 During its early development , the Norman horse , also known as the Carrossier Normand , had several distinct types : the Merlerault ; the horse from the plains of Caen ; the Cotentin , from the area of the same name ; the horse of La Hague ; and other , more minor , variations . From Alençon , the Merlerault was developed from the Thoroughbred and was very popular at the end of the Ancien Régime , which lasted until the late 18th century . It was a mid @-@ sized type , particularly suited for riding and pulling small carriages . The Cotentin was the oldest type of Carrossier Normand from which the Anglo @-@ Normans were in large part developed , and was also the ancestor of the Norman Cob . Intended for the luxury carriage trade , Contentin horses were larger and slower than trotting horses bred for racing . Standing 14 @.@ 3 to 15 @.@ 3 hands ( 59 to 63 inches , 150 to 160 cm ) , the type was almost always black in color , allowing drivers to easily form matched teams . Until 1775 , Cotentin horses were unrivaled in popularity in France and some other parts of Europe as carriage horses , and remained one of the most popular carriage horse breeds in the world until the early 19th century , when they disappeared due to unchecked crossbreeding . 
