Bidet of Morvan

Intro

The Bidet of Morvan or Bidet du Morvan is not an official breed. The term Bidet with regards to horses in France is a very old one, but today the term generally means country bred.

Origins

The Bidet term for horses has been used in France since pre-Roman times (long before the appliance was invented) and the original Bidet played a part in development of the mighty Norman horse. During the 15th century Bidet horses were small horses notable for their hardiness and adaptability. Over the years the term diluted and became a slang word for country bred animals.

Even into the 20th century the workhorses of poor farmers were referred to as Bidet. The name stuck likely because the French government discouraged backyard breeding. What small programs existed kept their herds in a semi feral state, allowing natural selection to keep them tough. The Bidet du Morvan was specifically bred in the Morvan province and likely had localized traits useful to farmers in the area.

As with many work and saddle horse types, the advent of mechanization caused their numbers to dwindle into extinction by the 20th century.

Features

Average height 13.8 hands

Physique

Head is strong and square with a straight profile
Forehead is flat
Ears are short
Chest is broad
Hindquarters are flat
Hooves are strong

Traditional Colors

Generally chestnut, grey, dun, roan, bay and sometimes black

Temperament

Calm and tractable
Sturdy and brave

Use

Riding
Hunting
Cavalry
Harness
Agriculture