Sunday 27 September 2009

Snuggles on Sunday and... Percherons!

Tama-Chan: So, it is Sunday today and all is right with our world: #1 is back and the weather is fabulous! We have been sunning ourselves in the run all day!

To kick off what is going to be a pretty long Sunday post, here are several pictures of me snuggling with my little sister, Sei-Chan:






And one of Sei-Chan and Tom "chilling" together...


and doing a "toe to toe"



And now, I shall pass the keyboard to #1 and the horsies...

#1 here. Thank you for all the nice comments about the few photos I put up yesterday. In answer to a question, the Percheron horse is one of the 9 breeds of draft horse in France, and probably the most widespread breed of draft horse in the world. The breed originated in the part of France where we live, which is actually called the Perche. This 2-day event was the French National Percheron Championships in which the "best of breed" are chosen for both stallions and mares. The first day is dedicated to stallions. There were more than 100 of them present and they were shown in the courtyard of the chateau which is the main building of the national stud at Haras du Pin (created by Louis X!V). Today's photos will all be of the stallions, and we will post the "girls" tomorrow.

First off, a lovely 2-year old from the "lightweight" class, whose name is Tom (!) de Prainville:


The Percheron are all braided for presentation using wool, and when the braids are undone, they look like they have had a perm!


This magnificent 4-year old stallion is Rivulus de Lavande who was best in his category as both a 2-year and a 3-year old, and 2nd in the supreme championship this year. He is "expecting" 59 foals next spring!! He has a wonderful personality and is very sweet!

!

Here he is in front of the jury, in the castle courtyard:


And finally for today, here is Seigneur de la Meule who was this year's supreme stallion!


21 comments:

  1. 59 foals? That guy must really get around.

    I like the way they show the horses. Just like a dog show, except the people must have to run a bit faster.

    Slobbers,
    Mango

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  2. Nice snuggle pikhs!

    Of khourse, woo know my favourite!

    Tank woo fur sharing the khool horse pikhs and fur sharing their bakhkground so furry well!

    Hugz&Khysses,
    Khyra
    PeeEssWoo: I think Mango is jealous of 'that guy'!

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  3. Nice snuggle shots. Sei-chan looks like she's getting bigger than Tama-chan! I love the toe to toe shot.

    As for the horses, they are stunning. Can't wait to see the mares.

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  4. Hi guys, your #1 saw some lovely horses. That guy that fathered 59 foals, certainly does get around, as Mango put it. Tama nad Cei chen look so cute and gentle and Tom is so adorable.
    Love,
    Muttallica

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  5. Tama tu nous sauves de la morosité.

    The Percherons are impressive, congratulations to the winners (and the breeders)

    ViVi & AB

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  6. That Rivulus is quite the ladies man!

    Enjoy your snuggle Sunday!

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  7. Those are great snuggle pictures!

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  8. Such sweet snuggles & snugglers ;)

    P.S., love the horses too - so beautiful.

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  9. This is my first visit here and sure am glad I found you. I am a big horse person, or used to be. I used to board horses etc. and had some really nice Percherons in the barn at time. Your horses are just lovely. Course so are your cats and dog.

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  10. Those are some primo snuggling shots!

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  11. The horses really are very beautiful - must be wonderful to see them in person. The kitties look gorgeous with the blue and yellow background.

    Tail wags, the OP Pack

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  12. Nice horse photos and lovely cats. I'll post a few photos of our trip to France.
    We're already hoping to come back.
    Avec chats, ? maybe.

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  13. Monsieur Wash must be a very charming fellow..and the wee ones will be handsome, too! I always love seeing pictures of you girls cuddlin'each other..and with Tommy, too.

    What beautiful horses! They have such nice movement, too.

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  14. You guys look so sweet together!! And I loved seeing the pictures of the horses...they are very pretty. #1 sure does have a cool job!

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  15. What a good time #1 must have had. The horses are of course beautiful! We like the "dressed-up" style and the "working style" you showed in a past post where some Percherons were working in the wood.
    And the snuggle pictures are heartwarming.
    Purrs, Siena & Chilli

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  16. Great post - we were really interested in the Percherons. When all the Guinness celebrations were going on last week - Murray's Mom got a lovely book on Guinness and was particularly interested in the secion on horse-drawn carts that used to transport the Guinness. 40 teams of 2 or 3 draymen and a horse - each horse carrying a 2-tonne load used to travel around Dublin delivering casks of beer. Guinness sold their own team of Clydesdales and Percherons in 1932 but then hired in the few horses they that still employed. Their last Percheron to be used on brewery business was pensioned off in 1960. It's such a shame - the photos of the horses working around Dublin are amazing.

    take care
    Clive

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  17. incredible horses - and love the pics of you guys snuggling

    Woodrow - Sweetie - MJ

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  18. Those are great photos - both of the horses and the snuggling!

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  19. Mom had to come and get her fix of snuggles, so here we are.
    --JB

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  20. Beautiful, still young and growing into the beautiful silver color that they become. With 59 foals he must be a popular mate!

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  21. such sweet sister snuggling pictures! and the Percherons are magnificent! they look surprisingly short compared to the Suffolk draught horses we have here...but very nice and solid muscles!

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