Powerful and strong horses remain in demand today for agricultural work. Especially on farms located in hard-to-reach areas. The largest horses have remarkable strength and endurance and were indispensable in the Middle Ages among knights. Today, several breeds of heavy draft horses, whose pedigrees originate from medieval war horses, have retained their popularity and demand.
What are the large breeds?
The most common heavy draft horses are those of the French, Belgian and English lines. Breeds of large horses in Russia began to be bred in the 19th and 20th centuries. The practice of crossing heavy draft horses was common. Ardens and local draft horses.
Brabançon
The Belgian draft horse is considered one of the oldest breeds. Thanks to its endurance and hard work, the animal was actively used both on farms and in cavalry troops. Horses have a friendly disposition, are not capricious in their diet (but require a plentiful diet) and do not require special care. Parameters of heavy trucks: height at the withers – 160-175 cm, weight – 800-1000 kg. Structural features: compact body with a muscular torso, strong croup, short legs. There are colors: bay, white, red, golden-red with black markings.
Arden
The ancestors of the breed were forest horses; during the selection process, the blood of Arabian horses and Brabançons was added. The peculiarities of the maintenance and poor nutrition of the pastures of the Ardennes mountainous area contributed to the development of endurance of short horses. Today Ardennes are bred by meat producers (a horse weighs, on average, 1000 kg). Due to their calm, hardworking nature, animals are also used for agricultural work and for horseback riding.
Horses of the Arden breed are distinguished by a massive muscular build (height at the withers - 150-165 cm), a short back and short strong legs with strong joints (fetlocks have hair growths). Common colors: gray, roan, red, bay, dark bay.
Percheron
The famous breed was bred in the French province of Perche. Powerful animals demonstrated a good trot, so they were used to transport heavy loads and massive mail carriages.Percherons were in demand all over the world due to their elegant exterior, extraordinary strength and endurance.
Breed characteristics:
- height at withers – 1.6-1.7 m;
- body weight – 700-900 kg;
- long and strong croup, deep chest and powerful forearms, muscular legs with strong tendons, thick and luxurious mane.
The predominant color is gray, but roan and red ones are also found. Percherons are distinguished by their flexible and calm character. Horses are extremely intelligent and therefore exhibit high learning abilities.
Russian heavy truck
The breed received official registration in 1952 (the result of crossing Ardennes and draft horses of Russian breeds). Short, muscular horses (height at the withers - 150-155 cm) are distinguished by a submissive temperament and exhibit excellent draft qualities. It is noteworthy that the Russian heavy truck is capable of pulling a load whose mass is several times the weight of the animal.
Horses are unpretentious in keeping and are distinguished by milk productivity. Mares produce large volumes of milk, from which rare varieties of cheese and kumiss are produced. Russian heavy trucks are resistant to cold and are indispensable when working on uneven terrain.
Vladimir heavy truck
The breed was recognized as a purebred in 1946 (the basis for selection was the English heavy draft Clydesdales). The Vladimir draft horse is distinguished by its massive build, high height at the withers (165-170 cm), large head with a convex profile, strong legs, thick mane and tail. The most common colors are bay, black or red.
The horse's character harmoniously combines a balanced disposition and activity. Horses perform well in field work and are often used as horse-drawn vehicles.Fans of long and quiet horse rides will appreciate these heavy horses. Therefore, the breed is in demand among companies offering troika rides or horseback riding in city parks.
Scottish Clydesdale
Despite their large dimensions (weight at the withers - 1.75-1.83 cm, weight - about 1000 kg), the horses are distinguished by a harmonious physique and attractive exterior. Distinctive features: shortened large and muscular body, massive straight legs, long and thick mane and tail. The predominant colors are red, bay, and roan. Animals tolerate harsh climatic conditions well, but are sensitive to dampness.
Lovers horses appreciate the Clydesdale breed for his flexible disposition, ability to work, bright exterior. Thanks to their light gait, horses are frequent participants in ceremonial demonstrations. The endurance of horses is a sought-after quality that is valued by farmers. Strong horses are indispensable on farms located in mountainous areas.
Shire
Horses of the British breed are distinguished by their high growth - on average, 180 cm, sometimes reaching 219 cm. Body features: short and strong back, wide chest, long curved neck, sloping shoulders. The weight of some individuals reaches one and a half tons. There are different colors: gray, roan, bay, black, red. A special advantage of the breed is the organic combination of the working qualities of racehorses and heavy draft horses. Shires are popular participants in all kinds of competitions. Active horses easily learn to ride and tolerate long walks well. Shires need regular exercise. Due to the presence of long hair on the legs, animals' stalls should always be kept dry to prevent disease.
Important! Animals have a calm disposition, but do not tolerate rough treatment.
Record holders, famous for their large dimensions
Massive physique and great strength are the main advantages of draft horses. Such animals always attract the interest of horse breeders and the public. The most famous horses in the world:
- The invincible record holder remains a Shire heavy draft horse named Mammoth (born Sampson). The unique horse weighed 1520 kg, height at the withers – 2.19 m;
- from the Brabançon breed, the stallion Brooklyn Tallest became famous with the following parameters: weight 1451 kg, height at the withers - 1.98 m. To shoe the horse, horseshoes with a diameter of 35.5 cm, weighing 3.4 kg (each) were used;
- among the Percherons, the stallion Morocco took the lead (weight – 1285 kg, height at the withers – 215 cm);
- The Shire named Digger is also famous. The famous horse weighs 1200 kg, its height at the withers reaches 198 cm.
The heaviest draft horse is the Brabançon Big Jake with a weight of 2600 kg. The giant is 217 cm tall at the withers, a few centimeters behind the famous Mammoth. Big Jake is a frequent talk show guest and participates in paid performances in different parts of the world.
Horses of strong and tall breeds have been reliable companions and helpers of people since ancient times. Of course, in the past, the working qualities of animals were valued above all. The horses had to be able to withstand serious physical exertion and long-distance treks well. However, today there is great admiration for the beauty and grace of strong animals.
