Percheron
This is the male horse of a pair of Percheron draft horses, owned and worked by an Amish farmer I have recently gotten to know. This particular horse and I have become fast friends. The farmer graciously lets me into his fields to roam, where his seven or eight draft horses are grazing. This huge guy is the most gentle and friendly horse of the whole group. He follows me around, nuzzles my back, and is constantly asking to be stroked and have his ears scratched. His mate is more standoffish. It is quite wonderful to watch this gentle giant pulling a plow or just plain enjoying himself out in the fields.
The Percheron Draft Horse.
“Any of a breed of gray or black draft horse originally used in France for drawing artillery and heavy coaches but now bred in other countries for general purposes.” http://www.percheronhorse.org/
“ The Percheron has a very pleasing disposition. He is proud, alert, intelligent and willing worker. Percherons are usually black or grey, but there are also sorrels, bays, roans, etc. Many Percherons have white markings on the head and feet, but excessive white is undesirable. Percherons range in height from 15 to 19 hands high, most are between 16-2 and 17-3 hands high. They can weigh up to 2600 pounds with the average around 1900. Percherons are noted for heavy muscling in the lower thighs and for an aspect of unusual ruggedness and power. Also characteristic of the Percheron is the clean action and quality conformation of the feet and legs. An ideal horse should have a fairly long level croup with a big round hip. He should be close coupled and wide and deep through the chest, with plenty of back rib. The muscles of the arms, forearms, croup and gaskins plenty are especially emphasized in a good drafter, and ease and balance of gait is essential. He is also expected to be of marked tractability and an easy keeper.” http://www.percheronhorse.org/about/disp.htm)