Draft horses, commonly found among large size breeds, have long been used for hauling equipment and supplies, yet can also make great riding horses. Draft horse breeds offer amazing versatility as riding horses as well.
Have you seen Clydesdale horses before in commercials for Budweiser or at parades? These massive creatures stand up to 18 hands high and weigh over 2,300 pounds, so they are an unlikely sight indeed!
Clydesdale
The Clydesdale horse breed is known for its size and strength. Originating in Scotland in the 18th and early 19th centuries, its name originates from River Clyde where this horse first emerged. Primarily used in agriculture but also seen at parades or public events due to their impressive load-carrying capabilities, Clydesdale horses make an eye-catching sight that make an impactful statement about society at large.
Clydesdale horses are well known for their peaceful disposition and easy training process, making them ideal for children or people with limited horse experience. Like other large horses, however, Clydesdales possess high energy levels which need regular exercise in order to remain healthy and happy.
Clydesdales typically reach between 16-18 hands in height and can weigh up to 2,200 pounds. While most Clydesdales are brown in color, other options can include black, chestnut and sabino hues. Some Clydesdales even boast white feathered legs which make them striking; these feathers consist of long thick hair that needs grooming regularly in order to remain healthy and clean.
Clydesdale horses are draft horses, meaning that they possess both strength and stamina to pull heavy loads over long periods. As such, they make excellent candidates for use in logging or agriculture industries, as well as being popular show horses. Aside from their incredible strength and power, these magnificent beasts also boast natural grace that makes them gorgeous spectacles to watch.
Belgian
Belgian horses are one of the largest horse breeds worldwide, known for their calm temperament and unwavering work ethic. Ideal for logging and other agricultural tasks such as plowing fields, these sturdy creatures boast protective coats to absorb rain and snow and thick muscles and heavy bodies making them especially strong. Originating in medieval Europe as farmworkers or soldiers’ mounts, the Belgian made its way across to America in 1887 when it finally gained acceptance as its own breed through American Belgian Association’s formation – yet took time before truly taking off.
The Belgian is often featured in parades and other special events due to its size and calm temperament, making it popular for sleigh rides as well as carriage driving. Furthermore, this breed excels at logging – being adept at traversing terrain that would be difficult for modern machinery to traverse.
As is true of all large equines, caring for a Belgian will depend on its workload and health conditions. As a general guideline, these horses require ample exercise and food in order to remain healthy and happy. As these horses tend toward obesity, you should monitor their weight accordingly using a veterinary-approved calorie plan and feed them according to a veterinarian-approved meal plan. They’re prone to dermatitis and fungal infections on their legs so regular grooming sessions should also be scheduled in. Finally, they also risk Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa which causes newborn foals’ skin lesions at birth – an inherited genetic condition where newborn foals lose skin after birth – another factor.
Friesians
Friesians are an impressive black horse breed renowned for their warhorse abilities. Today they remain highly sought-after horses used in dressage competition, driving events and recreational riding activities alike – as well as among amateur riders who appreciate their gentle temperaments and graceful gaits.
Friesian horses are distinguished by their long mane and tail, both of which remain uncut. Additionally, these distinctive features helped distinguish the breed in art work of the Middle Ages as well as harness horses used for agricultural work or harness racing in later centuries. Unfortunately in early 1900s due to global mechanization abolition horse power on farms the breed declined significantly but with systematic breeding this has now been revived to its former glory.
Friesians horses are stunning to look at and possess great intelligence and eagerness to please their rider, making them suitable for riders of all experience levels and experience levels – including beginners. Their gentle nature also makes them suitable for children learning how to ride; simply make sure that a reliable breeder and thorough pre-purchase veterinary exam with pedigree are selected before purchasing one of these beauties. Regular grooming sessions will help maintain their health, particularly their thick manes and tails which require regular trimming.
Morgan
Morgan horses are eager, intelligent, and willing to bond with humans – qualities which make them perfect training partners for novice riders as well as more advanced riders alike. Morgans excel at carriage driving, dressage, jumping and endurance riding disciplines – with their size and athleticism making them excellent candidates for herd work too!
Morgan horses have a lively nature that may manifest as occasional disobedience, yet are usually responsive to discipline and commands due to their highly trainable nature and deep chest, angled ribs, muscular back, as well as their prominent withers (area between shoulders). One distinctive trait of Morgans is their pacing gait – which features four smooth beats rather than up-and-down movement like other trots, canters or galops.
Morgans tend to be straightforward horses to care for and require less food than other breeds of full size horses, though they do tend to put on weight quickly, so regular exercise must be incorporated to avoid obesity and laminitis – which reduces blood flow to the inner layer of hoof, leading to intense discomfort for their owner and horse alike.
Morgan horses typically range in height from 14.2-15.2 hands and come in various colors such as bay, chestnut, black, palomino dun and buckskin. You’ll likely find them all throughout the United States; prices typically fall between $1,000- $5,000 depending on age, health status, training level and pedigree.