The Draft breeds are large horses with a power and gentle character.
They don't have speed but have been widely used as a working animal, doing hard tasks such
as pulling heavy carriage or sled and a various farm labor.
Weights varied from 800kg to 1t, these breeds are used for the Banei race in Hokkaido as well.
Here are the details of some typical breeds of Draft Horse breeds.
The Percheron is originated in the western France, part of the former Perche province from which the breed takes its name.
The origin dates back to 8th century, it was developed as a result of crossbreeding the French native draft breeds with the Eastern horses, such as the Arabians.
Average height ranges from 160cm to 170cm but the largest in the record is the horse called Dr Le Gear, 221cm and 1372kg.
The Percheron is usually gray and black in colour, has short leg with a rounded body.
It has a very quiet personality - gentle and powerful.
They were originally bred as a war horse, carriage horse, workhorse for farming and heavy artillery.
Although this is unofficial record, it is said that there was a Percheron horse that managed
to pull 3410pound (1547kg).
This is a good example to evident their obedience and willingness to work.
In the Hokkaido island Japan, there is a draft horse race called Banei race. It is spectacular to see draft horses with the Percheron bloodline pulling a sled of the weight of 1t!
Why don't you visit and see Banei race if you go to Hokkaido?
The Breton has been developed in Brittany, the northwest France.
The Breton was created through crossbreeding the Breton native horses with the Percheron,
Buron'ne and Aruden'ne.
It stands between 150cm to 160cm, the breed is often chestnut, roan, bay or gray in colour but no black.
Bretons have a strong muscle with a short neck which is well-set into its muscular body.
There are four subtypes of the Breton breed, however only two, the Trait Breton and the Postier Breton, are officially recognised.
The Postier Breton was born as a result of crossbreeding the Norfolk Trotter with the Hackney
and mainly bred in central Brittany.
It has a very attractive gait and is a good coach horse and also capable of farming.
The Trait Breton has Anderne blood, therefore it is taller than Postier Bretons and mainly produce for meet.
In Meiji period, Japan imported many Bretons as an industry horse.
Many of Banei race horses in Hokkaido are the Breton as well as the Percheron.
The Postier Breton was exported to Japan, North Africa, Spain and Italy for breeding.
In France, it is widely used for farming at vine yard due to their personality – active and speedy.
The Shire was originally from the midland England, developed from the Old English Black Horse which was produced through medieval Europe.
Shires are 160cm to170cm tall but often go over 180cm with the weight over 1t.
Shires are commonly bay, brown, black or gray in colour.
Its neck is long and the shoulder is deep and wide, the back is muscular and long
hindquarters.
It is also distinctive for this breed to have feathering on their legs.
The Shire is a particularly large breed, a Shire horse named Sampson (born in 1846) was 216cm tall and 1524kg. This is the largest horse ever in the world history.
Sampson was re-named to Mammoth after its size.
The Shire was very popular in the United States and over 4000 were exported in 1900s and used to draw carts.
However, mechanization reduced the need for it and it nearly extinguished around the time of
World War ll.
Numbers began to increase recently thanks to various activities to protect the breed.
The breed has an enormous capacity for weight pulling.
Together with their gentle character, it's being used for leisure and the circus.
In England, the breed has been popular for pulling the brewery wagons.
Therefore English breweries are actively involved in protecting the Shire breeds.
The Clydesdale is from Scotland, the United Kingdom. In 1800s, it was developed from the imported Flemish stallions and crossed with local Scottish mares.
It is also inherited the Shire bloodline.
On average it stands 163cm to183cm and weights range from 820kg to 910kg. In 1920s-1930s, it was one of the smallest draught horses.
However in 1940s, it bred to be taller in order to look better at the parade and the show.
Often bay, black, chestnut or gray in color.
It often has significant white markings on the face or feathering on its legs.
It has a wide head and a large muzzle, a long neck and a well muscled body.
Also rich feathering is a distinctive of Clydesdales.
The same as other draft horses, it has a good nature and obedient.
The breed was originally used as a workhorse for haulage and draught purposes.
In the
late 19th to early 20th centuries, thousands of Clydesdales were exported across the world,
especially to Australia and New Zealand.
Also the Clydesdale has been used as a symbol of the Budweiser Brewery.
It is called 'Budweiser Clydesdale' and familiar to many people due to its appearance on
advertisement.
The Belgian is a native Belgian horse, originally from Brabant region, Belgium.
It has
been bred only in the native area and had not influenced by other breeds.
The Belgian stands between 160cm to 170cm and grows to approximately 900kg. As it was not mixed with other breeds as much, there is a little difference in size between individuals.
Some crossbred horses are bred to be thicker bodied and heavier.
It has a small head, bold neck, relatively short back and a firm front body.
Most Belgians are chestnut or roan in color.
It is also called the Brabant.
Belgians have been influential in the creation of Shires and Clydesdales.
It is very popular in Belgium and the United States.
The main use is as a farm horse but also for the show.
