Breton Horse Breed Guide: Characteristics, Health & Nutrition

The Breton horse is a French draft breed from Bretagne, or Brittany, a province in northwest France. There are three types of Breton horses: the Postier Breton, the Central Mountain Breton, and the Heavy Draft Breton.

This breed has ancient origins tracing back to the Celtic tribes that once occupied the Bretagne region. Once sought after by military leaders during the Crusades, Breton horses are still a popular draft breed in France today.

Bretons are closely related to several other draft breeds and share a predisposition to common heavy horse health problems. These breeds generally have shorter lifespans than lighter horses, so proper care is essential for keeping them healthy as long as possible.

This breed profile will discuss the characteristics, history, health problems, and nutritional needs of the Breton horse breed. Keep reading to learn more about feeding and caring for Breton horses.

Breton Horse History

Breton horses have a long history in Brittany, a northwestern region of France. The area’s challenging climate and evolving culture significantly influenced the breed over centuries. Throughout that time, Bretons also impacted the development of several French and domestic horse breeds.

Origin

Genetic research shows that the Breton horse breed has an ancient origin. The modern Breton likely descended from horses bred by the Celtic tribes before they invaded the British Isles in the Iron Age. ^[1]

Descendants of Celtic horses inhabited the Breton mountains for thousands of years. Horses needed strength and hardiness to survive the challenging climate and poor-quality land of the region. Today, the modern Central Mountain Breton still closely resembles these original horses.

After the Crusades, imported oriental breeds crossed with the Breton mountain horses to produce the Bidet Breton horse, an extinct breed of small, versatile horses once popular in France.

Studies show genetic links between Breton horses and Boulonais, Percheron, and Ardennes breeds. Crossbreeding was common to improve the strength of heavy French breeds. Modern Bretons with these draft horse lines have a heavier type. ^[1]

Crossing with the Norfolk Trotter produced a refined type known as the Postier Breton. When crossbreeding declined after 1930, breeding began focusing on selection within the Breton horse population.

Historic Use

Celtic warriors rode the ancestors of Breton horses during their conquests. Horses also served essential roles for agriculture work and transportation in everyday Celtic life.

Some Celts remained in Brittany, while others returned from Britain following the Roman invasions that began in the 1st century AD. Today, Brittany is considered one of six official Celtic nations. ^[2]

Demand grew for heavy war horses during the Middle Ages. Breton horses of the time were significantly shorter but had the strength to carry heavily armoured medieval knights. The breed also had a comfortable gait and surefootedness suitable for long mountain journeys.

Breton horses exported worldwide influenced several horse breeds, including the Canadian Horse. ^[3]

Breed Registry

The first Breton horse studbook began in 1909. Studbooks for the different types of Breton horses merged in 1912, and the first breed association was formed in 1920.

There are French breed registries for modern Breton horses but no official breed organizations in North America.

Intro to Equine Nutrition

Gain a deeper understanding of your horse's nutrition needs. This free introductory course provides a foundation for horse owners to learn how to balance your horse's diet.

Enroll Now

Breed Characteristics

Breton horses of all types share several standard characteristics, but overall impressions can vary. These traits help Bretons excel in the same disciplines popular with other modern draft breeds.

Conformation

Breton horses can range from 14.3 to 16.2 hands tall. The Central Mountain Breton is the smallest type, with a height range of 14.3 to 15.1 hands. Postier Bretons stand an average of 15.1 hands, while Heavy Draft Bretons stand between 15.2 and 16.2 hands.

All Breton horses have square heads with broad foreheads, straight noses, wide nostrils, lively eyes, and small ears. Their necks are short but strong. They also have short backs, round rib cages, wide croups, and long shoulders. Limbs are short and muscular.

Unique traits found in different Breton types include more dished faces in Central Mountain Bretons, more attractive gaits in Postier Bretons, and heavier muscling in Heavy Draft Bretons.

Colours

Most Breton horses are chestnut or chestnut roan. Many of these horses also have a flaxen mane and tail. Bay, blue roan, and black coat colours are rare.

Temperament

Breton horses are gentle giants with calm and willing temperaments. Like many draft breeds, they have excellent work ethics and easygoing personalities. While these horses are shorter than some draft breeds, their size and strength can still intimidate beginners.

Disciplines

The different subtypes of Breton horses are suitable for a variety of disciplines. Smaller and lighter Breton types can perform light draft work and do well under saddle as recreational riding mounts. They are also excellent driving and coach horses.

Heavy Breton horses have the strength to perform more demanding agricultural work. Some farmers still rely on these horses, and the breed is commonly used to gather seaweed on the Breton coast. These horses are also bred for meat in France.

Health Profile

Breeding trends to maximize the size of horses at the expense of their health didn’t affect Breton horses as significantly as other draft breeds. However, these horses share many common health problems with their heavier relatives.

Genetic Diseases

Like other draft breeds, Breton horses can inherit Polysaccharide Storage Myopathy (PSSM), a muscle disorder associated with abnormal glycogen storage. One study identified the GYS1 gene responsible for PSSM Type 1 in 64% of tested Breton horses. ^[4]

Careful management and feeding practices are key to controlling the clinical signs of PSSM in affected Breton horses. Work with your veterinarian and an equine nutritionist to formulate a balanced diet that minimizes the risk of complications from PSSM.

Junctional epidermolysis bullosa (JEB) is another genetic disease identified in Breton horses. This progressive skin disorder primarily affects Belgian draft horses and related breeds. Foals with JEB develop severe skin lesions and blistering. ^[5]

There is no cure for this fatal condition. Affected foals die from severe infection if they aren’t euthanized within days of birth. DNA testing is available to determine if Breton horses carry the mutation associated with the disease. ^[5]

Health Problems

Chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL) is a prevalent health problem in draft breeds, including the Breton. CPL is an incurable condition characterized by impaired lymph flow and swelling in the lower limbs. ^[6]

Clinical signs of CPL progress throughout the horse’s lifetime, eventually leading to skinfolds, nodules, secondary infections, and lameness. Management can help slow the progression of the disease. ^[6]

Other health problems in the breed are associated with their heavy body weight. Heavy-type horses are subject to increased stress on their joints, potentially increasing the risk of osteoarthritis and other joint issues.

Rapid growth in young Breton horses can also increase the risk of osteochondritis dissecans and other developmental orthopedic diseases. ^[7]

Breton horses can also develop laminitis if the feet get too long. Laminitis is a serious inflammatory condition that affects the sensitive layers of tissue (laminae) within the hooves, leading to severe pain and potential unsoundness. The prognosis for laminitis in draft horses is often unfavorable, as their substantial weight exacerbates stress on the hoof laminae. ^[8]

Care and Management

Proper management can help reduce the risks and clinical signs of some health problems found in Bretons.

Breton horses need quality basic horse care to support lifelong wellness and reduce the risk of common health problems in draft horses. Their care and management should address their physical, mental, and behavioral needs.

Work with your veterinarian and equine health practitioners to implement a proactive wellness strategy that encompasses:

• Veterinary Exams: Ensure regular veterinary check-ups to detect and treat any issues promptly.
• Vaccinations: Keep your horse up to date with recommended vaccines to protect your horse from common diseases.
• Dental Care: Schedule annual dental exams to maintain tooth balance and oral health. More frequent exams may be needed for aging Bretons prone to dental issues.
• Parasite Management: Implement an effective deworming strategy to combat internal parasites.
• Hoof Care: Regular farrier care is essential for keeping their hooves balanced and preventing excess loading forces from their heavy body weight on the structures of the lower limb.

Breton horses are stronger and bulkier than lighter breeds of the same height. Ensure all housing is secure and large enough to accommodate their size. Maximize turnout time and limit stall confinement to promote healthy circulation in Bretons with chronic progressive lymphedema or PSSM. ^[6]

Although Breton horses benefit from regular free exercise, their heavy muscling makes them prone to overheating during training. Avoid heavy work in hot weather to limit these risks. ^[9]

Breton horses with feathering on their fetlocks can develop pastern dermatitis (mud fever) from trapped moisture and debris. They are also prone to feather mite infestations. Daily grooming and environmental management can help keep their skin and coat healthy.

Nutrition Program

Proper nutrition is a vital aspect of managing draft horse breeds. The best diet for your Breton horse can vary depending on their health status and workload, but all horses benefit from a balanced, forage-based diet.

Weight Maintenance

Breton horses are easy keepers, which means they have an efficient metabolism and maintain or gain weight with relatively little feed. ^[10]

This characteristic requires careful dietary management to prevent obesity and associated health issues, especially in environments with abundant pasture. Breton horses with equine metabolic syndrome (EMS) secondary to Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction (PPID) also have a higher risk of becoming overweight.

It can be challenging to determine if your Breton horse is overweight due to their naturally heavy body type. Sometimes, owners and handlers mistakenly attribute excess body condition to the breed’s characteristic heavy muscling, overlooking potential obesity.

Learning how to body condition score your horse can help you determine if your Breton horse is at a healthy weight. A body condition score of 5 on the 9-point Henneke scale is considered ideal.

Sample Diet

The following sample diet is intended for a mature 770 kg (1700 lb) Breton horse with normal body condition at maintenance (not exercising).

Most Breton horses do well on forage-only diets. Draft horses in maintenance or light work can typically meet their energy and protein needs through forage alone, without requiring supplemental feeds.

However, forage-only diets are typically deficient in vitamins and minerals. Feeding a balanced vitamin and mineral supplement can correct these deficiencies without adding the extra calories of a ration balancer or commercial concentrate. ^[11]

Mad Barn’s Omneity® is a comprehensive vitamin and mineral supplement that provides balanced amounts of key nutrients required in the equine diet. Feeding Omneity® will help to support your horse’s hoof health, skin and coat quality, metabolic health, joint function and immune system.

Omneity – Premix

5 stars		88%
4 stars		6%
3 stars		4%
2 stars		1%
1 star		1%

741 Reviews

Learn More

• 100% organic trace minerals
• Complete B-vitamin fortification
• Optimal nutrition balance
• Our best-selling equine vitamin

Forage

All horses need a constant supply of forage in their diet to support natural grazing behaviors and maintain optimal digestive function. Horses at maintenance are expected to consume about 2% of their body weight in forage daily on a dry matter basis.

A 770 kg (1700 lb) Breton horse should eat approximately 15 kg (34 lb) of average-quality grass hay daily. Choosing a low-calorie forage with lower levels of hydrolysable carbohydrates ensures you can feed a large volume of hay without contributing to excess weight gain.

Choosing forage with low sugar and starch is especially important for Breton horses with PSSM or metabolic disorders. The best way to know if your hay is appropriate for your horse is to get a hay analysis and work with an equine nutritionist.

Feeding hay in a slow feeder can help slow down forage consumption and maintain access to free choice forage for overweight Bretons. Unrestricted pasture grass may not be appropriate for all Breton horses, so use a grazing muzzle or dry lot turnout if you need to limit grass intake.

Feeding Recommendations

Breton horses typically do not require grain-based commercial feeds to meet their energy requirements. Feeding large quantities of high-starch grains can contribute to digestive upset, colic, gastric ulcers, as well as metabolic issues. ^[12]

If your horse needs additional energy sources in their diet, replace grain with forage-based alternative, such as soaked soy hull pellets or beet pulp. For horses that do receive grain, split the daily ration into multiple small meals to reduce the health risks.

Breton horses with PSSM Type 1 need to avoid excess starch, which can exacerbate symptoms of this muscle disorder. Research shows fat is a safer source of calories for PSSM horses, and can provide as much as 20% of their dietary energy. Work with an equine nutritionist to replace concentrates with fat supplements if your horse needs extra calories. ^[13]

Draft horses, including Bretons, typically drink more water compared to smaller horse breeds. Ensure your Breton has constant access to fresh water, especially during hot weather to prevent dehydration.

Most equine diets are deficient in sodium, an important mineral. Our nutritionists recommend feeding 2 – 3 ounces of plain loose salt daily to meet sodium requirements. Salt not only helps in maintaining electrolyte balance but also encourages drinking.

Nutritional Supplements

The first priority when designing a feeding program for your Breton horse is to prevent nutritional deficiencies and dietary imbalances, which can contribute to health problems and poor performance. Once your horse’s diet is balanced, you may want to consider additional supplements to address specific health needs.

• W-3 Oil: An energy and essential fatty acid supplement for Breton horses that require more fat in the diet. This oil contains high levels of vitamin E and the omega-3 DHA, which support muscle function, respiratory health, skin health, and immune function.
• Optimum Digestive Health: A probiotic, prebiotic, yeast, and digestive enzyme supplement to support hindgut health and immune function in horses. Feeding Optimum Digestive Health helps to maintain a healthy gut flora, especially for horses on restricted forage.
• Jiaogulan: A Chinese herb with antioxidant properties used to support hoof health and circulation in heavy-type horses.
• MSM: Draft horses often benefit from extra joint support. MSM is a natural supplement commonly used to support the body’s own homeostatic mechanisms to moderate inflammation.
• Acetyl-L-carnitine: may support muscle health in horses with PSSM by dirctyinggluvosde into energy pathways and away from glycogen storage.

Want personalized advice for your Breton horse’s feeding program? Submit your horse’s information online for a free evaluation, and get help from our experienced equine nutritionists to formulate a balanced diet.