Bred throughout France, the Selle Français has been exported worldwide, with additional stud books formed in Great Britain and the United States.

[3][5] The Selle Français is generally bay or chestnut in color, the latter being a legacy of its origins in the Anglo-Norman and Limousin breeds.

In 19th century Normandy, native mares were crossbred with Thoroughbred or Norfolk Trotter stallions imported to France from the United Kingdom.

The ANSF plays an advocacy role with stakeholders and partners in the equine world and ensures a proper orientation of selection and genetic improvement within the breed.

[14] As of 2009, there were 7,722 farms that reported breeding activity of Selle Français, although the vast majority (around 77 percent) were very small operations with only one mare.

[9] In 2008, there were 7,638 Selle Français foals born, which made up 57 percent of the total saddle horses bred in France.

[9] The Selle Français is bred throughout France and abroad, and artificial insemination plays an important role in the dissemination of the breed.

[18] The Selle Français stud book has long allowed crossbreeding with four other breeds: the Thoroughbred, Arabian, Anglo-Arabian and French Trotter.

The process involves an approval committee that judges stallions on criteria based on the age, breed and nationality of the horses.

Mares belonging to other saddle horse breeds recognized by the European Union (EU) are also listed in this category.

Pure and crossbred Arabians, saddle breeds not recognized by the EU and some other mares may be listed on an individual basis by performing at a high level in show jumping, three-day eventing or dressage competition.

[18] The Selle Français is a French sport horse,[4][20] now recognized internationally as a top breed for show jumping and three-day eventing.

[22] In dressage, the Selle Français has gradually improved,[4] but has faced stiff competition from northern European breeds, which often have more active gaits.

[23] The World Breeding Federation for Sport Horses (WBFSH) ranks warmblood stud books based on their success in eventing, show jumping and dressage.

Horses representing the Cadre Noir are selected at the age of three and are trained according to their abilities, with some reaching the highest levels of haute ecole dressage.

[27] Selle Français are also used for combined driving, equestrian vaulting and competitive trail riding,[20] and have competed at the international level in all three sports.

1989), who with rider Rodrigo Pessoa won the gold medal at the 2004 Summer Olympics and was a three-time winner of the World Cup.

A small black horse with a conformation and gaits that were considered disadvantageous for show jumping, Jappeloup was an unusual cross between a Throughbred mare and a French Trotter sire, and was registered as Selle Français.

1982), was on the French bronze medal winning show jumping team at the 1992 Summer Olympics, ridden by Hervé Godignon, and Quito de Baussy (b.

Rochet Rouge (1983–2008) was a show jumping European champion in 1999 and an individual bronze medalist at the 1996 Summer Olympics.

[4] The Selle Français continued to lead international show jumping competitions in the 2010s, with Swiss rider Steve Guerdat riding a member of the breed, Nino des Buissonets, to individual gold at the 2012 Summer Olympics.