Origin
former Soviet Union
History
The Vladimir Heavy Draft breed evolved at collective and state farms in the provinces of Ivanovo and Vladimir. It was developed on the basis of selective breed programs that had been carried out at the Gavrilovo-Posadsk State Stables in the early years of the 20th century. The local mares were first crossed with Percherons, Suffolk Punches, and Cleveland Bays. Later, with Clydesdales and Shires. The principal foundation stallions were the Clydesdales, Lord James and Border Brand, both foaled in 1910, and Glen Albin, who was foaled in 1923. The Shire crosses, though important, were less influential.
By the mid-1920s, interbreed crossing was being phased out, as an increasing number of good crossbreds had by then been obtained. Selected crossbreeds were then mated in order to fix the breedīs type and character. The breed was officially recognized in 1946.
Description
- Head:
large and fairly long with a straight or convex profile - Conformation:
-neck, muscular of medium length
-chest, broad but not deep
-withers, pronounced and long
-back, though broad can be rather weak
-loin, short and broad
-croup, long and sloping
-legs, clean, some horses having thick feathering on the lower legs - Average height:
15 to 16.1 h.h. - Colour:
usually bay. White markings on the face and legs are common - Temperament:
it is a good-natured horse with excellent working ability - Today:
it combines great pulling power with adequate speed. The action being free and energetic, it makes the breed well suited to pulling the famous Vladimir troika three-abreast.
