Brabant or Belgian Heavy Draft
Origin
Belgium
History
The Brabant, or Belgian Heavy Draft, is an ancient breed that has been a major factor in the history of horse development. It is most likely descended from the primitive Forest Horse, one of the four early types of horses. Known during the Middle Ages as the Flanders Horse, it played a considerable role in the development of heavy breeds such as the Clydesdale, the Shire, and the Suffolk Punch.
By about 1870, there were three distinct types known in the Belgian breed. The first of the three types was that of Orange I, forefather of the particularly massive bay horses of the magnificently titled line Gros de la Dendre. The stallion Bayard founded the line Gris du Hainaut, which had grey, dun, and sorrel or red roan colouring. The third Brabant line was founded by the bay horse Jean I, and was named Colosses de la Mehaique.
The stud book was started in 1885 and is published by the Société Royale le Cheval de Trait Belge. Prior to mechanization, Belgian draft horses were imported to many other parts of the world. In 1903 the Belgian government sent an exhibit of horses to the St. Louis World´s Fair and the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago. This generated a great interest in the breed in America. Many horses were imported to the United States until World War I.
The decline of interest in large draft horses after World War II nearly meant the extinction of all draft breeds, but numbers are increasing steadily again.
Description
- Head:
small and refined in comparison with many other heavy breeds, but remains proportionate and an attractive feature - Conformation:
-short, thick neck, strong enough for every sort of heavy draft purpose
-broad chest
-thick and compact body with considerable breadth across the short back and exceptionally powerful loins
-huge, broad quarters, distinctively rounded with the croup being characteristically "double-muscled"
-heavily developed second thighs
-short, strong, lean and sound legs with some feather at the fetlock
-well formed hooves, of medium size - Average height:
16.2 to 17 h.h. - Colour:
usually red or chestnut roan, but other colours occur - Temperament:
willing and kind - Today:
despite its virtual eclipse in modern Belgium, the Brabant retains a strong following in the US.
