The Poitevin draft horse is, according to tradition, of the Marshes of BAs Poitou (whose vast meadows were once flooded for several months of the year). In the region, leftover horses dating from the Mesolithic (5500 years before Jesus Christ) were found around Surgères (in Charente-Maritime) and Echo Red (in Deux-Sèvres). These are perhaps ancestors of the Poitevin line.
In the 17th century, the native strain was crossed with the original Flemish horse imported by the Dutch and Flemish workers who accompanied the Poitevin marsh the engineer Humphrey Bradley (appointed in 1599 Master of the Dikes and Canals of the Kingdom), to realize them DESSEMBLY WORKS commanded by Henri IV.
At the end of the 18th century, obsessed with the production of a light cavalry horse, the administration of the stud farms encouraged Poitevin breeders to cross their heavy mares with English and Norman stallions. Contrary to the objectives of Mulassière production, this practice will ultimately be abandoned despite the financial incentives granted by the administration.
In a chapter devoted to improvement, Ayrault signals the use in Poitou, (probably at the beginning of the 19th century), of a few stalls of large trait Percheron, then between 1860 and 1867, the introduction into the region of a dozen stallions of a variety of the Boulonnaise breed (the Bourbourian race, originally from the swampy countries of the northwest of France).
More substantially, in the middle of the 19th century, Breton blood was introduced into the race; Practice was encouraged by some: Sanson, for example, who considers that the Poitevin horse "frankly ugly and a temperament of an unusual softness, is not those whose conservation is necessary to desire ...", denounced by the Others: Ayrault and Bujault in particular, fervent defenders of the Mulassière industry and the specificity Poitevin.
In terms of originality, some enthusiasts even think that the Poitevin shares with the Konik Polski and the Portuguese Sorraia (whose dresses strangely resemble the Isabelle/Mullet Raie dress so particular to our race), Primitive Characters (stripes and zebra On the members) of the Tarpan (the ancestor of domestic horse breeds), the one found on the walls of the Lascaux caves)
Jointly to those of Poitou Baudet, because of their destiny closely bound by mulassière production, the workforce of this athletic draft horse fell very low in the early 90s. However, the conviction of breeders and their determination relayed by a Request for horses for the hitch of leisure promotes the rise in staff. Since 1998, they have followed a coupling plan to limit -eanguinity. To promote a rapid rise in this workforce, breeders favor reproduction in pure race and limit the production of mules despite high demand. This is a question of priority. Mules production can restart when the jittery is sufficient.
Morphology
Poitevin is recognized by the following standards:
Very strong head, rather long, slightly busy chamfer, ganache apart, protruding zygomatic arcades, large and long ears, long neckline loaded with abundant and long horsehair, long and oblique shoulder, well-outdated witch, long and well-attached back on the kidney, Hips apart, wide rump, swallowed, muscular thigh and well descended long and straight buttock.
Large and deep chest, long ribs, powerful limbs garnished with large and abundant hairs, sometimes curly or brushed under the knees and hocks, wide joints, wide and well-confided hooves. The dress is varied. Preferably: Isabelle, Black, Black Pangaré or Gray, with a minimum of white marks (Balzanes and List). The Pie dress is excluded.
Ideally, the adult male (5 years old) will have a minimum size of 1m 65, and the adult female (5 years) will have a minimum size of 1m 60.
Breeding area
The breeding area extends to the whole of the Vendée (17% of births; Fontenay le Comte, Luçon), at the two Sèvres (11% of births; Melle) and Vienne (18% of births; cray), north of Charente-Maritime (17% of births; St Jean d'Angely-Marans) and northwest of Charente (9% of births; Ruffec), that is to say the constituencies of Haras of Saintes and La Roche-sur-Yon. 72% of Poitevin's line births take place in the five departments of the Cradle of the Race. But the Poitevin line, began to expand almost all regions of France, particularly in the other departments of the New Aquitaine, as well as in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
Abilities and uses
Suitable for wetlands.
Still elevated in the Poitevin marsh outdoors, the Poitevin draft horse is suitable for wetlands. For example, the Ile and Vilaine General Council in 1994, acquired a herd of Poitevin features to maintain marsh spaces. After several tests, it turned out that it was the Poitevin race which allowed by its pasture, to maintain the best biodiversity of the flora of these marshes.
The Poitevin Mulassier draft horse has been selected for centuries for Mulassière production. The Poitevin Mulassier's draft mare is used in crossing with the Baudet of Poitou to give a hybrid animal: the Poitevin mule. These mules, by the selection made by their parents, are the biggest in their category. These are large-line mules that are used for agricultural traction.
If Poitevin draft females are used in priority for breeding and saving the breed, males are used for leisure mounted or harnessed, or even for professional activities. Its natural elegance and docility make the line Pisvin a horse very appreciated for the saddle or for the team. Many Poitevin line owners use it for short family hikes. The Poitevin draft horse by its rather elongated morphology is very pleasant under the saddle. The Poitevin line is also suitable for the leisure center. Users thus find a versatile horse that can one day be harnessed to a small hitch car and take the whole family on a hike and the next day be mounted for an excursion with other horses or alone. Thus a family from Vendée, acquired a Poitevin line to go on vacation in a trailer.
Some even participate in harnessing competitions. Note those who participated in the SHF final young horses of coupling in Compiègne: Soidant de Lafarge and Rodin Richardière in 2009, Rycadio de Mude, Sariette de l'Etoile and Tosten de Liscoët in 2010, and Calypso 3 in 2017. ( Between 1998 and 2004, 17 horses of Poitevin features participated in the SHF final which took place at the time in Saumur)
Among the users of the Poitevin line, some have developed modern professional use of this horse. Its particular look is appreciated by those looking at the draft horse as a tourist asset, with tours by team for example. The particular look of the Poitevin line is also appreciated in the field of show. Thus the troop chandelle in the Deus-Sèvres uses 3 poets in horses in its shows: Hurricane of the Winds, Baikal des Metairies, and Elior du Magnou.
Another example is that of guarding on horseback. Three Poitevin features were regularly used for this activity in the Melun forest (77) in the Paris region. Their large size, calm, and look make them particularly suitable for this type of work. It was Noumba du Pontreau, Quikaole des Galeries, and Roco de Fenioux belonging to the Cochois family. In 2018, three other Poitevin draft horses were used by equestrian brigades in the Paris region, rented by the Tonerre Training Center 511 Delta. This is Newton of the Age, Reseuse of the Age, and Volcano of Maine.
Some cities have introduced the draft horse into city life for school collection, sorting waste, or the maintenance of green spaces. Several Poitevin traits worked for the city of Niort.
Finally, the calm of the Poitevin line and its traction capacity are appreciated by professional tank tops. This is the case of Jean-Jacques Seité, originally breeder breeder, who following a challenge, became interested in the Poitevin line and discovered the qualities of tank top. The Poitevin line is also appreciated by winegrowers who find in this horse a way to maintain their vineyards by avoiding the solo sol. (Jean CLOPES in the Gard and Loïc Pasquier in Gironde).
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