Merlerault

The Merlerault is a formerly common breed of horse that originated in the canton of Le Merlerault. Bred under the Old Regime, this reputedly elegant half-bred was used to ride and pull tilburys.

Names
Another common name for these horses is "Merlerautin".

The breed is sometimes erroneously referred to as "Mellerauds", notably by M. Cardini, who also claims (incorrectly) that Merlerault horses were once raised semi-wild in the woods.

History
The Merlerault is the oldest known breeding cradle of horses in Normandy. A breeding tradition has existed there for centuries, with secular and religious guilds establishing stud farms as early as the Middle Ages. However, according to Jacques Mulliez, the breed of this name is not that old, despite traditions dating back to the Crusades or the Merovingian kings.

Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully, designated the Le Merlerault region as Normandy's horse production center; this first stud farm was replaced in 1730 by the Haras du Pin.

According to Bernard Denis (2012), Merlerault horses are "probably an artificial breed" created by the nobility from purebred horses. This breed was very popular at the end of the Old Regime. Le Merlerault supplied the nobility with saddle horses in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Description
The Merlerault is an elegant half-breed of medium size, with a square head on a well-set neck. The shoulder is well defined, the hindquarters short, the legs graceful but sometimes a little spindly. The hocks may lack sharpness, and the animal is lightly built, with broad shoulders, agility, and speed.

Uses
The Merlerault horse is particularly suited to ride and tilbury pulling.

Distribution
The breed originated in the Alençon area, particularly in the department of Orne.

In the middle of the 19th century, the Merlerault was the second most numerous horse breed in Normandy after the Cotentin.