April's BOTM is officially underway! 

So fun seeing everyone excited about this month's lovely breeds, aka, our Big Fat Perches 💖

The Percheron is a French draft breed originating from the Le Perche region of Normandy, known for its combination of power, athleticism, and refined movement. Developed with Arabian influence, the breed is both strong AND stylish. Percherons are capable of pulling heavy loads while maintaining a smooth, balanced gait.

Percherons typically stand 16–17+ hands, weighing up to 2,600 lbs, and are most commonly black or grey. They’re recognized for their heavy muscling, durable build, and clean, efficient action.

Despite their size, they’re known for a willing, intelligent, and even-tempered disposition, making them versatile for farm work, driving, showing, and even riding. Today, they remain one of the most popular and adaptable draft breeds worldwide.

Source Credit: ‘About Percherons’ | www.percheronhorse.og

Real life Percherons shared by Hannah Jepson! 

Warning: Links may contain pictures of horses with docked tails due to old standards 

and still being commonplace in regions today. View discretion advised.

Pay Per View Montado: Great mover, honestly the cutest

Moose: Supreme World Champion, great mover, very boopable snoot, very missed

The Jumping Percheron, Klein, not your standard Perchie but a bona fide cutie patootie

This section is meant to highlight approved crosses and ongoing campaigns that you can use your very OWN Perches, whether if you want to breed crosses long term OR help a campaign finish it’s generations.

There are no currently completed crosses in the game for Percherons, however, there is one fully completed campaign awaiting art and others in progress!

There are currently TWENTY ONE campaigns involving Percherons - check out the list here! 

Sugar Bush: 100% Completed | Awaiting First Sketches

The Sugarbush is a cross between a Percheron (75%) and an Appaloosa (25%). They are strong, well built, draft sized horses, while having a beautiful appaloosa coat.

Harlequin Warmblood | 35% Complete | 25/100 Campaign Coins, 2/5 Contributors

The Harlequin Warmblood combines the gorgeous spots of the Appaloosa (50%) with the kind sturdiness of the Percheron (50%). These horses are good for any discipline you choose for them. All leopard spotted and solid horses accepted. Paint patterns will not be accepted within the Harlequin Warmblood registry.

Emerald Draughts: 8% Completed | 18/100 Campaign Coins, 3/5 Contributors

The Emerald Draft - 12.5% Percheron, Irish Draught, Andalusian, Mustang and 50% Friesian. The Emerald Draft is characterized by a roman nose, sweet and gentle face / head, sturdier yet agile body, heavier boned legs, and a thick mane and tail with feathering on the legs. These horses are MOST often between 15-16 hands (152.5-162.5 cm). They are a breed made for true companionship, a modern day warhorse, ready to face anything with the right person. They are brave, smart, and eager, strong, agile, and steady footed. Often dependable and gentle. From appearance to personality they are quite regal. While they can do just about anything they often excel in things like pole bending, eventing, vaulting, dressage, pulling, and trail.

Spanish Norman Horse | 5% Complete | 6/100 Coins, 2/5 Contributors

The Spanish Norman Horse blends the Andalusian of Spain and the Percheron of France to recreate the noble horse that once charged across the battlefields of medieval Europe. Genetic research shows that both the Andalusian and Percheron share Barb ancestry, and that the early Spanish horses influenced the Norman horses of medieval France that went on to become known as Percherons. With their shared genetic history the Andalusian and Percheron combine to produce offspring that approximates the old Norman warsteed. The Spanish Norman is a versatile and athletic heavy warmblood sporthorse, embodying the heritage of its courageous ancestors. The Andalusian blood brings the elegance, boldness, and natural collection. The Percheron blood brings the size and strength. Together they blend with a unique sense of presence, character, and temperament. They excel in a multitude of disciplines including show jumping, eventing, dressage, driving, and pulling. They also perform in historical re-enactments and medieval games, and are wonderful pleasure and parade horses. 

Caisson Horse | 0.5% Complete | 1/100 Coins, 1/5 Contributors

Morgan x Percheron cross. 

Desert Norman Horse | 0.5% Complete | 1/100 Coins, 1/5 Contributors

A Desert Norman is a cross between a Percheron with an Arabian. It was born out of the desire to recreate the original, cavalry Percheron. It's essentially a very early form of the Percheron breed. All colors and patterns of the parent breeds are allowed.

Ryshadium Destrier Club | 0.5% Complete | 1/100 Coins, 1/5 Contributors

Ryshadium are unusually intelligent horses that independently choose their own riders, with whom they form unyielding bonds. Level-headed and brave, they tolerate high stress situations without fleeing and can be trained to defend their riders or seek assistance. They are larger than a typical war-horse and their hooves are strong enough to rival stone.
While the ones mentioned in the books have been black, grey, or white, all colors and patterns are allowed.

To breed a Ryshadium for this campaign: Cross an Andalusian with a Thoroughbred, creating an Iberian Warmblood. Breed that to an Friesian. Breed that to a Percheron.
Correct breed percentages are: 50% Percheron, 25% Friesian, 12.5% each Andalusian and Thoroughbred.

P.S. Have an active campaign using Percherons? Please DM me and I will highlight it here!

💞 Prizes For Both Mare & Stallion Categories 💞

• All prizes also come with a complimentary trophy that you can add to your page for fun and to show off your accomplishments!

   

Highest PS

1st: 25,000 Bits + 1 Antique Tracker + 1 Cookbook

2nd: 15,000 Bits + 5 Sweet Oat Apple Treats

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Variation Pass

Highest Level

1st: 25,000 Bits + Espresso Bundle (5) + Horned Owl + Wispy Fog

2nd: 15,000 Bits + Coffee Bundle (5)

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Variation Pass

Lowest BV

1st: 25,000 Bits + Breed Coin + 1 Gift Bow

2nd: 15,000 Bits + Holiday Ribbon (Color of Choice) + Variation Pass

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Variation Pass

***UPDATED*** Highest BV

1st: 25,000 Bits + Breed Coin + 1 Gift Bow

2nd: 15,000 Bits + Holiday Ribbon (Color of Choice) + Variation Pass

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Variation Pass

Best Dressed

1st: 25,000 Bits + 5 Gift Bows + Breed Coin

2nd: 15,000 Bits + Braiding Guide (Mane or Tail)

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Great Horned Owl

Discipline: Pulling

Show and train your horses in Pulling shows all month long!

1st: 25,000 Bits + 2 Floral Harnesses + Espresso Shot

2nd: 15,000 Bits + Dye Guide

3rd: 7,500 Bits + Face Re-roll

NEW: Model Career Category for New Players ONLY

A new category we are trialing open for new players who have joined within the last 6 months! You can send your Percherons to the Model Career center 5x daily all month long - it’s free, generates bits, and gives an opportunity for some really great prizes. You may choose to purchase your own foundation horses, or myself and other players are happy to donate a pair of foundation Percherons to you in order to compete. They will come gene tested and registered to the Percheron registry.

1st: 100,000 Bits + 1 Month Platinum Upgrade FREE

2nd: 75,000 Bits + 1 Month Gold Upgrade FREE

3rd: 50,000 Bits + 1 Month Bronze Upgrade FREE

Please read the rules carefully as failure to do so may result in an automatic disqualification when results are being reviewed.

• You may only use foundation horses from the foundation store purchased by the player name you enter under UNLESS you are a new player who joined within the last 6 months. New players may use foundation horses donated by other players.

• The horses must be bought between the 4th and the 8th of April.

• You may have up to 1 mare and 1 stallion entered.

• The horses must be registered via the linked Google form.

• All horses must be registered in the Percheron Breed Registry and also have a name. IE not just BOTM or New Horse.

• Best Dressed: Horses will be judged by staff for the best dressed. Judging includes tack and companion coordination and creativity.

• Discipline: Horses should be shown in Pulling only. Halter shows will result in disqualification from the discipline category.

  • Please note that showing only discipline you will (likely) not be competitive for Highest Level.

• The competition will end on April 30th, 11:59 pm Game Time. As a clarification from last month, due to show running times, I recommend players to enter the last of their shows on April 29th (game time) to give wiggle room for possible show running delays and optionally. If you enter shows on the 30th you accept risk of disqualification if shows run after rollover

  • Tip: To avoid potential disqualification due to show times, freezing your horses after showing them on April 29th is a good way to do so.

     

Registration has closed. See you in May! 🥳