Morvan horse
| Conservation status | extinct |
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| Other names |
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| Country of origin | Morvan massif, Burgundy, France |
The Cheval du Morvan, also known as the Morvandiau,Morvandain or Morvandelle, is an extinct French horse breed from the Morvan massif in Burgundy, for which it is named. Horses were bred in the Morvan from before the French Revolution, both as saddle-horses for fox-hunting and as cavalry mounts, and for draught use. They were of small to medium height and known for their strength and tenacity. The Cheval du Morvan became extinct with the advent of industrialisation and improved transportation in the nineteenth century. As a draught horse it was replaced by the Nivernais and Comtois breeds, and as a saddle-horse by the Thoroughbred.
Before the French Revolution, large numbers of saddle-horses were raised in the Morvan, both for hunting and as cavalry mounts; the muddy roads in the area and in the surrounding provinces were only passable by horse. The Morvan breed was particularly suitable as light cavalry horse. It was raised mainly in the area round Château-Chinon, where Étienne François, duc de Choiseul, then minister for war, established a Morvan stud on his lands at Chassy.
The Cheval du Morvan was raised mainly in its region of origin, but also in the Nivernais and Charolais. Good Morvan horses were bred at Clamecy, and Morvan foals were sold at the fairs of Châtillon-en-Bazois, Billy-Chevannes, Montigny-sur-Canne, Saint-Révérien, Decize and Nevers in the Nièvre.
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