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Originally from the Cote 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 ferile areas of Yonne and Saone-et-Loire.
History
In the 19th Century there was an infusion of Boulonnais 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 Ardennes, and since the beginning of the 20th century, only Ardennais blood has been used to improve the Auxois. They are now somewhat larger in height then the Ardennes and both breeds are selectively bred for the meat market due to their mass. The Auxois were widely used inthe transport industry and, with the advent of mechanisation, suffered dramaticall in numbers, like many of the draft breeds. Today they are strictly protected and monitored by the Syndicat du Cheval de Trait Ardennais de L'Ausoix which is based in Dijon, and has kept the breed's studbook since 1913. The Boulounnais is a patch of chalk country in the Pas de Calais in France. ...
A pair of typical dapple grey Percheron Horses Percheron draft horse at the Maryland State Fair The Percheron is a breed of powerful rugged draft horses that originated in the Perche region of France. ...
Two Ardennes in front of a plough The Ardennes or the Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse, originally from France and Belgium. ...
The Ardennes (pronounced ar-DEN) (Dutch: Ardennen) is a region of extensive forests and rolling hill country, primarily in Belgium and Luxembourg, but stretching into France (lending its name to the Ardennes département and the Champagne-Ardenne région). ...
Breed characteristics The Auxois have a kind, quiet and biddably temperament which, combined with their endurances, makes them highly suitable for heavy draft and farm work. In appearance, they are typically either bay or roan in colour, although can sometimes be red roan or chestnut. They stand between 15 and 16.2 hands high. They usually have a smallish head in comparison to body size, which is broad across the forehead and they have small alert ears. They are very stoutly built, having a short, thickset neck, flattish withers, and a wide and deep chest, characteristics also associated with the Ardennes horses. Generally they are broad through the back, which is also straight, 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 paces. 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. Alternate meanings: Hand (disambiguation) A human left hand The hand (med. ...
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 fast for their bulk. They are well built and, like the Ardennes, have an enormous pulling capacity.
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