Horse
Pronunciation:
Sell Frahn-say
Breed Description:
The Selle Français breed of horse is a type of warmblood. Its full French name, Cheval de Selle Français means French Saddle Horse in English. But it is nothing like American Saddlers or Saddle Bred horses. Rather, the Selle Français has become a top show jumping breed which owes a lot to the Thoroughbred. The term Selle Français was first used in 1985 to describe early French “half breed” competition horses. Like all warmbloods, it is a mixture of breeds, but differs in the fact that there is a significant use of fast trotting foundation stock. Selle Français horses are powerful movers, and they are supple and strong with good bone. Their shoulders are powerful but not sufficiently sloped for great galloping ability. They have strong and flexible hocks, and broad strong quarters which is what gives them such excellent potential for jumping. They are normally chestnut or bay in color, but can be any solid color with socks, stocking and other normal markings. There is a lighter-type of Selle Français breed of horse that has even more Thoroughbred blood than the jumpers that has been developed for racing. The type of racing they are used for is limited to races that are for non-Thoroughbreds only. Some of these horses also compete in cross country racing which involves jumping fences, rather like steeplechase.
Temperament:
The Selle Français breed of horse has a docile and easy temperament. They are willing to work and easily trained.
Height:
The Selle Français breed of horse averages between 16 and 17 hands, or 64 to 68 inches at the withers.
Weight:
The Selle Français breed of horse weighs between 1200 to 1700 pounds, largely depending on its height.
Health Problems:
The Selle Français breed of horse is known to have few if any health or unsoundness problems.
Living Conditions:
The Selle Français breed of horse was bred for competition and so is almost always stabled.
Exercise:
The Selle Français breed of horse is a sport horse and is normally used for either competitive riding or pleasure. For this reason it should have a regular exercise routine to keep it fit and healthy.
Life Expectancy:
The Selle Français breed of horse will normally live between 20 and 35 years.
Grooming:
The Selle Français breed of horse, like any horse in competition or being used for regular riding, needs daily grooming care to keep the coat short, sleek and shiny.
Origin:
The Selle Français breed of horse originates from Normandy in France and the breed is a relatively new one because it was only developed in the mid 20th century. Its first stud book was published in 1965. However the history of the breed in fact goes back much further. For centuries, testing and perfecting sports horses was a consuming passion for the French, in the same way as horse racing was in the United Kingdom. France established its first National Stud in 1665, and this became the Haras Nationaux, a network of 23 state-run stud farms that are dedicated to improving the quality of performance horse breeding.
The development of the modern Selle Français breed of horse owes it origins to the development of the Anglo-Norman horses in the 19th century, in Normandy. Local Norman mares (which can be traced back to the medieval Norman war-horse) were crossed with imported English Thoroughbreds, English half-bred stallions as well as some important Norfolk Roadster lines. In those early days two distinct cross-breeds were developed. The first was the Anglo-Norman horse which was either a draught cob type or a riding horse. And it was the Ango-Norman riding horse that became the Selle Français. The second was a fast harness horse for trotting races that eventually developed into the French Trotter.
In fact the Selle Français stud book is a continuation of the original Anglo-Norman stud book and it shows how Thoroughbred and Norfolk Roadster blood influenced the breed. All stock has been registered in the stud book with pedigrees tracing back generations, showing that the Selle Français is one of the few Warmblood breeds to have very little foreign blood in it.
A small number of very specific Thoroughbred stallions influenced the breed. The first was Orange Peel who stood at the national stud from 1925 to 1940. His grandson, Ibrahim, also had a great influence on the Selle Français. Furioso, who is thought to be the most influential Thoroughbred in warmblood breeding, as well as Rantzau and Ultimate were also incredibly important in terms of development of the breed. The names of these three Thoroughbred sires can be found in virtually every successful modern Selle Français horse.
Today, there is still quite a bit of cross breeding between Selle Français' and other breeds, making it suitable for a wide range of activities. 