Cauchois horse

The Cauchois, commonly referred to as the "Norman bidet", is not listed in the Domestic Animal Diversity Information System (DAD-IS). The nineteenth-century zoologist proposed a British origin for the breed, while Achille de Montendre suggested it derived from the Flemish Horse. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Cauchois was highly sought after by country gentlemen for its robustness and elegance. A report by M. Le Prévost, written at the time of the reorganization of the stud farms, details the breed's significance in the Pays de Caux under the Ancien Régime: "Before the Revolution, the Pays de Caux possessed a species of horse that was particularly advantageous to it, known as Cauchois horses. They were the result of native mares combined with stallions of the Norman or Danish breed, widespread in large numbers in our various cantons". In 1820, Cauchois stallions were noted in various stud farms, including those in Amécourt, created in 1815; and in Maintenon, in the Eure-et-Loir region. In 1846, an article in the weekly ''L'Illustration'' described the breed as "the type of draft horse", noting that it was "improperly called Boulonnais". Horses bred in the Pays de Caux were nicknamed "chevaux du bon pays (horses from the good country)" in the trade, to emphasize their qualities and to differentiate them from the heavier Picardy drafts, nicknamed "chevaux du mauvais pays (horses from the bad country)". He also notes that the Boulonnais and Cauchois breeds are tending to merge. In 1877, the Société centrale d'agriculture du département de la Seine-Inférieure in Rouen proposed various measures to "improve Cauchois horses", including crossbreeding with Thoroughbred or half-blood stallions, and a Percheron stallion. The decline of the Cauchois breed began with the advent of railroads, which provided competition as a draft horse, as well as the tilbury, which favored mixed-breed horses. André Sanson noted this decline as early as 1867, In 1923, Paul Diffloth explained that the Cauchois had been suppressed by competition from other breeds, and modified by cross-breeding. == Description ==

The Cauchois, classified as a "gros trait" breed and often regarded as a variety of the Boulonnais, was notable for its robust build and height, averaging around 1.66 meters. This horse is sometimes described as "the most massive of French breeds". The tail is typically docked, leaving two strands of hair on either side of the base, which are arranged in a plume for aesthetic appeal. The Cauchois is also reputed to be more precocious and vigorous than other Norman horse breeds. André Sanson notes that the typical Cauchois walks with its head low and lifts its hooves minimally, creating the impression that it may stumble with every step. The soil in their biotope is dry and elevated. == Usage ==

The Cauchois breed was particularly well-suited for various forms of heavy drafting, making it a favored choice for pulling carriages belonging to brewers, millers, Between 1855 and 1900, the Compagnie Générale des Omnibus (CGO) incorporated approximately 9.72% Cauchois horses into its workforce, with the majority being Percherons. According to statistics, the Cauchois has the lowest mortality rate of all the breeds used by the CGO. This low rate may not solely be attributed to the breed's inherent resilience but rather to effective breeding and training practices. Breeders worked with their horses before delivering them to the CGO, facilitating better adaptation to the company's training requirements. In the 1830s, the Cauchoise breed was in demand for large cavalry. In 1867, André Sanson noted that "mares (from the Pays de Caux) are still called Cauchoises (feminine of Cauchois in French). They are the ones who carry the beautiful farm girls of the Pays de Caux to market". Under the Ancien Régime, these horses were highly valued by cavalry and dragoon units, with the Royal-Piémont cavalry regiment sourcing its mounts from the Pays de Caux for several consecutive years. The breed's precociousness enabled it to enter the war squadrons a year earlier. == The spread of breeding ==

Unique to the Pays de Caux region, the Cauchois was once bred in the arrondissement of Le Havre. However, by the early nineteenth century, local farmers began to favor purchasing Boulonnaise-bred foals aged between one year and 15 months, subsequently reselling them in Paris and Lyon at four years of age. In 1840, a horse of "Bulle" type in the Swiss canton of Fribourg was reported to be of Cauchois origin. == Cultural impact ==

The Cauchois has inspired artists, particularly in depictions of Norman farm women knitting while riding their bidets returning from the market. This work appeared in the catalog of a sale of works of art held at the Hôtel Drouot on 6 March 1885. == See also ==