Known throughout the world for his sporting qualities, the Selle Français is a real athlete who competes in the biggest equestrian competitions. Both aesthetic and intelligent, the Selle Français also has real learning abilities. Very versatile, the Selle Français is one of the most popular horses in the world. Discover or rediscover it now with Woopets!
Breed History
Originally from France, the Selle Français is the result of a selection that experienced 2 major turning points during the 20th century.
It was in 1914 that the half-blood appellation was created. It concerns horses resulting from a cross between thoroughbred stallions and military or coachbuilder mares. Three cradles of the breed were thus created, which were grouped with the half-blooded Anglo-Arabs of the south-west under the name of Selle Français in 1958.
At that time, the goal was to obtain a sport horse with both blood and strength. To further improve the breed, it was then supplemented by crosses with French Trotters, Anglo-Arabs and English Thoroughbreds.
Today, the blood of the Selle Français is used all over the world to feed the biggest Stud-Books, like Jalisco B SF, Grand Veneur SF and Uriel SF.
Physical peculiarities
His head: the head of the Selle Français is wide and straight, even slightly convex, with very present ganaches. The ears are large.
Its neckline: the neckline is strong and well attached.
His body: the back of the Selle Français is straight and the withers are prominent and long. The shoulder is long and sloping. The croup is elongated, muscular, powerful and slightly oblique: the perfect croup to “perform” in CSO.
Its members: the members of the Selle Français are solid and muscular. The joints are dry and wide. The feet are strong and the horn is hard.
Its coat: generally, the coat of the Selle Français is chestnut or bay. It often presents balzanes. Some Selle Français horses are grey, more rarely piebald or cream.
Due to very diverse origins, the Selle Français horse does not have a standard model. Nevertheless, certain physical peculiarities are common to all horses of the breed. It is indeed a large horse that is athletic, strong, balanced with a robust frame.
Famous Selle Français horses
The Selle Français imposes itself in the biggest world competitions! Thus, Patrice Delaveau obtains the individual silver medal with Orient Express*HDC at the 2014 World Equestrian Games. Similarly, France is double Olympic team champion in Rio with several Selle Français horses such as Piaf de B’neville SF in CCE and Sydney Une Prince in CSO.
Baloubet du Rouet, son of Mésange du Rouet SF and Galoubet A SF, is neither more nor less than the No. 1 stallion in the world. He was also Olympic champion in 2004 at the Athens Games and several times world champion with Rodrigo Pessoa.
Jappeloup also hit the headlines by winning many titles in CSO despite not very attractive gaits and an unsightly physique. He was notably a gold medalist at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 with his rider Pierre Durand, and was the subject of a film starring Guillaume Canet.
Breeding
The Selle Français is bred in all regions of France and even abroad thanks to the deployment of artificial insemination techniques.
It is the Association Nationale du Selle Français (ANSF) which is in charge of managing the breed. Its goal ? Promote the breed and ensure its genetic improvement.
Since 2013, an “Original Selle Français” label has been created by certain breeders with the aim of preserving pure Selle Français bloodlines.
