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Ardennes
Ardennes Stallion
Alternative names:	Ardennais French Ardennais Belgian Ardennes
Country of origin:	France, Belgium, Luxembourg
Breed standards
Ardennes Horse Society of GB:	Stds

The Ardennes or Ardennais is one of the oldest breeds of draft horse originating from the Ardennes area in Belgium, Luxembourg and France. They are heavy-boned with thick legs that help with draft work. Their history reaches back to the time of Julius Caesar and the Romans, and was instrumental in Napoleon's Russian campaign. Ardennes are used mainly for heavy draft and farm work.

Ardennes generally stand between 15 and 16 hands high, and weigh 1,540 to 2,200 lbs. Their heads are heavy and broad, with a straight or snub profile. Their conformation is broad and muscular, with strong joints, well developed for draft work. Identifying features include a compact body, short back, and short, sturdy legs. Their feet are feathered.

Their coats may be bay, roan, chestnut, gray, or palomino. Brown or light chestnut are tolerated. ^[1]. Black is excluded from registration and is very rare.^[2]

Ardennes are thought to be descended from the type of horse described by Julius Caesar in his Commentarii de Bello Gallico, and could possibly even be a direct descendent of the prehistoric Solutre horse. During Caesar's time the horse measured barely 14 hh, but Napolean added Arabian blood to increase stamina and endurance. Napoleon then used the breed in his Russian campaign.In the 19th century, Belgian draft blood was added to give the breed the conformation it has today.^[1]

The Ardennes was used to create several breeds, including the Baltic Ardennes, Swedish Ardennes, and Russian Heavy Draft.^[2]

1. ^ ^{a b} Bongianni, Maurizio (1988). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Horses and Ponies. Simon & Schuster, Inc., p. 92. ISBN 0671660683. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Ardennes. Oklahoma State University. Retrieved on December 14, 2007.