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The Selle Francais was named a breed in 1958, with its first stud book published in 1965. The Selle Francais was created by crossing regional breeds with trotters, Thoroughbreds, Arabians, and Anglo-Arabians. All stock was registered in the stud book with pedigrees tracing back generations, making the Selle Francais one of the few Warmblood breeds to have received very little foreign blood. The most influential breed was the Anglo-Norman, developed in Normandy in the 19th century by crossing Norfolk Trotter, Thoroughbred, and Arabian stallions to refine the local mares (which themselves traced back to the medieval Norman war-horse). About 90 per cent of today's Selle Francais trace back to this breed. Other regional breeds used to influence the Selle Francais were Charolais, Corlay, Vendee, Anjou, Ain, and Ardennes. A small number of Thoroughbred stallions influenced the breed. The first was Orange Peel who stood at the national stud from 1925 to 1940. His grandson, Ibrahim, also had a great influence on the Selle Francais. Furioso, who is thought to be the most influential Thoroughbred in warmblood breeding, Rantzau and Ultimate were also incredibly important in the Selle Francais breed. The names of these three Thoroughbred sires can be found in virtually every successful modern Selle Francais. |
