There are many draft horse breeds in the world, and while not all of them rank as big as the ones listed here, many are just as strong — even in smaller sizes. Heavyset like its parent breeds, it was popular around Zeeland and Groningen for farm work and other heavy pulling jobs. However, World War II caused a sharp decline in numbers, making this a relatively rare horse breed. Considered one of the strongest horse breeds, Dutch Drafts are often seen at farm shows pulling huge logs or competing in horse-drawn plowing events.
Despite its strength, the Dutch Draft is shorter than its counterparts, ranging from 15 hh for mares and 17 hh for stallions and geldings. While that makes it shorter than some other draft breeds, the Dutch Draft is by no means a small horse. The Suffolk Punch is one of the oldest and tallest horse breeds in Great Britain. Today, Suffolk Punch horses are popular for forestry, farm work, and advertising, largely due to their striking figure. They are always chestnut in color and stand between With mentions dating back as far as , the Suffolk Punch has changed little since then.
Unfortunately, its old origins are also part of why the big horse breed is so rare. There are very few Suffolk Punches remaining in Britain, in part due to the genetic bottlenecks and losses during the World Wars. While it fared better in the Americas, the British registry will not allow breeding with their American counterparts.
This is because the American registry allowed for crossbreeding with Belgian Drafts, something not allowed in the UK. Weighing around 2, lbs kgs and standing between Two Belgian Draft horses as a team were once recorded pulling in excess of 7, kg 17, pounds.
Unlike other draft horses, this breed is not at risk of extinction — fortunately. Though generally shorter than breeds like the Percheron and the Shire, the Belgian Draft breed still produces some of the biggest horses in the world. Their sizes range considerably, from as small as The Percheron breed was significantly influenced by lighter oriental horse breeds such as Arabian.
Modern Percherons are frequently used in horse shows, parades, and driving. They also make good riding horses in a variety of equine activities and are crossbred with lighter horse breeds, especially Thoroughbreds. Percherons are typically gray or black. Their size varies significantly with the country of their breeding. For example, in France, a typical Percheron weighs between 1,, lbs compared to 1,, lbs in the US, and 1,, lbs in Great Britain.
The same disparity can be found in their height; in France, the typical Percheron is between Percherons are best known for their willingness to work, hardiness, and ability to adapt to harsh climates. They are good-natured horses that are easy keepers. The Suffolk originated in Suffolk and Norfolk in eastern England, where draft horses have been present since the s.
The Suffolk Punch is considered the oldest native horse breed of Great Britain. The Suffolk horse has changed little over the past three hundred years. The Suffolk is unique among draft breeds in that it was selectively bred solely for agricultural work. The number of Suffolk Punch horses greatly diminished in the late s and came close extinction in the s. Suffolk horses have distinct coat color characteristics; all are shades of chestnut with no white markings.
They typically stand between However, horses are individuals and some of the calmest and most level-headed individuals may be members of these breeds. The American Cream Draft is the rarest draft horse breed in the world, there are only be registered.
Shire Horses have served many other purposes including farm horses, pulling horses, and even riding. Even in modern times, Shire Horses are used on small farms as an eco-friendly alternative to tractors.
Shire Horses are historically one of the strongest horse breeds. In the early s, a pair of Shires is reported to have pulled a load that weighed over 45 tons! Similar to the Clydesdale, Shire Horses are calm and docile, great for equestrians of all ages and levels of experience.
These gentle giants have an average life expectancy of between 25 and 30 years. Primarily used for farming, Belgian Draft Horses are still used for a variety of agriculture work and carriage pulling.
However, Belgian Draft Horses have more recently earned a name for themselves in show and pleasure riding circles. Belgian Draft Horses weigh, on average, between 1, and 2, pounds.
They are typically between 15 hands to 18 hands high or inches tall. Although they have the feathered legs of Clydesdales and Shire Horses, Belgian Draft Horses have a short, muscular neck as opposed to a long, elegant neck. Now considered one of the rarest horse breeds in the world, the Dutch Draft Horse remains one of the biggest horse breeds known to man. Dutch Draft horses have been known for their usefulness in farm work where they excel at pulling incredibly heavy loads. Additionally, unlike other large animal breeds, the Dutch Draft horse has a relatively long working life, a benefit to farmers.
Although Dutch Drafts are incredibly intelligent, they have a rather calm demeanor, making them well-suited for framing tasks. Dutch Draft horses typically weigh between 1, to 1, pounds and stand approximately 15 hands to 17 hands high or inches tall.
One of the most notable physical characteristics of Dutch Draft horses is the combination of stocky shoulders with the iconic feathered legs inherited from their Belgian ancestors. Originally used as a warhorse, the Percheron continues to appear in many equestrian circles.
Today, Percherons are used as draft horses, they also excel in pulling circuits as one of the strongest horse breeds alive. Percherons have a muscular build with an arched neck. Their calm, docile demeanor makes them well-suited for any equestrian, as long as the rider is not intimidated by their size. Most Percherons weigh between 1, to 2, pounds and stand between 15 hands to 19 hands high or inches tall.
In recent years, Percherons have been cross-bred with thoroughbreds or other similar breeds, resulting in a sport riding horse. The average life expectancy of a Percheron is between 25 and 30 years, similar to other large breeds on this list. The Suffolk Punch Horse, sometimes called the Suffolk Sorrel, is actually considered an endangered horse breed in much of England.
This strong, energetic breed was used widely in agriculture but is more recently used in forestry, advertising, and draught work. Moreover, their large eyes and broad, full forehead complements well with their straight face, strong jaw, and attractively refined ears.
Best for: Percheron horses help a lot at the farm. But these are also great show horses. Genetics: The Belgian Draft is popularly believed to be a descendant of the Brabant — the great horse from the medieval times that was known to carry knights to fight in battles.
Although this breed is slightly shorter than the Shire and Percheron, it still stands tall enough to classify as one of the biggest horse breeds found worldwide. They were, in fact, exported throughout the continent to build strength by crossbreeding with other smaller horse lines. Furthermore, these horses were widely used for agriculture and pulling cargo before industrialization took over. Physical Traits: A magnificent portrayal of sheer bulk and breadth, the Belgian horse boasts of an appealing chestnut color and a distinctive mane.
Best for: Forestry, heavy farm work, and casual horse-riding are some of the main purposes Belgian Drafts are used for. Genetics: Found in the Netherlands, Dutch Draft horses are a crossbreed between Ardennes and the Belgian Draft which makes them huge, strong workhorses. History: The Dutch Draft originated around the first World War and was quite popular in the regions of Groningen and Zeeland for heavy pulling jobs, especially on the farms.
However, the breed faced a sharp decline after World War II. Physical Traits: Flaunting an ebony-colored coat, the Dutch Draft is rather short in comparison to other draft horses but stands strong as a stout and heavy workhorse regardless. Furthermore, its most prominent features include heavily covered fluffy hair from below its knees and over the hooves. Personality Traits: Dutch Drafts exhibit kindness and docility with huge stamina and enduring power.
Best for: Owing to their exemplary stamina, one would find a Dutch Draft either pulling heavy objects or in horse-drawn plowing competitions. Genetics: The Suffolk Punch is the oldest large horse breed to be in existence today that hails from the East Anglia region of England. Strangely, the horse has a close similarity to some of the smallest horse breeds in the world like the Dales, Haflinger, and Fell.
History: The first mention of Suffolk Punch breeds dates back to It was originally bred for its strength to facilitate agricultural work. In addition to being active in the fields, these horses also played a huge role during wartime by pulling heavy weapons and even getting slaughtered during times of severe food crisis.
Physical Traits: The Suffolk Punch has a striking figure and beautiful chestnut hair and is generally shorter than other British heavy draught breeds, but more massively built.
It is a crossbreed of not two but four different kinds of horses namely Shires, Clydesdales, Suffolk Punches, and Percherons. History: Australian Draughts came into being in the s, a time when the demand for heavy horses was high as they were seen as a great alternative to bullocks.
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