Contact
Comtois
A little background...
The cradle of the breed is located on the Maîche plateau (Doubs) in the heart of the Jura mountains between the pine forests, meadows and traditional villages of Franche-Comté. This mountainous area with a harsh climate shaped this rustic, resistant and powerful horse. In 1910, the first breed competition was held in Maîche (Doubs), and in 1919, the Comtois Union and the breed studbook were created.
Standard and breeding area
A mountain horse, the Comtois is a rustic and elegant horse of medium build (it measures between 1.50 and 1.65m and weighs between 650 and 800kg). It is most often dark or copper chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail (or, in layman’s terms, a mahogany colour with a blonde mane and tail). Highly appreciated, this courageous, tough and docile horse is found in Alsace, Burgundy and in the mountainous regions of the Massif Central, Pyrenees and Alps. Furthermore, its success is such that many have been exported to Spain, Belgium, Holland and Germany.
Today...
The Comtois draught is the polyvalent draught horse par ex- cellence: it is both ridden and driven for sport, agricultural and vineyard work and work in towns; it is also highly appreciated for equestrian events, horse-drawn tourism, etc. With nearly 7,000 mares covered in 2004, the Comtois is the first draught horse breed and the fourth horse breed in France. The best specimens of the breed meet each year in Maîche on the third Friday and Saturday of September for the national breed competition.