The original
landrace ancestors of the Charolais include the Cheval Bourguignon (Burgundy Horse), which developed from horses bred in the
Burgundy region in the
Middle Ages. Although small, Burgundy horses were known for their endurance and robustness. They were used for riding and agriculture, and as
coach horses. This type, combined with other blood, developed into the Charolais, which belonged to a group of French breeds called
demi-sang or "half-bloods" – crosses between native breeds and
Thoroughbreds. Until the mid-20th century, the Charolais and other
demi-sang breeds, such as the
Angevin,
Charentais,
Cheval Limousin, and
Vendéen, were generally known by the name of the region in which they existed, and did not have individual breed stud-books. As these horses were not separated by
breed type, but instead by geography, no significant physical characteristics distinguished the Charolais from other
demi-sang types that developed prior to the mid-19th century. Charolais horses were primarily raised in what is now the
Saône-et-Loire department. The areas of
Cluny,
Charolles,
Blanzy,
Paray-le-Monial, and
Digoin were preferred for breeding, due to the
clay-
limestone soils that favoured the development of the equine skeletal structure. Multi-purpose types like the Charolais and the Morvan were slowly supplanted in farmers' favour by
draught horses. The
Nivernais breed, in particular, was preferred by farmers and threatened the existence of the Charolais. It was thought by some enthusiasts, however, that this outcrossing reduced the quality of the breed, However, others thought that the outcrossings had benefited the Charolais breed: in 1919, one author stated that the breeding of the Charolais type was in excellent condition, and a report from the time stated that the favourite horse of
King Albert I of Belgium was a Charolais named Titanic. Like many other French saddle horse types, in 1958, the Charolais was part of a reorganisation of French horse breeding. Many
demi-sang types, including the Charolais, were merged to create a new national breed, the
Selle Français. == Characteristics ==