Belgian Draft Horses
- Categories
- Special Collections > Keystone Slides
- Type
- tiff scanned file from original glass slide
- Description
- A horse must weigh over 1500 pounds to be classed as a draft horse. Belgian draft horses weigh from 1,600 to 2,300 pounds. They are about the same size as other draft horses, such as the Percheron, the French Draft, the Shire, the Suffolk, and the Clydesdale. But they differ from these other breeds in many ways. The Clydesdale and the Shire have long hair on the lower part of their legs. The body of the Belgian is heavier and fuller than that of any of the other draft breeds. The shoulders and breast are very broad. The color of draft horses varies. The Shires and Clydesdales are usually light bay, Percherons and French Draft horses are black or gray. The Belgians may be black, brown, bay, or dappled gray. The name of this breed tells where its native home is. The Belgians are mentioned in old writings as lovers of fine horses. The kind of horses they needed on the flat plains was one well fitted for pulling. The present draft horse is the result of years of breeding. No one set of men has brought the breed to its high state of perfection. The farmers and stock raisers of the past have all helped by choosing good stock for breeding purposes. Large numbers of these fine draft horses are exported to the United States every year. The prize winners at the Stock Show held each year at Chicago are also usually world champions. The horse nearest you was the world's champion when this view was taken (1916). He was raised in Belgium, but is now owned in America. Observe his firm, heavy shoulders, and his stocky neck. His head is large, but shapely. His ears are small and finely pointed. He has a fine forehead, and is very intelligent. Notice his white feet. Are his legs long or short? Name the breeds of draft horses. Keystone ID: 21577 Note: All titles, descriptions, and location coordinates are from the original Keystone Slide documentation as supplied by the Keystone View Company. No text has been edited or changed.
- Rights
- Copyright by the Keystone View Company. The original slides are housed in McConnell Library's Special Collections.
