Poitevin Horse - Characteristics

Characteristics

The body of the Poitevin is slender for a heavy horse and longer than other French draft breeds. It stands 15.3 to 17.1 hands (63 to 69 inches, 160 to 175 cm) high, with stallions averaging 16.2 hands (66 inches, 168 cm) and mares 15.3 hands. The heavy clay and rich minerals of its homeland help it to develop strong bone, and it matures late, generally around 6 to 7 years.

The head is long and strong, with a convex profile and thick, long ears. The neck is long and the shoulders are sloping. The chest is broad and deep, with prominent withers and a long, broad back, and strong hindquarters. The legs are well developed and powerful, with large joints. The marshes upon which the Poitevin was developed, which are hard in summer and waterlogged in winter, allowed the breed to develop large hooves, giving it an advantage in wet environments. The legs are well feathered. The mane and tail are long and thick. The Poitevin is gentle, calm and robust. Historically the breed has been known for its slow movement and disinterest in pulling, although it can produce significant power if necessary. The breed enjoys human contact, and shows intelligence, although it can also be stubborn. Prolonged effort is its weak point, as the Poitevin sometimes lack endurance.

The Poitevin is found in a wide variety of colors, which are partly the result of the many breeds which influenced it. It is the only French draft horse which can be found in bay dun, a tan body color with black mane and tail and primitive markings. This color likely comes from the Spanish horses which influenced the Flemish horses which later contributed to the breeding of the Poitevin. The most popular colors are pure black and seal brown (the latter called black pangaré by the breed registry, although these horses are genetically brown, not black with pangaré markings), which came from the influence of Flemish and Friesian horses. The breed standards accept all colors, except for pinto and leopard spotted, and it is common to see gray, bay and bay roan horses, the last probably being inherited from the Brabant breed. Chestnut and chestnut roan are also seen, both being a legacy of Breton crosses in the breed.