Percherons have been in Dales family for many years.  This is a photo of Dale and his father working on the farm with their Percherons.

History of the Percheron
As with many ancient things, the origins of this breed are shrouded in myth. The foundation of this amazing breed of horse precedes extensive documentation by several centuries. However, we do know that the breed derives its name from an old provence, Le Perche, just southwest of Paris, France.

Old paintings and crude drawings from the middle ages affirm that Percherons were often used by French Knights in battle. Following the days of the "war horse," they were used to pull heavy stage coaches laden with mail and passengers and traveled routes from Paris to the coastal ports of Normandy.

When rails replaced the coaches, other roles became available for the draft horse. Cities were growing rapidly and omnibuses, pulled by horses, became the favored mode of transportation. Their weight and heavy use called for a heavier horse, which the breeders of Le Perche were able to accommodate.

Across the ocean, the United States was undergoing its own transformation as pioneers headed west and farmers tilled new lands. Due to the Civil War, the stock of available horses in the 1880s was low and new stock was needed to meet the growing needs of the nation. The Percheron quickly became America's favorite horse. In the decade of the 1880s almost 5,000 stallions and 2,500 mares were imported from France, most from the Le Perche region.

By the 1920s, the position and role of the draft horse was being threatened on the farm and in the city. Trucks and tractors began their rule, which still continues today.