On the warm-up arena at a major show jumping event, there is a good chance that one of the horses with the biggest jump is a Selle Français. He is not a horse for the side, but an athlete bred for sport. That's exactly what makes it exciting and challenging at the same time.
| Type | Warmblood, sport horse |
|---|---|
| Origin | France, Normandy region of origin |
| Breeding association | Stud Book Selle Français (France) |
| Stock size | no fixed standard; according to Stud-Book often 165 to 170 cm |
| Colors | not specified in the breed standard |
| Usage | Jumping, eventing, dressage |
Origin and history
Until the 20th century, riding horses in France were bred primarily for war, with courage, strength and nerves as the goal. With mechanization, demand shifted towards sports and leisure. In December 1958, the regional half-blood breeds were combined under the common name Selle Français, as the Stud Book describes it. The most important representatives were the Anglo-Norman, the Vendéer and the Charolais half-blood.
The half-blood mares were crossed with thoroughbreds, Anglo-Arabs and French trotters. These crosses produced stallions in the 1950s and 1960s, whose offspring can still be found in top sport today. Normandy is considered the cradle of the breed, and today it is bred throughout France and abroad.
Exterior
The Stud Book openly states that the Selle Français does not have a true standard model because of its diverse origins. Due to its purely sporting use, it is often tall, at 1.65 to 1.70 m, with a strong foundation, strength and a lot of blood. The Stud Book does not specify a fixed color requirement on its breed page.
According to Stud Book, around 8,000 foals are born every year, and around 80 percent of the mares are artificially inseminated. The breed is on the podium in the world rankings of breeding associations in jumping and eventing.
Character (interior)
According to the Stud Book, six key words characterize the Selle Français: performance and versatility, energy, elegance, power and intelligence. In addition, there is good learning ability. In everyday life you often experience a courageous horse, willing to work, with a lot of forward momentum. If you are looking for a quiet walking horse, you have to look closely at a horse from sport lines.
Keeping and feeding
A sport horse needs daily, varied work, free movement in the paddock or pasture and contact with other horses. The ration depends on performance: roughage is the basis, concentrated feed is only added as much as the training requires.
Exercise plays a major role in rearing. In a French study of 378 foals from Normandy, foals with very rapid early growth and irregular movement were more likely to have clear joint findings on x-rays (Lepeule et al. 2013). For breeders this means: even exercise instead of alternating between rest in the box and wild romping around.
Health
Developmental joint diseases such as osteochondrosis are a well-known issue in sport horses. In the study mentioned, 13 percent of the foals examined had poor joint status; Selle Français and French trotters performed worse than thoroughbreds (Lepeule et al. 2013). This is a snapshot of a region, not a forecast for your horse. X-rays are therefore part of every purchase examination.
Laboklin also offers a genetic test for Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS) for broodmares and stallions, including for Selle Français. This hereditary weak connective tissue leads to extremely brittle skin and hyperextensible joints in affected foals.
Who is the Selle Français suitable for?
For ambitious riders in jumping and eventing who are looking for a courageous, powerful horse with a willingness to perform and can support it regularly.
Who is it not for?
For riding beginners and for people who are primarily looking for a horse for relaxed rides. Even those who don't have time for daily training will rarely be happy with a horse from sport lines.
Furthermore: You can calculate how much a horse really costs per month with our Horse Cost Calculator, and before you buy the Horse Buying Checklist will help you. You can find ideas for the stable name in our horse names, and your own horse is available as a horse portrait from your own photo.
Frequently asked questions
How big does a Selle Français get? There is no fixed size standard. According to the Stud Book, the horses are often 1.65 to 1.70 m tall because of their sporting use.
Since when has the Selle Français existed? Since December 1958. At that time, the regional French half-blood breeds were grouped together under the name Selle Français.
What is a Selle Français suitable for? Especially for sports. The breed is on the podium in the world rankings of breeding associations in jumping and eventing.
Is a Selle Français a beginner's horse? Not so much. He is bred to be an energetic athlete and needs regular, skilled work.
Read more
Quellen, abgerufen am 05.11.2026: Stud-Book Selle Français: La race Selle Français; Lepeule J et al.: Association of growth, feeding practices and exercise conditions with the severity of the osteoarticular status of limbs in French foals, Veterinary Journal 2013 (PubMed); Laboklin: Warmblood Fragile Foal Syndrome (WFFS).
