Auxois Horse

Auxois Horse : The French departments Cote-dOr that means Golden Hillside and Yonne are whence the Auxois horse breed origins. Cluny stud is in France and the area is slightly hilly and fertile with rich pastures. This rare horse breed descends from the old extinct Burgundian horse, which lived in the Middle Ages. A cross between the Burgundian and Ardennes, which is still in existence today, create the Auxois horse.

As its ancestries are as well ancient breeds, the Auxois is maybe one of the closest draft horses to the original cold blood. The alternative name is -Trait Auxois horse- and is very similar to the Ardennes horse, due to its influence. These crossbreeds during the 19th century between these two breeds, Percheron and Boulonnais blood produced a heavy draft horse and increased the overall size of the Auxois.

Because their number decreased dramatically, today only the Ardennes blood has been used to improve the breed. That`s why they are so similar in size and shape, though they are somewhat larger in height than the Ardennes. Auxois is also strictly protected and monitored by the Syndicat du Cheval de Trait Ardenais de LAusoix, which studbook is formed since 1913. In the past, they were used as carriage horses in the transport industry, for farm and heavy draught work.

But with the advent of the mechanization, the need for draft horses was reduced hence their population was in decline and today is dangerously low. The Auxois has a short, large head with a light, broad and wide forehead and small alert ears. The neck is also short, muscular and thickset withers are flattish and the chest is deep and wide. Their body is powerful, massive and muscular with a deep girth and long, sloping, short back.