Large Horse Breeds: Draft Horses

By The Mother Earth News Editors
Updated on October 14, 2024
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by Adobestock/defotoberg

American Cream

Near extinction, this is America’s only native-bred draft horse. It was developed in the ’30s for its medium size, good disposition, and characteristic pink skin, amber eyes, and cream-colored coat. Mature Height: 15.2-16.2  hands (one hand = 4″). Mature Weight: 1,600-2,000 pounds. This breed has strong, short legs and is intelligent, calm, and gentle. American Minor Breeds Conservancy Status: Rare, which means it has less than 200 registrations per year.

Belgian

The compact, powerful Belgian has been the most popular U.S. draft breed since 1937.  It shares honors with the Shire as the heaviest of the drafters, but often eats less than a thoroughbred. Mature Height: 15.2-17  hands. Mature Weight: 1,900-2,200 pounds. This breed is blocky, wide-bodied, an easy keeper, and a hard puller. AMBC Status: Watch, meaning it has less than 5,000 registrations per year or a declining population.

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