 Lignol, a 23-year-old Breton bidet, from a photograph published in 1931. | |
| Country of origin | France, Britanny |
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| Use | Saddle and pack horse |
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| Height |
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| Color | Generally chestnut, more often roan, buckskin, grullo with markings on the legs. Bay, gray and black variations also possible. |
The Breton bidet is a type of bidet, a small horse bred in Brittany. Characterized by its ability to move at amble, and bred for its working strength, the bidet has been around since the 5th century. In the Middle Ages, it may have been crossed with oriental horses brought by the House of Rohan. Widespread in Brittany until the mid-nineteenth century, bidets were used for all work requiring a low-value horse. The Haras Nationaux fought against this breeding. Transportation modernized in the 19th century, making the draft horse more sought-after. The Breton bidet disappeared at the dawn of the 20th century.
These small horses, measuring 1.30 m to 1.45 m in height, are generally chestnut in color. Reputed to be ugly, they have great stamina and proverbial resistance to effort. Bidets are mainly used for saddling or as packhorses, but some are also known for their racing abilities. They are bred in southern and central Brittany, near Briec, Carhaix, Loudéac, and on the Morbihan coast.