Boulonnais

The Boulonnais is a French draft horse from the Boulogne-sur-Mer area and the wider Pas-de-Calais region. In France it is often called the cheval Boulonnais, and most animals are gray, sometimes pale enough to explain the old nickname white marble horse. Compared with some heavier draft breeds, the Boulonnais has a cleaner outline, active movement, and a deep body, traits linked to its history as both a farm horse and a fast harness horse for fish and market transport.

Modern Boulonnais horses are rare. In France, breeding is tied to preservation herds, driving, light farm and tourism work, and in some lines the traditional draft-horse meat market. Owners need facilities scaled for a powerful horse, but many individuals are handled for harness rather than saddle. Conservation breeders pay close attention to fertility, limb soundness, good feet, genetic diversity, and maintaining the breed's lighter active character under real work instead of selecting only for size.

Colors: Amber Champagne, Bay, Bay Dun, Bay Roan, Black, Blanket Appaloosa, Blue Roan, Brown, Buckskin, Champagne, Chestnut, Classic Champagne, Cremello, Dun, Dun Roan, Fewspot Appaloosa, Flaxen Chestnut, Frame Overo, Gold Champagne, Gray, Grullo, Leopard Appaloosa, Liver Chestnut, Overo, Palomino, Perlino, Piebald, Pinto, Rabicano, Red Dun, Red Roan, Roan, Sabino, Seal Bay, Silver Dapple, Skewbald, Smoky Black, Smoky Cream, Snowcap Appaloosa, Sorrel, Splash White, Tobiano, Tovero, Varnish Roan, White