History & Origin | Evolution | Uses | Conformation

Ardennes History & Origin

Ardennes are thought to be descended from the type of horse described by Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico, and could possibly even be a direct descendent of the prehistoric Solutre horse. Later, Napolean added Arabian blood to increase stamina and endurance and used the breed in his Russian campaign. In the 19th century, Belgian draft blood was added to give the breed the conformation it has today.

The Ardennes was used to create several breeds, including the Baltic Ardennes, Swedish Ardennes, and Russian Heavy Draft.

Ardennes Evolution

From the 17th until the 19th century, the Ardennes horses were both ridden und used as light draft horses. During the French Revolution in 1789, and in the following years of the Empire, they became renowned as the best artillery horses in Europe. In 1812 during the Napoleon´s disastrous Russian campaign, it was said that they were the only horses hardy enough to withstand the rigors of the winter retreat from Moscow and bring home a substantial part of the Emperor´s wagon train.

At the beginning of the 19th century the Ardennes was crossed with Arabian blood, later with Percheron, Boulonnais, and Thoroughbred. However, the impact of these last three was transitory, except possibly in the related Auxois.

Three distinct types of Ardennes evolved over the years: a smaller sort, closest to the old type; the bigger and more massive Ardennes du Nord, also known as the Trait du Nord, which resulted from crosses with the Belgian Draft Horse and comes largely from Lorraine; the powerful Auxois from Burgundy is similar to the Ardennes du Nord, but was more influenced by the 19th-century Percheron and Boulonnais crosses.

Losses during both World Wars led to the importation of Dutch and Belgian stallions but today such crosses are much less frequent.

Ardennes Uses

Ardennes today are used mainly for heavy draft and farm work.

References:
- The Encyclopedia of Horses & Ponies. Tamsin Pickeral.