Breed Standards and Characteristics of the Ardennes Horse

GENERAL: The Ardennes is essentially a compact heavy draught breed, possessing a great muscular development combined with style and activity. Good posture and conformation with plenty of quality bone, should give an impression of balance strength and power.

HEIGHT: Height must not be at the expense of bone and/or fine quality musculature.

Stallions:- 15hh [1m53cm] to 16.3hh [1m64cm]

Mares:- 14.2hh [1m48cm] to 16.2hh [1m62cm]

The Ardennes is a compact heavy draught breed - with balance, strength and power.

COLOUR: All colours permitted, except part-coloured (piebald/skewbald). No white markings permitted on head in stallions. In mares a little white below fetlock is allowed (but not encouraged), nowhere else except on head.

HEAD: Intelligent expression, flat (snub) nose or rectilinear profile. Pronounced eye sockets, eyes large and docile. Ears pointing forwards. Forehead flat or concave. Large well-opened nostrils. Must avoid long heavy heads, drooping lips, misshapen ears, domed foreheads.

NECK: Medium length, well set on, with full arched crest in stallions.

BODY: Stocky, expressing mass, density and power. Chest ample and deep, close to ground. Back and loins, powerful and well supported. Haunches large and wide, hindquarters long and well muscled, low set tails are common but not to be encouraged.

LIMBS: Long supported shoulders. Arm, forearm and legs very muscular, short and hard. Joints set wide and well defined. Clean cut tendons. Neat round feet with hard blue/brown horn. Not excessively hairy. Avoid fat and puffy joints, spindly limbs, lumpy or spongy bone, hollow knees or outward turning toes.

ACTION: Correct and above all active and energetic.

CARRIAGE: Powerful proud and purposeful.