The Franches-Montagnes horses have a very robust build with a red-brown to dark brown coat, often with a white spot on the forehead and the end of the legs. They are very calm, patient and reliable animals. The Franches-Montagnes are distinguished by their strength (they can carry about 150 kilos) and their ability to move easily on steep and impassable terrain. Thanks to their qualities, the Franches-Montagnes are used in various fields, such as horse riding in free time, sports, carriages and agricultural work (especially before the advent of tractors and agricultural machinery). The Franches-Montagnes are still part of the Swiss Army today (the so-called "train formations"), together with some mules, for the transport of materials in inaccessible places.