Names of heavy draft horse breeds, their descriptions and characteristics, where they are used

Heavy horses are not particularly graceful and swift, and do not demonstrate speed records. People bred these breeds to transport heavy loads and make work easier. Horses with a powerful physique have a calm disposition, are persistent and hardworking. Heavy draft horses are breeds of horses created for everyday work in the field and in construction. They pulled luxurious carriages of monarchs and carts of peasants.

Features of heavy breeds

Power, impressive size and strength are the main characteristics of draft horses. Riding horses are distinguished by their exquisite beauty, slenderness, fast running, and ability to overcome obstacles. Such horses are not suitable for everyday hard work. Nervous horses with a restive character are not able to pull loaded carts or perform routine work.

In the days of knights, horses were needed that were capable of transporting riders in heavy armor and had strength and endurance. Man began to cultivate large horses, with powerful backs and limbs. In European countries, and then in Russia, heavy trucks appeared - horses that did not differ in speed characteristics, but were suitable for everyday work in character.

The most important features of heavy breeds:

1. Smooth ride. The impressive size and weight do not allow the animals to make sudden movements or raise their legs high, which makes their gait calm. Heavy trucks pull the carts smoothly, the riders feel comfortable and do not get tired when riding.
2. Impressive size, powerful body. Heavy trucks are strong, powerful animals with excellent health and the ability to overcome the hardships of working life.
3. Calm, peaceful character. Phlegmatic by nature, draft horses walk together in harness and get along well with family members and other animals.
4. Multifunctional use. Horses are used in transportation of goods and field work. If desired, heavy draft horses can be saddled and used as a riding horse. In many regions, the productive qualities of animals are traditionally used. Kumis and horse meat are healthy and have a pleasant taste. Delicacy products and sausages are made from horse meat.Mares' milk is close in composition and value to women's milk.

Heavy draft horses were bred at many stud farms in Russia, sales amounted to 300-400 thousand per year. Almost 100 thousand heads were exported.

Characteristics and general exterior

During the times of active use of heavy trucks on the farm, almost 4 dozen breeds were bred, differing in external characteristics and zootechnical characteristics. There were stud farms for breeding heavy draft horses in many countries in Europe and America. Despite the significant differences in breeds, horses have a number of common characteristics in their exterior:

1. The head is massive and wide.
2. The neck is short, inactive, and muscular. Due to its short neck, the horse is stable and maintains balance even with considerable effort.
3. Short poll, which often makes it difficult to control when riding.
4. The croup of heavy draft horses is more developed in width to provide stability to the hind legs. This is required for transporting heavy objects.
5. The chest is short-boned and of considerable width, which facilitates the work of the front legs.
6. The back is wide, of medium length with pronounced muscles. The back regulates the distribution of loads throughout the body and determines the strength of the animal.

Heavy draft horses are easily distinguished from riding horses by their large figure, thickened limbs, and powerful chest. Depending on the preferences of the breeders, some breeds have more developed speed qualities, others impress with their impressive size, and still others are famous for their fertility.

Draft horses were not bred for fast riding; their gait is a walk, although some breeds move easily and quickly. The height of heavy trucks is 160-200 centimeters, weight is 800-1000 kilograms.

Record animal performance

Representatives of the draft horse breeds became famous for their many records, which their admiring owners and public managed to record.Some impressive record numbers:

1. The highest height was recorded for the Shire gelding Sampson - 219 centimeters. Sampson's weight is 1524 kilograms. The horse was born in 1848, when the book of records was not yet kept. These figures are considered record-breaking and have not yet been surpassed.
2. The Guinness Book has recorded another representative of the Shire breed as a record holder - the gelding Goliath with a height of 193 centimeters.
3. The Percheron Morocco (weight 1285 kilograms) and the Brabançon Brooklyn Supreme had an impressive height of 215 centimeters - 195 centimeters.
4. Heavyweights became famous not only for their size, but also for their draft power. Photos from 1893 have been preserved, showing a pair of Shire horses pulling a cart with timber weighing 42 tons. The strong men carried the loaded sleigh through the snow over a distance of 500 meters.
5. The drafting abilities of heavy trucks were measured at horse shows. The gelding Vulcan at Wembley produced a thrust of 29 tons, which was recorded by the dynamometer. A pair of shires in harness showed a result of 51 tons.

A decline in interest in heavy trucks is noted due to the development of technology. Records were recorded in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when owning powerful horses brought benefits and made work easier. Farmers were proud of thoroughbred, strong horses, horse breeders sought fame in order to sell young stock from farms at a higher price.

Information: mares of many heavy breeds during the lactation period produce 5-6 thousand liters of valuable kumiss, which has valuable properties.

Where are horses used?

The horses created for heavy cavalry were highly appreciated by farmers. Heavy trucks were used for draft work, where great strength and endurance were required. The balanced nature of powerful horses made them indispensable when performing routine, everyday operations in construction and agriculture.

At the end of the 19th century, European countries issued a special permit for the slaughter of horses and the use of horse meat for food. Previously, this was prohibited and punished by law. The ban was lifted due to the declining role of horses in all sectors of the economy and the transition to mechanized labor.

Now heavy trucks are used in tourism, sports, for walking and entertainment. The peaceful, friendly nature of strong horses allows even beginners and children to feel confident with the animal, without fear of falling and suffering from a hot temper. Heavy trucks are indispensable in horseback riding; horses transport riders and cargo along trails and off-road, and ford rivers.

Their calm disposition allows them to be used in shows, festive events, and in the circus. Mounted police choose peaceful animals to patrol the streets and move quickly through cities congested with cars. The selection of heavy trucks is moving towards creating breeds that are more playful, less powerful, but retain the peaceful disposition and ability to get along with people inherent in large animals.

Breeds of heavy trucks and their descriptions

The leaders of heavy breeds are Brabançons, Percherons and Shires. The power and refined appearance of these horses have earned the respect of horse breeders in different countries. Representatives of these species served as material for breeding large horses in Russia.

Suffolk

The favorites of English farmers are Suffolk draft horses. Unpretentious, quickly maturing horses were registered in the stud book of England in 1760.

Height – 165 centimeters, strong, massive body with pronounced muscles. The front legs are spread further apart than the hind legs.The colors are red and chestnut, the legs are smooth, without hair. Suffolks are intelligent animals, they were used in various types of work that required intelligence.

Irish

The national Irish draft horse is widespread throughout the UK. The unpretentiousness of horses allowed even the poor to own them. Horses of the Irish breed are smart, quick-witted, and can do any kind of work. Height – 150-160 centimeters. Strong harmonious body. Colors – bay, red, gray. They were used as riding horses.

Information: Irish heavy horses are known for their agility and easy stride, which allows them to be used in shows, sports and tourism.

Boulogne breed

The ancestors of the Boulogne heavy trucks have been known since ancient times. The breed was registered in the 17th century, named after the main breeding region - Boulogne (France). Height – 160-175 centimeters, massive body, weight – 600-1000 kilograms. According to standards, Boulogne horses are fed grain, so the body is strong, dry, and the muscles are dense. At one and a half years of age, maturity sets in - horses are precocious. Character – flexible, non-conflicting.

Soviet

The breed was developed in the 1920s and officially recognized in 1952. The predominant colors are red and bay, combinations with roan are allowed. Height – 155-160 centimeters, weight – up to a ton. The body is harmoniously shaped with a slight arch of the back. The croup is bifurcated and slightly drooping.

Soviet heavy draft horses are unpretentious in food; mares are famous for their high milk production (up to 6 thousand liters per lactation season). Horses were used on farms to improve non-pedigreed livestock; already the first generation grew into an excellent workhorse. The stallion Force carried a load weighing 23 tons several tens of meters during the competition.

Russian heavy truck

Short and muscular, Russian heavy trucks are unpretentious, tolerate cold well, and are capable of pulling loads that exceed their weight off-road. The breed was bred from Ardennes and Percherons through complex crossing. Horses do not grow more than one and a half meters, but they are famous for their strength and are in demand in Russia and neighboring countries. The Russian draft horse is active, energetic, and good-natured. Work to improve the breed continues.

Vladimirskaya

Heavy draft horses of the Vladimir breed are larger than other Russian species. Height – 165-175 centimeters, weight – 800-1200 kilograms. Colors – bay, karak, brown, red. White spots on the face and legs are welcome. Huge hard workers are unpretentious in maintenance and were used in the army. Vladimir horses obey the reins, are used under saddle, and even a child can control the massive horse.

Australian

The breed of Australian draft horses was established at the end of the 20th century and was bred for almost 100 years. Working horses in Australia were descendants of horses imported in different years, outbreds. According to standards, the weight of Australian heavy trucks is 600-900 kilograms, the color is the same color. Horses inherited the qualities of different breeds. Horses are hardworking, calm in disposition, and friendly. Field plowing competitions are held to evaluate the quality of Australian heavy trucks.

Bityug

A common breed of heavy-duty trucks of Russian selection in the past. The horses were bred in the 18th century in the Voronezh province from local and European breeds. The height of the Bityugs reached 178 centimeters. By the end of the 19th century, there were fewer and fewer horses, and the breed disappeared, replaced by imported horses.

Information: popularly called beaters are any huge horses with remarkable strength.

Shire

The records for size, weight and draft power belong to the Shire heavy trucks.Giant horses have been lovingly bred in Britain for several centuries; the stud book was compiled in 1878. According to standards, black, gray and bay colors are allowed. Height – 163-178 centimeters, weight of stallions – 850-1100 kilograms. Heavy trucks of the Shire breed were used for field work, towing ships along canals, and for transporting goods.

During the years of mass breeding, the number of shires reached a million heads. With the development of technology, the need for giant horses disappeared, and animals began to be destroyed. At the end of the 20th century, due to public interest, work began on restoring livestock with slightly altered breed characteristics.

Percheron

The difference between the Percheron and other heavy breeds is the combination of strength and the ability to walk in harness at a moderate trot. The homeland of horses is the Perche region in France, where, to improve the breed, local large horses were crossed with Arabian riding species.

The result was powerful horses with a proportional body, a soft ride, capable of running fast and carrying loads. Percherons were used in the postal service and for omnibuses. The height of Percherons is 155-185 centimeters (varies in different countries), color is gray, dapple gray, black.

Belgian (Brabançon)

In the 19th century, Belgian horse breeders developed the heavy draft Brabançon breed by crossing Ardennes and local Flemish horses. The result was a horse with short, lean, muscular legs and a powerful body. The predominant colors are red and bay. Height – 168-173 centimeters. Strict selection and harsh upbringing helped create a breed of heavy trucks capable of working until a very old age, undemanding in terms of food and living conditions. In Belgium, Brabançon meat is considered a delicacy.The breed continues to develop, the number of animals does not decrease. Horses are used in shows, agriculture, for hiking and walking.

Information: Brabançons are widely used to improve the qualities of the breed and the number of ordinary horses. Already the first foals grow into excellent working horses.

South German heavy draft

The draft horse, bred in Germany, is distinguished by its short stature (up to 156 centimeters) and strong body. The noble carriage of the head, short neck with a light mane give the horses a special charm.

South German horses are distinguished from other heavy draft horses by their light, agile body and quick gait. The heavy horse walks quickly under saddle, obeys the rider well, and has a light, soft trot.

Clydesdale

The first Clydesdales were short; during the selection process, heavy trucks almost caught up with the height of the Shires (according to standards, the height of Clydesdales is 163-183 centimeters). Scottish draft horses are early maturing, which increases the value of the breed.

Horses are distinguished by their phlegmatic nature, which makes them unsuitable for sports. Because of the white stockings on their legs, Clydesdales are desirable participants in parades and shows. The predominant colors are bay and karak. Clydesdales are used to improve breeds.

Gypsy Tinkers

The Gypsy draft horse (Tinker) is bred in Ireland. Another name is Irish cob. Nomadic people arrived in Britain in the 15th century and brought pinto horses. Spotted horses were of no value to the British; the gypsies received discarded specimens of various English breeds.

The small (1.36-1.6 meters) gypsy horse with a rough head and dense body gradually began to arouse interest among horse breeders. The heavy draft horse is a hardy horse, and the mares feed foals of other breeds.Tinkers were registered as a separate breed at the end of the 20th century.

An accommodating character, friendliness, calm strength and unpretentiousness are the main advantages of heavy trucks. Due to the loss of economic importance, the number of powerful horses has decreased in most countries. People no longer need the help of horses to do most jobs. Peace-loving animals are now used in areas unconventional for heavy trucks - sports, tourism, shows, and are used for the rehabilitation of children, walks and entertainment. Horse lovers hope that the magnificent animals, no longer doing hard work, will still be people's best friends and companions.