Breeds list
Favorite Links
If you got here, I hope you are looking for Horsey references...
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What are the Load Ranges
for what a horse can pull?
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How are others managing when and how to shoe their work and show horses?
Check the Farrier's
roundtable: Shoeing Draft Horses.
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These folks publish and distribute some very fine draft horse and
mule books. The Mischka
Farm Draft Horse Page
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The Draft Page is a
primary resource -- Chats, Boards, Pictures. Or, skip directly to their
Web Board frame.
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One of the primary Draft Horse industry magazines -- The
Draft Horse Journal. Also check out their books, including the Draft
Horse Primer and So You Want To Show Draft Horses?
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Trollyerific Sounds -- Global Draft Horse Connection, Favorite
Draft Horse Sites.
e-mail: Piburns@WANet.com for
more info.
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The Pen & Ink Horses Page text on Draft
Horses. Also see Ann Adden's stippled ink drawings
of draft horses.
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Anne Adden's Stippled
ink Draft Horse prints for sale.
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Rural Heritage Magazine is
a Bimonthly magazine in support of farming and logging with horses, mules,
and oxen. Also harness care info, catalog, books, and logging supplies.
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DRAFT (WORKING)
BREEDS PUBLICATIONS
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An annual tradition goes on up in Washington State, Wilson
Creek Plowing Days, at Wilson Creek, WA
- The
KBR Horse Training Section
of the KBR (Kickin' Back Ranch) Horse World
. Over 300 pages of saddle horses, draft horses, BLM wild horses and burros,
Survival Guide & safety information, farriery, modern equine health, photo galleries, equestrian links and training information
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The International Museum of the Horse
at the Kentucky Horse Park, has an article The
Draft Horse In America: Power for an Emerging Nation
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General horse supplies at Yahoo!
Horses.
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Penzance Equine -- Horsecare
study and HORSE SOURCE online.
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My favorite Light Horse links
Personal Web Pages:
Draft Horse Breeds
The Draft breeds popular in America are commonly listed as: Clydesdales,
Belgians, Percherons, Suffolk or Suffolk Punch, and the great Shire.
Probably the most recognized by non-draft folks is the Clydesdale
-- from the publicity the famous Annheiser-Busch teams generate. Belgians
are probably the most numerous in the United States, at work in the field,
in Draft shows and in pulling contests. Percherons
show up wherever workhorses do -- they pull, show, work, and jump! I have
seen the Shire in show and ridden dressage. Less numerous
in the United States are the Suffolk and American
Cream Draft.
Boulonnais
This horse traces back to the 1st-2nd century A.D., in Northwest France.
An apparent cross of Old Forest horse, Spanish, and Arab breeds, the Boulonnais
may also be a Numidian descendant.
Top of the Page Brad's DraftPage
Belgian, or Brabant
The Belgian is often described as the 'docile' draft horse.
Top of the Page Brad's DraftPage
Percheron
Compared to the Belgian, the Percheron has been said to have more 'personality'
or more 'attitude' -- depending on the day.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Spotted Draft
These draft horses with pinto spotting descend from any of the draft breeds, crosses with any of the spotted light or draft breeds.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Suffolk
The draft without feathers, that bushy fringe of hair above the hoof. The
Suffolk Punch brings an economical steady pace to work, with less flash
in the way of going, that the Clydesdale and Shire excel at.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Shire
In its native UK, the Shire is the big draft, between 2200 and 2600 pounds.
Americans may be more familiar with a lighter type, from 1400 to 2000 pounds.
The Shire has an abundance of feather with a flashy way of going that serves
well in parade or show, or to pull its feet from soft ground at work.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Clydesdale
The Clyde excels at its intended function, pulling drayage in city streets.
Lighter than other draft breeds, the Clydesdale's height gives it good
leverage in controlling the delivery wagon. With its flashy way of going
and abundant feathers taken from its Shire origins, the Clyde is popular
in parades, shows, and at work.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Norwegian Fjord
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Haflinger
This small horse from the Hafling region of Austria was raised to be useful
in the small work areas, and thrifty in winter. The Haflinger is a crowd
pleaser at draft auctions.
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
American Cream Draft
Top of the Page Brad's Draft Page
Comments: Brad
Updated: 01/09/98 - bk 
Shire
Horse Society
Canadian
Shire Horse Association
American
Shire Horse Association