Selle Francaise

The Cheval Selle Francaise, or the Selle Francaise,  meaning french Saddle Horse, developed during the 19th century in France from a very good base stock. The primary breeding areas were, and still are, those around Normandy, which has had a long tradition of producing first-class horses. The breed developed through cross the local Norman horses with imported English Thoroughbreds, and half-bred stallions. The local Norman horses, which were of ancient origins, were highly commendable for their powers of stamina and endurance, and had frequently been used as warhorses, as well as exerting an influence on some native English breeds. The half-bred stallions imported from England contained a very high percentage of Norfolk Roadster blood and in fact it was the infusion of trotter blood to the breed that were to give it some of its particularly commendable traits. The interbreeding of the Norman mares and the Thoroughbred and half-bred stallions gave rise to what was known as the Anglo-Norman riding horse, which was a riding horse of considerable class and talent. This was to form the foundation for the Selle Francaise, and the Selle Francaise studbook is, in fact, a continuation of the old Anglo-Norman one.

As with many breeds of horse, the First and Second World Wars severely depleted numbers of the burgeoning Selle Francaise, and after the Second World War, there were renewed efforts to maintain the breed. Important and influential Thoroughbred stallions to be breed were Lord Frey, Ivanhoe and Orange Peel, whose lines still exist today, and more recently the stallions Ultimate and Furioso have been used.

Todya, the Selle Francaise is an excellent competition horse, having a naturally athletic jump, and being bold and courageous. They are frequently used by the French show jumping team, and have a particular talent in this field. Typically, they have a small attractive head with a broad forehead, the neck is muscular and well set on, the chest broad and deep, the shoulders are quite sloping, the back straight, and the quarters muscular and slightly sloping. They have solid and strong legs, with a bone measurement of the cannon being not less than 8 in. Usually they are chestnut, bay or brown, but can be any solid color, and stand between 15.2 hh and 16.2 hh.

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