Editing Percheron (section)

== Characteristics ==
[[File:Cheval-percheron-noir SDA2014.JPG|thumb|upright|A black Percheron]]

Percherons are generally [[gray (horse)|gray]] or [[black (horse)|black]] in coloring. The head has a straight profile, broad forehead, large eyes and long thin ears. The chest is deep and wide and the [[rump (animal)|croup]] long and level. The legs are heavily muscled, and the lower legs have little or no [[feathering (horse)|feathering]]. Enthusiasts describe the temperament as alert, and members of the breed are considered intelligent, willing workers with good dispositions, and [[easy keeper]]s. In the 19th century, they were known to travel up to {{convert|60|km|mi}} a day at a [[trot (horse gait)|trot]].{{r|hendricks|edwards|haras|BritishStand|Dispo|DalSeccoLes}}

The size considered ideal for the Percheron varies between countries. In France, height ranges from {{hands|15.1|to|18.1}} and weight from {{convert|500|to|1200|kg|lb|order=flip}}.<ref name=haras>{{cite web |url= http://www.haras-nationaux.fr/fileadmin/bibliotheque/Reglementation/Stud-books/Chevaux_de_trait/Reglement_Percheron-01-04-2011.pdf |title=Règlement du stud-book du cheval Percheron |language=fr|publisher=Les Haras Nationaux |year=2010 |access-date=6 September 2011}}</ref> Percherons in the United States generally stand between {{hands|16.2|and|17.3|lk=off}}, with a range of {{hands|15|&ndash;|19|lk=off}}. American Percherons average {{convert|1900|lb|kg}}, and their top weight is around {{convert|2600|lb|kg}}.<ref name=Dispo /> In Great Britain, {{hands|16.2|lk=off}} is the shortest acceptable height for stallions and {{hands|16.1|lk=off}} for mares, while weights range from around {{convert|2000|&ndash;|2200|lbs|kg}} for stallions and {{convert|1800|&ndash;|2000|lbs|kg}} for mares.<ref name=BritishStand>{{cite web |url= http://www.percheron.org.uk/about/percheron.html |title= Characteristics of the British Percheron |publisher=British Percheron Horse Society |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> 

Horses in the French registry are branded on the neck with the intertwined letters "SP", the initials of the ''Société Hippique Percheronne''.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.percheron-france.org/fr/percheron/marque.html |title=La marque |trans-title=The brand |publisher=Société Hippique Percheronne de France |access-date= 13 September 2011 |language=fr}}</ref>