The Belgian draft horses were said to be descendants of the destriers or
war horses, also called the “Great Horses” existing in the Middle Age,
known for carrying knights in the war though there is no proper evidence
to prove the same. The Brabant, also called the “European Belgian”
was the foundation stock for the Belgian draft horses. Though developed
in Europe, they were equally popular in America, with the “American Association of Importers and Breeders of Belgian Draft Horses” being
set up in Wabash (Indiana) in the year 1887 for the purpose of keeping
track on this breed. With the first world war there was a pause in the
importing of horses to America that resumed in the 20s and 30s, and
finally ended on the 15th of January 1940.
In fact, till the 1940s both of them belonged to the same breed. However, after the Second World War, the Brabant remained confined to Europe and was bred selectively to attain a thicker and heavier stature along with a greater amount of feathering on its limbs, while the Belgian breed evolved in the United States as tall and light-bodied horses with clean legs (devoid of feathers). Moreover, the Brabant breed also differed in colors compared to the American Belgian, mostly found in shades of red, bay, blue roan, sorrel and chestnut with black and gray being rare. Post-war Brabants were used in farms and also for meat while in the USA they were used for agricultural purposes along with pleasure riding.
FACTS
In fact, till the 1940s both of them belonged to the same breed. However, after the Second World War, the Brabant remained confined to Europe and was bred selectively to attain a thicker and heavier stature along with a greater amount of feathering on its limbs, while the Belgian breed evolved in the United States as tall and light-bodied horses with clean legs (devoid of feathers). Moreover, the Brabant breed also differed in colors compared to the American Belgian, mostly found in shades of red, bay, blue roan, sorrel and chestnut with black and gray being rare. Post-war Brabants were used in farms and also for meat while in the USA they were used for agricultural purposes along with pleasure riding.
FACTS
- These hardy horses can draw a wagon load of approximately 6000 to 8000 pounds, also being capable of working 8 to 10 hours on a daily basis.
- Big Jake, a Belgian Draft horse has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records in the year 2013 for being the tallest living horse in the world with a height of 23⁄4 hands, also weighing 2600 pounds.
- Brooklyn Supreme, a Belgian Draft stallion (1928-1948), is the largest Belgian Draft horse with weight and height of 3200 pounds and 19.2 hands respectively.
- With the Belgian and Clydesdale both being draft horses, one of the significant differences between them is that the former seems to be shorter and stockier than the latter.
- Some draft horses might have their tail hair cut short so that it does not get tangled into the harness, and you might see this trait in some of the Belgian draft horses too.
- BELGIAN DRAFT HORSES
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