Barraquand horse at Autrans-Méaudre in Vercors, Isère
Conservation status
Critically endangered
Country of origin
Vercors Massif, France
Use
Riding horse, horse-drawn vehicle and packhorse
Traits
Weight
From 450 to 550 kg
Height
About 1.50 m
Color
Bay
Equus ferus caballus
The Barraquand horse is a French mountain horse breed. It is the result of an ancient selection process in the Vercors Massif, and it may have originated from a small herd of animals selected by religious communities, notably those established in the Léoncel abbey. It takes its name from the Barraquand family, who developed their breeding from the late 19th century to the 1950s, thanks to the practice of transhumance. Considered lost after the bankruptcy of the original Barraquand breeding operation and the sale of part of their land in 1963, the breed has been reconstituted since the 1990s, thanks to the initiative of several breeders and local institutions, in particular the Barraquand family, the Vercors Regional Natural Park and the Annecy National Stud.
The selection carried out by Jules Barraquand has resulted in a remarkable homogeneity in the size and type of these horses, modest in size, bay in color and renowned for their calm character and ability to withstand the harsh mountain climate. Once used for transport and farm work, Vercors de Barraquand horse is now mainly used for equestrian tourism in its native region. Critically endangered, the breed numbered around 215 in 2015. It has been officially recognized by the French Ministry of Agriculture since 2017.
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