Registries | History & Origin |Population | Breeding | Uses | Conformation

Boulonnais History & Origin

The Boulonnais is said to descend from the horses imported by Julius Caesar's legions, which stayed along the coasts of the Pas-de-Calais before invading what is now Great Britain. Much later came the Crusades and the Spanish occupation of Flanders. These events brought a great deal of Oriental and Andalusian blood to the Boulonnais area. Additional crosses with Andalusian stock and Mecklenburg blood from Germany further shaped the breed.

The influence of these early ancestors sets the Boulonnais draft horse apart from other draft breeds. The Boulonnais' speed, elegant build, refined head, silky coat and thick mane can all be attributed to this hot-blooded ancestry.

As far back as the seventeenth century, the Boulonnais horse has enjoyed a fine reputation with dealers from Picardie and Haute-Normandie coming to buy good animals for their business and use. The Boulonnais is probably best known for pulling fish delivery carts from Boulogne (the city from which it gets its name) to Paris.

Boulonnais Population & Evolution

As well as the large Boulonnais there was the Mareyeuses, or the "Petite Boulonnais", which was a smaller build, standing at between 15 hh and 15.2 hh. This swifter animal was used to transport fish from coastal regions to Paris quickly The Mareyeuse has virtually disappeared and the numbers of the Boulonnais itself were greatly depleted during the Second World War. They are noted for their stamina and endurance and are able to maintain a steady speed over great distances. Sadly, their use is somewhat limited now, although the preservation of the breed is ensured by the vigilance of the French National Studs.

Even more recently, Arab stallions have been used by the "Haras Nationaux" in the Boulogne region for crossbreeding with the Boulonnais breed. The result is called "Araboulonnais". These horses show qualities for carriage but have not been registered in the stud-book of the breed. However, they are acknowledged as "facteur boulonnais" and the crossbreeding with thoroughbred Boulogne mares produces Boulogne horses.

Nowadays, there remain approximately 680 brood mares, some fifty stallions and about 359 foals, as well as 120 Araboulonnais. This can be compared to the 600 000 horses in the 1900's.

Boulonnais Area of Breeding

Today, Boulonnais breeding animals are to be found in several northwest departments of France, notably Pas-de-Calais, North (Dunkerque and Hazebroucq), Somme, Seine-Maritime and Oise. They are primarily bred on government funded studs in order to prevent this impressive breed from dying out.

Boulonnais Uses

Energetic and lively, with a splendid gait, the Boulonnais excels as a working draft horse and is much admired for its elegant teams in harness. The breed also has a reputation for improving other breeds of draft horse in spite of its very reduced numbers

Boulonnais Conformation

The Boulonnais is gray in color, ranging from a very light to a dark dappled shade. An occasional chestnut is seen in the breed. The head is elegant and short with a flat and wide forehead, very keen, proud eyes, well-opened nostrils and small mobile ears.

The neck is thick and muscular; the mane is thick and short. The chest is wide with a well-rounded rib cage. The withers are well placed but often set deep in the musculature. The back is straight and the limbs are strong and solid with clean joints. There is very little hair on the legs.
                                                                              

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