Draft horse

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A draft horse is generally a large, heavy horse suitable for farm labor, like this Shire horse. Aa shirehorse.jpg
A draft horse is generally a large, heavy horse suitable for farm labor, like this Shire horse.

A draft horse (US) or draught horse (UK), also known as dray horse, carthorse, work horse or heavy horse, is a large horse bred to be a working animal hauling freight and doing heavy agricultural tasks such as plowing. There are a number of breeds, with varying characteristics, but all share common traits of strength, patience, and a docile temperament.

Contents

While indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers, draft horses are used today for a multitude of purposes, including farming, draft horse showing, logging, recreation, and other uses. Draft breeds have been crossbred with light riding breeds such as the Thoroughbred to create sport horses or warmbloods. While most draft horses are used for driving, they can be ridden and some of the lighter draft breeds are capable performers under saddle.

Characteristics

Comparison of a typical-sized carriage horse (top) to a heavy draft horse (bottom) Horses Btwn 1374 and 1375.jpg
Comparison of a typical-sized carriage horse (top) to a heavy draft horse (bottom)

Draft horses are recognizable by their extremely muscular build. They tend to have broad, short backs with powerful hindquarters. In general, they are taller and tend to have heavier bone and a more upright shoulder than riding horses, producing conformation that is well suited for pulling. Many draft breeds have heavier hair, called feathering on their lower legs. Draft breeds range from approximately 163 to 193  cm (16 to 19 hands) high and from 640 to 910 kg (1,400 to 2,000 lb). Draft horses are much larger than riding horses, and have a more muscular build than coach horses, which were large and strong enough to pull large driving vehicles. [1] : 46 

Background and history

Humans domesticated horses and used them to perform a variety of duties, including hauling heavy loads, plowing fields, and other tasks that required pulling ability. A heavy, calm, patient, and well-muscled animal was desired for this work. Conversely, a light, more energetic horse was needed for riding and rapid transport. Thus, to the extent possible, a certain amount of selective breeding was used to develop different types of horse for different types of work. [2]

It is a common misunderstanding that the Destrier that carried the armoured knight of the Middle Ages had the size and conformation of a modern draft horse, and some of these Medieval war horses may have provided some bloodlines for some of the modern draft breeds. The reality was that the high-spirited, quick-moving Destrier was closer to the size, build, and temperament of a modern Andalusian or Friesian. There also were horses of more phlegmatic temperaments used for pulling military wagons or performing ordinary farm work which provided bloodlines of the modern draft horse. Records indicate that even medieval drafts were not as large as those today. Of the modern draft breeds, the Percheron probably has the closest ties to the medieval war horse. [3]

Draft horses plowing Ploegen tweespan.jpg
Draft horses plowing

By the 19th century, horses weighing more than 1,600 pounds (730 kg) that also moved at a quick pace were in demand. Tall stature, muscular backs, and powerful hindquarters made the draft horse a source of horsepower for farming, hauling freight and moving passengers. The advent of railroads increased demand for working horses, as a growing economy still needed transport to and from the goods yard or rail station. [4]

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, thousands of draft horses were imported from Western Europe into the United States—Percherons came from France, Brabants from Belgium, Shires from England, and Clydesdales from Scotland—and breed registries were established in the US for the imported breeds. The Percheron, with 40,000 broodmares registered as of 1915, was America's most numerous draft breed at the turn of the 20th century. [3] There was one draft breed developed in the US, the American Cream Draft, with a stud book established in 1944. [5]

Over half a million draft horses were used during World War I. The British were importing American draft horses to supplement their dwindling stock even before America joined the war, preferring Percheron crosses which they said had "great endurance, fine physique, soundness, activity, willingness to work, and almost unfailing good temper". British buyers were buying 10,000 to 25,000 American horses and mules a month, eventually making up about two-thirds of British Army war horses. [6] : 118 

However, beginning in the late 19th century, and with increasing mechanization of agriculture in the 20th century, especially following World War I in the US and after World War II in Europe, the popularity of the internal combustion engine, and particularly the tractor, reduced the need for the draft horse. Many were sold to slaughter and a number of breeds went into significant decline. [2] [7] : 141, 348, 362 

Vehicles

A carter and his two draft horses, circa 1910 Beverley Gas Works, Old Hull Road 1910 (archive ref DDX1544-1-11) (28284430335).jpg
A carter and his two draft horses, circa 1910

Draft horses have been used to pull heavy wheeled vehicles such as:

Modern uses

Modern draft horses Erntespaar 2007.jpg
Modern draft horses

Today, draft horses can be seen in horse shows, pulling competitions, heavy horse trials, parades pulling large wagons, pulling tourist carriages, and they are still seen on some smaller farms in the US and Europe. They are still used by agrarian groups such as the Amish and Mennonites. Draft horses are used for logging in dense woodland where there is insufficient space for mechanized vehicles or for other conservation considerations. Draft horses are still used to tow some canal boats in England. [2] [8]

Draft horse breeds have played a significant role in the development of many warmblood breeds, popular today in advanced level equine sports. [1] : 231 

Small areas still exist where draft horses are widely used as transportation due to legislation preventing automotive traffic, such as on Mackinac Island in the United States. [9]

Care

Management of a large draft horse can be costly, including feed, shoeing, and veterinary care. Although many draft horses can work without a need for shoes, if they are required, farriers may charge twice the price to shoe a draft horse as a light riding horse because of the extra labor and specialized equipment required. [10] Historically, draft horses were shod with horseshoes that were significantly wider and heavier than those for other types of horses, custom-made, often with caulkins. [11]

The draft horse's metabolism is a bit slower than lighter horse breeds, more akin to that of ponies, requiring less feed per pound of body weight. This is possibly due to their calmer nature. Nonetheless, because of their sheer size, most require a significant amount of feed per day. Generally a supplement to balance nutrients is preferred over a large quantity of grain. They consume hay or other forage from 1.5% to 3% of their body weight per day, depending on work level. They also can drink up to 95 litres; 21 imperial gallons (25 US gal) of water a day. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, and risk of laminitis can be a concern. [12]

World records

Brooklyn Supreme Brooklyn Supreme (horse).jpg
Brooklyn Supreme

The largest horse in recorded history was probably a Shire born in 1846 named Sampson (renamed Mammoth). He stood 21.2  h (218 centimetres) high, and his peak weight was estimated at 1,524 kilograms (3,360 lb). [13] [14] Brooklyn Supreme (1928–1948) was a Belgian draft horse, 19.2  h (198 centimetres) high and weighed 3,200 lb (1,451 kg). At over 19  h (193 centimetres), a Shire gelding named Goliath (1977–2001) was the Guinness Book of World Records record holder for the world's tallest living horse (until his death). [15] [16] Big Jake (2001–2021), an American Belgian standing 20.275  h (210.2 centimetres), held the record for tallest living horse from 2010 until his death in 2021. As of 2024, there is no living record holder. [14]

Draft breeds

The following breeds of horse are considered draft breeds: [17] [18] [19] [20]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Price, Steven D.; Shiers, Jessie (2007). The Lyons Press Horseman's Dictionary (Revised ed.). Guilford, CT: Lyons Press. ISBN   978-1-59921-036-0. OL   8901304M.
  2. 1 2 3 "History of the Draft Horse: The Muscle-Men of the Horse World". Horse Journals. August 11, 2019.
  3. 1 2 Mischka, Joseph (1991). The Percheron Horse in America. Mischka Press/Heart Prairie. ISBN   9780962266355.
  4. ↑ Bradley, Simon (2015). The Railways: Nation, Network & People. London: Profile Books. pp. 348–349. ISBN   978-1-84668-209-4. OL   30715586M.
  5. ↑ "History". American Cream Draft Horse Association.
  6. ↑ Purdy, C.S. (2016). The Equine Legacy : How horses, mules, and donkeys shaped America. Mozaic Press. ISBN   9780997515909.
  7. ↑ Dutson, Judith (2005). Storey's Illustrated Guide to 96 Horse Breeds of North America. Storey Publishing. ISBN   1-58017-613-5. OL   3406094M.
  8. ↑ Evans, Margaret (October 17, 2025). "Horses with Jobs: Barge Horses". Horse Journals.
  9. ↑ "Mackinac Island Fact Sheet" (PDF). Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 29, 2008.
  10. ↑ "Do Drafts Need Shoes? - Farming". Farming. September 9, 2015. Retrieved May 14, 2017.
  11. ↑ Wallace's Monthly: An Illustrated Magazine Devoted to Domesticated Animal Nature. B. Singerly. 1885. p. 496.
  12. ↑
  13. ↑ Whitaker, Julie; Whitelaw, Ian (2007). The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge. New York: St. Martin's Press. p. 60. ISBN   978-0-312-37108-1.
  14. 1 2 "Tallest horse ever". Guinness World Records.
  15. ↑ Jurga, Fran (November 1, 2001). "Living Large: The Death of a Giant" . The Horse. Retrieved October 8, 2009.
  16. ↑ "Wandle Goliath". Northcote Heavy Horse Centre.
  17. ↑ Edwards, Elwyn Hartley (2008) [1994]. The Encyclopedia of the Horse. Dorling Kindersley. ISBN   9780756628949. OL   21938319M.
  18. ↑ Hendricks, Bonnie (1995). International Encyclopedia of Horse Breeds. University of Oklahoma Press. ISBN   0806127538. OL   1279627M.
  19. ↑ "List of breeds". DCBOA. Archived from the original on August 23, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Breeds of Horses". Oklahoma State University. January 19, 2021.
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