Auxois
Encyclopedia
Originally from the Côte-d'Or
and Yonne
region of France, the Auxois breed is a descendant of the old Burgundian horse, dating back to the Middle Ages
. There are very few left, although efforts are being made to maintain the breed, particularly around the Cluny Stud and the fertile areas of Yonne and Saône-et-Loire
.
and Percheron
blood, as well as the Ardennais
and Trait Du Nord
, which increased the overall size of the Auxois. They are closely related to the Ardennais, and since the beginning of the 20th century, only Ardennais blood has been used to improve the Auxois. They are now somewhat taller than the Ardennais. Both breeds are selectively bred for the horsemeat market due to their mass.
The Auxois was widely used in the transport industry and, with the advent of mechanisation, suffered dramatically in numbers, like many draft breeds. Today they are strictly protected and monitored by the Syndicat du Cheval de Trait Ardennais de L'Auxois which is based in Dijon
, and has kept the studbook
of the breed since 1913.
and farm
work. It is usually either bay or roan
in colour, but can sometimes be chestnut
.
It stands 1.6 – high, and weighs 750 –. They usually have a light head, with a broad forehead and small alert ears. They are very stoutly built, having a short, thickset neck, flattish withers
, and a deep, wide chest. Generally they are broad through the back, and have a long, sloping, muscular croup with a low-set tail. The shoulders are also reasonably sloping which allows for good freedom of movement in all gaits
.
The horses have particularly powerful legs which are slender in proportion to their body size, with a very muscular forearm and short, dense cannon bones. Many horses are branded with the letters TX on the left side of the neck.
Compared to the Ardennais, the Auxois is finer in the legs and have smaller hindquarters. They are not heavily feathered and can move surprisingly freely and quickly for their bulk. They are well-built and, like the Ardennais, have an enormous pulling capacity.
Côte-d'Or
Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France.- History :Côte-d'Or is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on 4 March 1790. It was formed from part of the former province of Burgundy.- Geography :...
and Yonne
Yonne
Yonne is a French department named after the Yonne River. It is one of the four constituent departments of Burgundy in eastern France and its prefecture is Auxerre. Its official number is 89....
region of France, the Auxois breed is a descendant of the old Burgundian horse, dating back to the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. There are very few left, although efforts are being made to maintain the breed, particularly around the Cluny Stud and the fertile areas of Yonne and Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire
Saône-et-Loire is a French department, named after the Saône and the Loire rivers between which it lies.-History:When it was formed during the French Revolution, as of March 4, 1790 in fulfillment of the law of December 22, 1789, the new department combined parts of the provinces of southern...
.
History
In the 19th century there was an infusion of BoulonnaisBoulonnais
The Boulonnais, also known as the "White Marble Horse", is a heavy draft horse breed. It is known for its elegant, though large, appearance and is found in many colors. The breed's origins trace to a period before the Crusades and, during the 17th century, Spanish Barb, Arabian and Andalusian blood...
and Percheron
Percheron
The Percheron is a breed of draft horse that originated in the Perche valley in northern France. Percherons are usually gray or black in color. They are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, the ancestors of the breed were...
blood, as well as the Ardennais
Ardennes (horse)
The Ardennes or Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse, and originates from the Ardennes area in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs and are used for draft work. The Ardennes is found in many colors, although black horses are very rare and are not...
and Trait Du Nord
Trait Du Nord
The Trait du Nord, previously known also as Ardennais du Nord or Ardennais de type Nord, is a breed of heavy draft horse developed and bred in the area of Hainaut in western Belgium and in north-eastern France. Originally considered a sub-type of the Ardennes, it became an individual breed with the...
, which increased the overall size of the Auxois. They are closely related to the Ardennais, and since the beginning of the 20th century, only Ardennais blood has been used to improve the Auxois. They are now somewhat taller than the Ardennais. Both breeds are selectively bred for the horsemeat market due to their mass.
The Auxois was widely used in the transport industry and, with the advent of mechanisation, suffered dramatically in numbers, like many draft breeds. Today they are strictly protected and monitored by the Syndicat du Cheval de Trait Ardennais de L'Auxois which is based in Dijon
Dijon
Dijon is a city in eastern France, the capital of the Côte-d'Or département and of the Burgundy region.Dijon is the historical capital of the region of Burgundy. Population : 151,576 within the city limits; 250,516 for the greater Dijon area....
, and has kept the studbook
Breed registry
A breed registry, also known as a stud book or register, in animal husbandry and the hobby of animal fancy, is an official list of animals within a specific breed whose parents are known. Animals are usually registered by their breeders when they are still young...
of the breed since 1913.
Breed characteristics
The Auxois has a kind, quiet and biddable temperament which, combined with endurance, makes it highly suitable for heavy draftDraft horse
A draft horse , draught horse or dray horse , less often called a work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred for hard, heavy tasks such as ploughing and farm labour...
and farm
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
work. It is usually either bay or roan
Roan (horse)
Roan is a horse coat color pattern characterized by an even mixture of colored and white hairs on the body, while the head and "points"—lower legs, mane and tail—are more solid-colored. The roan pattern is dominantly-inherited, and is found in many horse breeds...
in colour, but can sometimes be chestnut
Chestnut (coat)
Chestnut is a hair coat color of horses consisting of a reddish-to-brown coat with a mane and tail the same or lighter in color than the coat. Genetically and visually, chestnut is characterized by the absolute absence of true black hairs...
.
It stands 1.6 – high, and weighs 750 –. They usually have a light head, with a broad forehead and small alert ears. They are very stoutly built, having a short, thickset neck, flattish withers
Withers
The withers is the ridge between the shoulder blades of a four-legged animal. In many species it is the tallest point of the body, and in horses and dogs it is the standard place to measure the animal's height .-Horses:The withers in horses are formed by the dorsal spinal processes of roughly the...
, and a deep, wide chest. Generally they are broad through the back, and have a long, sloping, muscular croup with a low-set tail. The shoulders are also reasonably sloping which allows for good freedom of movement in all gaits
Horse gait
Horse gaits are the various ways in which a horse can move, either naturally or as a result of specialized training by humans.-Classification:...
.
The horses have particularly powerful legs which are slender in proportion to their body size, with a very muscular forearm and short, dense cannon bones. Many horses are branded with the letters TX on the left side of the neck.
Compared to the Ardennais, the Auxois is finer in the legs and have smaller hindquarters. They are not heavily feathered and can move surprisingly freely and quickly for their bulk. They are well-built and, like the Ardennais, have an enormous pulling capacity.