The Selle Français (SF) is a breed of sport horse from France. An athletic horse with good gaits, it is usually bay or chestnut in color. The Selle Français was created in 1958 when several French riding horse breeds were merged into one stud book. The new breed was meant to serve as a unified sport horse during a period when horses were being replaced by mechanization and were transforming into an animal used mainly for sport and leisure.

Bred throughout France, the Selle Français has been exported worldwide, with additional stud books formed in Great Britain and the United States. Horses registered with the stud books must undergo inspections which judge their conformation, gaits and performance. Horses of other breeds who pass the inspections, including those of Thoroughbred, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and French Trotter bloodlines, may be used for breeding, with the progeny able to be registered as Selle Français.

Selle Français have proven successful at the international level of competition in many equestrian disciplines. They are most commonly seen in show jumping, eventing and dressage, although they are also seen in combined driving, equestrian vaulting and competitive trail riding competitions. Selle Français and their riders have won numerous medals in the Summer Olympics and World Equestrian Games, including making up the entire gold-medal French teams in show jumping at the 2002 World Equestrian Games and eventing at the 2004 Summer Olympics.

Breed characteristics

thumb|right|A Selle Français

Because of the diversity of the breeds that contributed to the Selle Français, there are not set breed standards. It can range from , although, because they are used as sport horses, most Selle Français usually stand a relatively tall . The breed is reputed to be intelligent and quick to learn. At least one Cleveland Bay mare was also recorded in early Selle Français pedigrees, with French-born Thoroughbred and Cleveland Bay cross mares, or Yorkshire Coach Horses, being used as foundation stock. The most common crosses were between native mares used by the military, or those bred for pulling carriages, and Thoroughbred stallions. In 1914 these types were recognized as demi-sang or "half-blood" horses. Half-blood horses were found in many French regions, and different types were usually named after the regions in which they were bred. The three main types of French saddle horses by the mid-20th century were the Anglo-Norman (bred around Caen), the demi-sang du Centre (bred around Cluny) and the Vendéen (bred around La Roche-sur-Yon). The first Selle Français were not homogeneous in type, as the Anglo-Norman had been used for breeding throughout France.

Since its creation as a breed, the Selle Français has been selected solely as a sport horse. Because of this, the breed has homogenized and refined, Breeding of Selle Français is centered in Normandy, mainly due to its origins in Norman-related bloodlines. The Selle Français has also contributed to several other breeds in Europe, including the Holsteiner, Zangersheide, and Oldenburger warmblood breeds. The ANSF has branches in several countries. The United Kingdom organization, called Equicours, led to the opening of a British stud book for the Selle Français, and the ANSF-US manages the stud book for the breed in the United States. Brazil, Argentina, and Morocco have agreements with the French stud book to register horses bred in those countries.

Registration and stud book selection

right|thumb|Brand of the Selle Français

The Selle Français stud book has long allowed crossbreeding with four other breeds: the Thoroughbred, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and French Trotter. Today, restrictions exist to harmonize the stud book with directives for other European warmblood breeds. In 2009, this distinction was abandoned and the two sections were recombined into a single stud book. now recognized internationally as a top breed for show jumping and three-day eventing. Thanks to these qualities, the Selle Français is seen on international show jumping and three-day eventing teams, both in France and elsewhere. In dressage, the Selle Français has gradually improved, The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) ranks warmblood stud books based on their success in eventing, show jumping and dressage. In 2013, the ANSF was ranked as the 3rd best show jumping stud book in the world, topped only by the Dutch Warmblood and Belgian Warmblood breeds, and a Selle Français horse was ranked first in the world. The stud book was ranked at 6th in the world in eventing, with the top horse placed at 25th. The ANSF was ranked 19th in dressage, beaten by many of the more popular dressage breeds, including Dutch Warmbloods, Hanoverians and Westphalians.

thumb|upright=.75|A Selle Français training for the [[Cadre Noir]]

The Institut français du cheval et de l'équitation (French Institute of Horse Riding), the École nationale d'équitation (National Equestrian School) and the Cadre Noir all use mainly Selle Français. Young horses are selected according to their skills and are trained by students within the schools. Horses representing the Cadre Noir are selected at the age of three and are trained according to their abilities, with some reaching the highest levels of haute ecole dressage. Selle Français are also used for combined driving, equestrian vaulting and competitive trail riding,

International success

right|thumb|Selle Français competing in the 2010 French Show Jumping Championships

Many Selle Français compete each year in international competitions in many equestrian disciplines. (1972–2005), part of the gold-medal winning French show-jumping team at the World Championships in 1982. Galoubet A, in turn, is known for both his competition career and the success of his offspring. He is the sire of Baloubet du Rouet (b. 1989), who with rider Rodrigo Pessoa won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was a three-time winner of the World Cup. The 1980s also saw the rise of Jappeloup (1975–1991). A small black horse with a conformation and gaits that were considered disadvantageous for show jumping, Jappeloup was an unusual cross between a Throughbred mare and a French Trotter sire, and was registered as Selle Français. Despite this, he had an impressive jumping style, and won two French championships in 1982 and 1986, a European championship in 1987, several team medals at the European and World Championships, and a gold medal at the 1988 Summer Olympics with rider Pierre Durand, Jr. In 2003, a Selle Francais became the European champion in vaulting, and another was named the world champion in competitive trail riding. More recently, Totem de Brecey (b. 2007) placed fourth in the 2019 Continental/Regional Championships Luhmühlen and was ridden by French rider Christopher Six at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.

Notable horses

  • Vésuve de Brekka
  • Idéo du Thot
  • Pégase du Mûrier

See also

  • List of French horse breeds

References

Sources

  • EquiCours - Selle Français Society for the United Kingdom and Ireland.
  • Studbook Selle Francçais North America - ANSF-US
  • The French National Stud
  • Association Nationale du Selle Français - the French National Organization