Bidet horse

Bidet
Conservation status	Extinct
Country of origin	France
Traits
Height	110–135 centimetres at the withers;
	Equus ferus caballus;

The Bidet was a type of small horse from France, now extinct. It was a landrace developed principally in the area around Brittany, Morvan, Auvergne, Poitou, and Burgundy. It stood about 110–135 centimetres at the withers.[1] Two distinct groups are documented, which were bred in a semi-feral state.

Bidets were first identified in the 15th century. They were used as "jack-of-all-trades" animals, equally suited for riding, farm work and passenger transport. They declined during the 19th century, when railways and better-kept roads pressured horse breeders into specialising their breeds. Despite the animal's disappearance, the name "bidet" survives in several French cultural references.

References

Bernard Denis, "Les races de chevaux en France au XVIII^e siècle. Et les idées relatives à leur amélioration", In Situ, 18, 2012, mis en ligne le 31 juillet 2012.

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[1] Bernard Denis, "Les races de chevaux en France au XVIII^e siècle. Et les idées relatives à leur amélioration", In Situ, 18, 2012, mis en ligne le 31 juillet 2012.