French Trotter
The French Trotter is a racing horse originated in the Normandy region of France around the 19th century. Known for its calm and gentle disposition, these horses have shown an exceptional gait along with strong determination and discipline.
French Trotter Horse Pictures
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- Black French Trotter
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- French Trotter Horse and Foal
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- French Trotter Horse Images
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- French Trotter Horse Pictures
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- French Trotter Horse
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- French Trotter Horses
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- French Trotter Images
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- French Trotter Pictures
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- French Trotter Stallion
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- French Trotter
Quick Information
| Other Names | Norman Trotter, Trotteur Francais |
| Temperament and Personality | Calm, well-behaved, submissive, easy-to-train |
| Physical Characteristics | Slightly large head, wide eyes, deep, broad chest, prominent breastbone, straight limbs, strong hooves, strong back and muscular quarters |
| Colors | Chestnut, brown, black, bay and gray (very rare) |
| Common Use | Racing, harness racing, driving |
| Weight | 500 kg to 650 kg |
| Height (Size) | 15 to 17 hands (60 to 65 inches; 152 to 165 cm) |
| Health | Healthy with no known breed-related problems, though owners should ensure a healthy living and regular vet checkup |
| Gaited | Maintains a diagonal two beat trotting gait |
| Popular Traits | Intelligence, endurance, agility and determination. |
| Feeding/Diet | Normally their diet includes grain and hay |
| Country of Origin | France |
| Ancestors | Norman stock horse, English Thoroughbred, American standardbred, and Hackney |
| Year/Time of Development | 19th century |
French Trotter Video:
History
As trotting races began to be popular in the early 19th century, most horses started being bred in France for this purpose. The French Trotter had been created by crossing the Norman stock horse, which has a muscular body stature, with the English thoroughbred, local half-bred, Norfolk Trotter as well as the American Standard bred stallions. Owing to the influence of the Old Norman horse in its development, it is even known as the Norman Trotter.
After being developed, the Trotters initially were heavy and coarse in appearance just like their Normandy ancestors. However, as the genes of the Thoroughbred horses were used to breed them, they attained a refined form. On the other hand, the genes of the standardbred horses were functional in helping them to maintain their speed, as they developed a trotting gait. In spite of having the genes of the American Standardbred horse, the French Trotter possesses a two-beat diagonal gait, rather than the lateral two-beat or pacing gait. Getting recognized officially in the year 1922, this is the most available breed in France in the recent times.
One of the famous French Trotters is Young Rattler, born in 1811 by crossing a thoroughbred rattler as well as a mare containing a higher amount of Norfolk Roadster genes. It is also responsible for contributing towards the modern breed of French Trotter. Thirty years after Rattler’s birth, certain thoroughbreds like Sir Quid Pigtail and the Heir of Linne began making their marks, increasing the population of French Trotters. Therefore, five significant bloodlines went on to be formed because of Normand and Conquerant (Sons of Young Rattler), Lavater (bred by Norfolk sire) and Fuchsia and Phaeton, both of whom were half-bred. Being foaled in 1883, Fuchsia, in turn, had fathered 400 trotters, with more than hundred of his sons were fathers of winning horses.
In 1937, the French Trotter Studbook had been closed to horses that were not of French breed in order to protect the qualities of the French trotter, which could give a tough competition to the world class harness racers.
Interesting Facts
- Known for its high energy level, the French Trotter may equal the galloping of a thoroughbred racing horse in terms of speed.
- It is used for a sport named ‘skijoring’, where this breed goes on to race on the snow pulling its rider on skis behind it.
- It has become a common practice to remove the shoe of French trotters before racing particularly for the purpose of increasing speed and improving its gait.
