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Country of Origin: France
The Anglo-Norman horse is a horse breed developed from Thoroughbreds and heavy horses from Normandy, France. Norman breeders began crossing English Thoroughbreds and halfbreds with their local mare stock in the 1830s. While later breeders used only Thoroughbreds, the original half-breds had strong Norfolk Roadster character. The term "Anglo-Norman" was replaced in 1958 by the term "Cheval de Selle Francais" meaning French Saddle Horse.
Prominent Anglo-Norman horses include Nonius, Condor, Furioso II, Almé Z, and Cor de la Bryere.
The Anglo-Norman horse has excelled in jumping competitions. Their winners have included Lutteur B, who was an Olympic gold medal winner at Tokyo in 1964.
History
The ancestry of the breed may date to when the ancient Romans crossed the small, hardy Bidet horses with their large heavyweight mares to produce a sturdy horse for war and horse artillery. It was also for remount and for use as a light draft horse. The Anglo-Norman horse came in a variety of types: a small draft horse called the Normandy Cob, harness horses that were the forebears of the modern French Trotter, and middle-weight riding horses which were developed into the Selle Francais. The heavier, stockier Normandy cob, used for light draft, farm work, and carriage is not recognized as a breed, even though stud books are kept and breeding records are recorded.
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