2,200 pounds and their height averages around 17 hands.

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Percheron horses are not exactly fast compared to smaller breeds like Thoroughbreds or Arabians, with top speeds averaging at about 12 mph.

They are, however, extremely powerful animals.

How to get a Percheron horse

The best place to start your search for a Percheron horse will be the American Percheron Horse Association’s website. There you can find registered breeders in your area and ask them questions about their stock to see if they’d make a good fit for you.

If you’d like to make a Percheron horse your own, it’s important to remember that these horses tend to be on the mature side. Of course, this does not mean that they can’t or shouldn’t be trained. With an experienced trainer and handler, Percherons have been known for their exceptional performance in everything from the show ring to the open trails.

Also, keep in mind that because of their size and strength they require quiet handling techniques and a trainer who won’t shy away from being firm but gentle.

Which is larger a Clydesdale or a Percheron

If you measure the height at the withers (the point of a horse’s shoulder), then Clydesdale horses are larger than Percheron horses. But if you compare weight, Percherons are actually heavier.

A fully-grown Clydesdale may weigh between 1,800 and 2,200 pounds. But a Percheron is not called “The Work Horse of France” without reason! A full-grown Percheron may tip the scales at close to 2,500 pounds.

The height difference is worth noting because Clydesdales average about 16 hands (5 feet 5 inches) tall while Percherson range from 15-17 hands high (4 foot 11 inches – 5 foot 8 inches).

But there’s one question that often comes up when people compare these two breeds: What’s the difference in their heights? Will a Percheron ever be just as tall as a Clydesdale?

There are no set standards for height in either breed. In both breeds, mature horses will vary widely. So it really just depends on whether your horse was born small or large! More than anything else, genetics determines how much an individual horse will grow.

Horses of both breeds can be utilized for riding or pulling heavy loads and so they may share some similarities in their appearance.