"The first time I saw the Franches-Montagnes I was very young, and what I recall are the horses. I remember we had stopped our car in the middle of a minor road because a herd of horses with their little foals had blocked our path. They didn't want to let us pass! We got out to stroke them and try to move them along a bit. I've never experienced anything like that elsewhere in Switzerland - the sense of freedom was magical!"
Valentine
Info
The High Plateau of the Franches-Montagnes in the Swiss Jura is the birthplace of the Franches-Montagnes horse breed. This horse is descended from native mares that were cross-bred many times. It is the only breed of Swiss origin.
Vaillant, born in 1891 near Saignelégier and Imprévu, imported to Switzerland in 1889, are the principal sires.
Good to know
The main qualities of the Franches-Montagnes horse are exceptional character and obedience. It is a calm, precocious and tough horse that is easy to train and has remarkable learning abilities. Medium in size and measuring 15 or 16 hands at the age of three, it is the archetypal leisure horse for carriage driving and riding.
Fédération jurassienne d'élevage chevalin
2882 St-Ursanne
T. +41 (0) 32 426 53 54
www.cheval-jura.ch
Fédération suisse d'élevage du cheval Franches-Montagnes
Les Longs Prés
1580 Avenches
T. +41 (0) 26 676 63 43
www.fm-ch.ch
