History Anglo-Norman horse

norman stallion before 1830

beginning in 1850s, arrival of second french empire, anglo-norman became popular breed in france, competing thoroughbred. reputed versatile horse, appropriate riding , pulling light carriages. 1840 1860, breed further influenced part-thoroughbred trotting horses england. local norman mares crossed imported thoroughbreds, norfolk trotters, orlov trotters , other crossbred horses, had norfolk , mecklenburger blood. 1855, quality of resulting animals had ensured breed s success, , anglo-norman spread throughout france, supplanting type of riding horse south, limousin horse. in 1864, société du cheval français de demi-sang (society of french half-blood horses) founded, later became société d encouragement à l élevage du cheval français (society encourage french horse breeding). breeders spread description of norman horses, particularly anglo-normans, versatile horses used both riding , driving.

the french conquest of algeria (1830-1847) brought anglo-norman competition barb horse. in 1873, bocher law passed, established premiums french horse breeders, while taxing imported horses. protectionism result of desire of native french breeders protect interests against imports french colonies. law named after edward bocher, politician calvados, argued law supportive of french agriculture, , anglo-norman breed. called anglo-norman horse of time ... suitable services. said useful both riding , driving, , sought after both military , commercial interests. law increased national breeding standards , encouraged production of half-blood horses, anglo-normans, military use. development of anglo-norman saddle horse breed had long been delayed focus on production of fashionable carriage horses. resulted in military imposing major breeding changes on breeders, unaware of jobs horses performed military. however, conflict between breeders , military resulted disagreements on breeding aims.

from 1830s interwar period (1919–1939), anglo-norman 1 of main horses used french cavalry. although author alfred gallier stated breed use, many opposing scholars argued not case. military requirements conflicted norman breeders, carriage horses preferred breeders different style sought military, required fast horses stamina , agility. according military equestrian denis bogros, economic weight of norman horse breeders such negatively influenced effectiveness of french army until 20th century, producing large, overweight trotters became fatigued more barbs or arabians. bogros states breeders of norman horses managed deceive french government, through powerful lobbying groups, selling military rejects breeding programs. anglo-norman commercial success carriage horses, proved worthless cavalry. led creation of société du cheval de guerre (society of war horse), in 1906 severely criticized use of anglo-norman. bogros considered anglo-arabians bred near tarbes more useful military.

20th century

an anglo-norman mare, 1904 book illustration painting thomas von nathusius

with mechanization of transport , military in 20th century, anglo-norman no longer in demand carriage , military horse. in addition, world war ii , german occupation of france caused significant damage norman homeland of breed fighting destroyed farms , killed half of horses @ national stud @ saint-lô. of surviving of norman cob breed, , horses lost status animals of luxury , leisure. many farms left in ruins, , breeders left rethinking breeding aims. provisions of marshall plan convinced them not focus on breeding draft horses, , type began disappear. instead, emphasis shifted toward producing horses equestrian sports, , stud book created anglo-norman breed on december 7, 1950, @ saint-lô. in 1950s , 1960s, anglo-norman became major force in international equine competition. @ 1964 summer olympics, anglo-norman lutteur b won gold medal in show jumping.

in 1958, anglo-norman studbook combined other regional warmblood saddle horses such demi-sang du centre , vendéen in order create unified national warmblood studbook selle français or french saddle horse. french government actively supported merger of regional types , breeds large financial appropriation. in spite of merger, decades afterwards, horses anglo-norman bloodlines identifiable within selle français due differences in conformation.

a selle français competing in show jumping in 2013

in august 1996, breeder fernand leredde, of haras des rouges stud farm, developed idea of cheval de sport anglo-normand (csan, or anglo-norman sport horse), preserve genetic heritage of 4 generations of anglo-norman horses still extant within selle français breed. plan moved forward in august 2008 support of other professional breeders. argument selle français had become increasingly crossed other european breeds since advent of artificial insemination in 1980 , opening of stud book horses of foreign breeds in 2000; theory of jus soli allowed horses of foreign bloodlines called selle français if born in france. breeders allying leredde prefer return original french anglo-norman regional sport horse. however, when anglo-norman breeders whole asked vote, rejected idea of amending studbook.

the idea new stud book presented in december 2009 , november 2011 commission des livres généalogiques (stud book commission) , on may 24, 2013, ministry of agriculture. president of association nationale du selle français (french saddle horse association), bernard le courtois, publicly spoke out against idea on june 18, 2013, arguing competition other countries strong in world of sport horse breeding, , creating competition within france should avoided. described proposed re-opening of anglo-norman stud book criminal , saying step backwards led small group of unscrupulous , fanciful breeders . in response, syndicat des Éleveurs et cavaliers professionnels de chevaux et poneys de sport (union of breeders , professional riders of horses , sport ponies) defended project stating breeder behind anglo-norman stud book project 1 of top in field in world, while selle français stud book largest , in decline in europe . in august 2014, new stud book approved french government, , made official on may 27, 2015, submitted publication in jorf edition of june 4, 2015. of september 2015, stud-book has no horses registered in yet.