• Despite being a heavy horse, the Percheron is very elegant and attractive

• The Percheron is a very popular heavy horse particularly due to its lack of feathering, which can often cause skin problems

• Percheron's originated in the limestone region of La Perche in Normandy, France

• The Percheron has been used in many ways - as a a warhorse, coach horse, under the saddle and as a farm horse

• It is a very hardy breed which is versatile and very even tempered

• It is usually coloured black or grey

• The gaits are supple and light

• The head is fine with a square, wide forehead, long, thin ears, a lively eye, straight nose and wide nostrils

• The neck is long with an abundant mane and the throat is thin

• The withers are prominent and well set with sloped sholders unlike those of most draught breeds

• The chest is wide and deep with a somewhat prominent breast bone, the back is short and straight and very strong, the ribs are rounded, the girth is low with full flanks and the tail is set high

• The limbs are sound and clean, well set with a powerful forearm and wide and muscular thighs

• The buttocks are low, the knees wide and straight in line with the shoulder

• The average height is between 16 and 17.2 hands high

• The Percheron is cold blooded