Corsican horse

The Corsican (Corsican: U Cavallu Corsu or u paganacciu, French: Cheval corse) is a breed of small domestic horse indigenous to the Mediterranean island of Corsica, off the coast of south-eastern France.[2] The breed was officially recognised in February 2012, more than thirty years after the process was begun.[3][4] The stud-book is kept by a breeders' association, the Association Nationale de Race U Cavallu Corsu. The total population in the island is estimated at approximately 1000. Since the stud-book was established in 2012, about 100 animals have been registered.[5]

Corse
A Corse mare
Other names
  • Corsican: U Cavallu Corsu
  • Corsican: U Paganacciu
  • French: Cheval corse
Country of originCorsica, France
Traits
Distinguishing featuresHeight     1.30–1.50 m
Weight     300–400 kg[1]
Breed standards

Characteristics

The Corsican is a small horse, standing between 1.30 and 1.50 metres (12.3 and 14.3 hands) at the withers and weighing 300–400 kg.[1] The coat colour may be black, seal brown, or any shade of bay; minimal white markings are tolerated. The head is relatively short, sometimes heavy, with a straight profile. The body is compact, with a short and sloping croup. The legs are fine, with small hard hooves.[1]

History

There are no equines in the fossil record of Corsica, and for that reason it is believed that humans brought the first horses to the island, along with a number of other animals. The Haras Nationaux set up a remount depot on the island in 1861 for the purpose of producing light cavalry horses and mules. When the military ceased to breed horses there, the animals remaining were bred by local people and reverted to a homogeneous phenotype due to what essentially became natural selection.[6]

Uses

Today most Corsican horses are used for trail riding, primarily within the tourist industry. They are noted for toughness and endurance.[6]

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References
  1. Pierre Schwartz (27 November 2013). Annexe I: Standard du cheval Corse (in French). Annex to: Arrêté du 27 novembre 2013 modifiant l'arrêté du 12 décembre 2012 portant approbation du règlement du stud-book du cheval Corse, Ministère de l’alimentation, de l’agriculture et de la pêche. In: Journal officiel "Lois et Décrets" 0283, 6 December 2013: 19907. Accessed July 2014.
  2. Breed data sheet: Corse/France. Domestic Animal Diversity Information System of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Accessed July 2014.
  3. P. Falcone (3 February 2012). Arrêté du 3 février 2012 modifiant l'arrêté du 24 avril 2009 relatif aux races et appellations des équidés (in French). Ministère de l'agriculture, de l'alimentation, de la pêche, de la ruralité et de l'aménagement du territoire. In: Journal officiel "Lois et Décrets" 0038, 14 February 2012: 2543. Accessed July 2014.
  4. Jean-Paul Cappuri (5 June 2012). Cheval corse: la race enfin reconnue, le cheptel "socle" est à reconstituer (in French). Corse-Matin. Accessed July 2014.
  5. Le Cheval Corse (in French). Les Haras nationaux. Accessed July 2014.
  6. Hendricks, Bonnie (2007). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. pp. 140–141.


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