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Here is information on a large number of other breeds. More breeds, information and pictures will be added over time. If you have any information, pictures or one of these breeds, then contact us with your stories!

 AUXOIS

Temperament
The Auxois horse has always been used for farming. His strength makes him a good draft horse. He is used even today to clear forests. This horse has also been incorporated into the French tourist industry -- notably gypsy caravanning in the Morvan. He has a quiet temperament and is very willing. 

History
The Auxois is the result of cross breeding between local French Bourguignon mares and the Ardennes studs -- particularly Northern Ardennes sires. It appears that a few Percheron and Boulonnais influences occurred in the 19th century.

Description
The coat of the beautiful horse is bay or roan, sometimes red roan or chestnut. It has a short head, with a wide forehead and small alert ears. The neck is short, muscular and well set. The Auxois has a massive body with prominent withers, a wide chest, wide and short back and loins, long hind quarters with a very muscular croup. The tail is carried low. Other body characteristics include; a sloped shoulder, large knees and powerful hocks on short and clean cannon bones, hardy limbs with little hair. The gaits are ample and supple in spite of the bulk.

Height:

15 to 16.1 hands

BOULONNAIS

Temperament
This horse is used as a refined pulling horse and a useful cross with riding horses. It is more popular outside of France than in France. In Europe it is sold for meat. 
The Boulonnais is lively and energetic. It has a great deal of stamina and it is bold. It is a very gentle horse and is the most elegant of all the heavy breeds. 


History
This horse traces back to Roman times, around 55BC. During the Crusades, finer Arab and Barb influences were introduced to produce a lighter horse, but the heavy medieval armor meant size was still important. World War I seriously depleted the number of Boulonnais horses because their chief breeding grounds were right at the heart of the battle zone. World War II had a second serious impact on the breed just as it was recovering. Two types of Boulonnais evolved: a large heavy version for use in agriculture and industry and a smaller lighter horse suitable for less strenuous work on small holdings. The small version was known as Marieur or mareyeur (fish merchant) because it was used for the transportation of fish from Normandy to Paris. Today the breed is branded with an anchor on its neck to reflect its maritime homeland.

Description
This breed has an elegant head that is short and broad overall. The profile is straight and the forehead wide with slightly prominent, bright eyes. The ears are small and erect. The neck is thick and often arched with a thick mane. Shoulders are muscular and the withers are fairly prominent. The back is straight with a broad chest and well sprung ribs. The hindquarters are very round and muscular. The tail is set high and it is thick. Limbs are strong with very prominent muscular projections in the forearms and thighs, short thick cannons and large flat joints. The coat is silky with light feather on the legs. Gray is the dominant color, but this horse can be roan, bay or chestnut.

Height:
15.3 to 16.3 hands

BRABANT

History
This breed is quite old and is thought to have descended directly from the Diluvial horse. The Romans used this breed for war horses from the 11th to the 16th century. This horse was also used to develop a horse which was suitable to agricultural needs in Belgium. More common breeds such as the Clydesdale are from Brabant descent.

Description
The Brabant is also known as the Belgian Heavy Draft Horse. This horse has a massive presence, while only standing between 16.2 and 17 hh. It is commonly roan or chestnut in color. The body of this beautiful animal is very compact and thickset, with a unique double muscled croup and massive rounded quarters. It has a great deal of feathers on its short strong legs and an extremely deep barrel. The Brabant is also known for its kind and intelligent facial expressions.

Height:
16.2 to 17 hands

BRETON

Temperament
In France the Breton is still used for farm work and hauling and in the vineyards. It is in demand as a coach horse and often used in teams. It is imported to North Africa, Spain, Italy, and Japan to improve lighter stock. In Europe it is used for meat. 
It is a hardy, adaptable animal and a willing worker. It is strong, energetic, kind and good-natured. It has a great deal of stamina and is very active. 

History
The Breton is an ancient breed of heavy horse from Brittany in northwest France. It has been developed to suite the conditions of the region and the needs of the people over many centuries. It was used in the Crusades and as a war horse. Down through the centuries there has always been more than one type of Breton horse. In the Middle Ages two types were identified: the Sommier and the Roussin. The Sommier was descended from stock bred mainly in the north of Brittany and was used for pack and agricultural work. The Roussin, was a much lighter animal and came from the south and some central parts of the region. It was a popular saddle horse, noted for its comfortable gate. 
Although the Breton is no longer used for a saddle horse it does still come in different types: a large and a small draft horse and a coach-horse known as the Postier, which is built on less massive lines than the draft horses. The studbook was started in 1909 and controls the draft and coach-horse division’s separately. 

Description
The Breton has a squarish, broad, straight head that is characterized by its kind expression. The ears are small and fairly low-set. This breed has a short, strong and slightly arched neck and rather short, sloping shoulders. The body is short, strong and broad with well-sprung ribs. The hindquarters are extremely powerful and the limbs are short and strong with very muscular thighs and forearms. There are a minimal amount of feathers and the feet are medium sized and hard. The tail is docked short. The Breton is often chestnut, but may be roan or gray.

Height:
15 to 16.1 hands

COMPTOIS

Temperament
This heavy horse is used in the vineyards, forests and at ski resorts to pull sleighs. It is often exported to North Africa for agricultural use. Sadly, as with so many heavy horses today it is used in meat production. 
This horse is active and tough. It is sure-footed and well balanced. It can be lively. 

History
This heavy horse is an ancient breed of working horse. It was known in the Jura Mountains and Massif Central from the 16th century and it can be traced back to at least the 6th century. The Comtois was used by the French army and achieved fame as Louis XIV’s mount. The Comtois was named after the Franche-Comte region on the Franco-Swiss border. In the early 20th century it was crossed with a small version of the Ardennes which produced a stronger line.

Description
The head of the Comtois is broad and short, with small alert ears and bright expressive eyes. It has a thick, muscular, straight neck and a prominent wither. Its body is broad and deep. It has a strong back and rounded, broad hindquarters. The limbs are strong with ample bone and some feathers. It is sometimes cow-hocked. The feet are very hardy. Over all this horse is small and thickset. The color is often bay or chestnut with a flaxen mane.

Height:
14.2 to 15.3 hands

DOLE GUDBRANDSDAY

Temperament
The Dole is a very active horse noted for its stamina.

History
The Dole Gudbrandsday comes from Norway and was developed in the Gudbrandsday valley between the North Sea and Oslo. It comes from the same ancient stock as Fell and Dale ponies. Two types of Dole Gudbrandsays were developed: a lighter type used for harness racing and a heavier type used for farm work the heavier type was rescued in 1962 by state intervention after World War Ii and mechanization depleted breeding numbers. Today the heavier horse is called the Dole Gudbrandsday and the lighter has been named the Dole Trotter. 

Description
The Dole has the build of a small draft horse. It has an attractive neat head that looks like a pony’s head, wide at the forehead and tapering to a square muzzle. The profile is straight; the neck is slightly crested and short. This breed has strong shoulders and a broad chest. Its body is deep with a long back. The hindquarters are very powerful. The limbs are short, strong and thick with feathered heels and hard feet. It is usually brown, black or bay, although there are some chestnuts.

Height:
15 to hands

DUTCH DRAFT

Temperament
This horse is used in shows and agricultural exhibitions, where it is decorated in the traditional fashion. It is also used to pull heavy carriages or drays as a form of advertising. In Europe it is sold for meat. 
The Dutch Draft hors has a very docile, willing temperament. It has great stamina and pulling power. It is a very hardy horse and since it is a light feeder, is a very economical horse. It can live for a long time, often up to 30 years. 

History
The Dutch Draft is a fairly new breed. It came from a cross of Brabant and native Dutch horses and an occasional cross to the Ardennes horse. It was established as a breed in the Netherlands in 1914, when the Royal Dutch Draft Society was founded. The first studbook was published in 1924 and the breed became more clearly defined. These horses must pass tests for conformation, fertility, action and true type before they can be used for breeding. 

Description
This breed is strong and huge. Its head has a straight profile and it has an alert expression. The breed has a short, thick neck and a wide prominent chest. The loins are heavily muscled, as are the hindquarters. Its croup slopes down to the tail, which is usually docked or tied up. The limbs are short and sturdy with lots of feathers. The common colors for a Dutch Draft are chestnut, black, gray, bay and dun.

Height:
16 to 16.3 hands

FINNISH DRAFT

Temperament
The Finnish Draft is used for light draft work, harness work and riding. It is also widely used for forestry throughout Finland. It is used for farm work and for pulling a sleigh when there is snow. A lighter variety is popular in Finland for harness racing. 

This horse is intelligent and even-tempered. It is very easy to train and is agile over difficult terrain. 

History
This breed was recognized in 1907 when its studbook was opened. The modern Finnish Draft was bred from a heavier pulling horse and a lighter Finnish horse called the Universal. Today, breeding stock is performance tested to ensure that only the best working horses with correct conformation are registered. This horse is also tested for its trotting ability to ensure this valuable trait is continued.

Description
The Finnish Draft is often small and light framed for a draft, although size varies. The head of this horse is long and the neck is short. The body tends to be long with muscular hindquarters that often slope to a croup that may be higher than the flattish withers. The legs are strong, short and slightly feathered. The preferred color is chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail although any color is accepted except skewbald.

Height:
15.2 to 17.2 hands

FREIBERG

Temperament
The Freiberger is used by Swiss farmers, especially on mountain slopes, and by the Swiss army for patrolling and artillery tasks. They are used for light pulling and quite often replace mechanized transport to reduce pollution. The Swiss Government sponsors the care and breeding of these horses. 
This horse is intelligent, agile, active and easy to train. It is a very reliable worker and very docile. 

History
The Freiberger is from the monotonous Jura region of Switzerland. It is a small working horse of mixed origin. It is a fairly new breed based on stock like the Anglo-Norman, Brabant and other coldbloods. The Swiss National Stud at Avenches now controls breeding. They use only horses that match the breeders’ criteria for a docile, active and reliable horse.

Description
This breeds mixed ancestry often produces a variation in appearance, but the breed is always compact, well muscled and stocky. The head is neat with a slightly concave profile. The overall look is that of a small cob with clean legs and very few feathers.

Height:
14.3 to 15.2 hands

GELDERLAND

Temperament
This horse has a very sensible good temperament.

History
A number of different breeds went into the making of the Gelderland. In the 19th century native Dutch mares were crossed with English, French, German, Hungarian and Polish stallions to produce a good stamp of dual-purpose horse, one that was big and strong enough to do farm work, but not so heavy that it could not be used for riding. Hackney blood was also introduced in a breeding program that was noted for its well-founded principles of selection. Only horses that had proven themselves to be good, sound workers were used at stud. As mechanization spread and horses were needed less on the land, breeders introduced Thoroughbred blood to lighten the Gederland.

Description
The Gelderland has a plain, sensible head that has a tendency to a convex profile. It has a strong neck and good shoulders with fairly low withers. The body is fairly long with good depth through the girth and powerful hindquarters. The tail is set high. The limbs are short and strong with good, sound feet. This breed is predominantly chestnut but bay or gray can be seen. 
This horse makes an excellent carriage horse and has also played a part in the development of Holland's remarkably successful competition horse, the Dutch Warmblood. This horse is also used for four-in-hand driving.

Height:
16 to 16.3 hands

ITALIAN HEAVY DRAFT

Temperament
These horses are still used in agriculture and haulage, although they are increasingly valued only in the meat trade. The best bloodlines are currently being preserved and many stallions are exhibited at shows and fairs. 
The Italian Draft is one of the most agile working horses. It has a kind, docile temper and is energetic. The breed is quick to mature, has a hardy constitution and is economical to keep. 

History
The Italian Heavy Draft originated in Ferrara in the north of the country during the second half of the 19th century. An active working horse was needed during this time and into the early part of the 20th century so local stock was crossed with heavier imported breeds: the French Percheron and the more agile Boulonnais and most successfully of all the lively Breton. A studbook for Italian Draft horses was established in 1961. Horses accepted for registration are branded on the near side of the hindquarters with the breed mark, a five-runged ladder within a shield.

Description
This horse has a square head with a broad forehead, large eyes and nostrils. The ears are small and mobile. Its neck is very muscular and slightly arched. The shoulders are well sloped and the chest deep. The back is strong and short with a slightly sloping croup with a high-set tail. The hindquarters are powerful. The limbs are strong and short with muscular forearms and large joints, short pasterns and large, well-shaped feet. Lower legs have some feather. Over the entire breed appears compacted and balanced. The color is usually liver chestnut, with a flaxen mane and tail, but roans and grays also occur.

Height:
14 to 16 hands

JUTLAND

Temperament
Unfortunately there is little demand for this horse as a work horse now but they can be seen in cities drawing commercial vehicles and in shows and parades. 

This animal is a sturdy, gentle amenable horse. It is a very active and willing worker. 

History
This heavy horse has been bred on the Jutland peninsula for about 1,000 years. It is very similar to horses brought to Britain by the Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries. The Jutland was an ideal mount for the heavily armored knights of the Middle Ages. In the 19th century it was crossed with a Suffolk stallion Oppenheim LXII, which was imported into Denmark in 1860. This helped improve the breed.

Description
The Jutland is small but substantial. Its head is heavy and rather plain with a kind expression. The neck is thick and strong. The shoulders of this animal are powerful and muscular. This horse has an exceptionally deep body with a broad chest. The hindquarters are very muscular and the limbs are short with plenty of bone and feathers. The predominate color is chestnut with a light mane and tail, but roans, bays, blacks do sometimes occur.

Height:
15 to 16 hands

NORIKER

Temperament
This horse is used mainly for forestry work and on farms as a draft horse. It is also imported widely. Its distinctive looks make it popular as a driving horse for shows and competitions. 
The Noriker is an adaptable, agile and very strong horse. It is very biddable and willing and it has a very calm temperament. 

History
The Noriker is one of Europe’s oldest breeds. It was bred and developed over several thousand years in the mountains of Austria. Its ability to adapt to changing environments has allowed it to survive. It gained its name from the Roman province of Noricum, now part of Austria. In the 1500’s wealthy monasteries controlled the breed and improved it. As with most horses, despite its ancient origins there was no formal breeding program until recently. Strict selection is now maintained, and the breed’s ability to haul weight and the quality of its walk and trot are tested against established criteria. The breed has four main bloodlines: the South German Coldblood (also called the Bavarian), the Steier, the Tiroler and the Karntner. The spotted version of the Noriker evolved in Pizzagu. The studbook for the spotted version was established in 1903.

Description
This horse has a straight profile, wide nostrils and medium sized eyes. The neck is of medium length with a thick curly mane. It has good, sloping shoulders, a broad deep chest and a medium, well-muscled back. The limbs are long with powerful forearms, large clean joints and well-muscled thighs. The feet are sound. The color of this horse is usually dark liver chestnut with a flaxen mane although it can be brown, chestnut, black, gray or brindle. White body markings are not acceptable. To many or to large white markings on the head or limbs are not desirable. 

Height:
16 to 17 hands

NORTH SWEDISH HORSE

Temperament
This horse is a useful forest and farm horse. It is also used to haul timber. It is ridden by the army and is a popular carriage horse, often driven in teams of four for both competition and display. 

The North Swedish Horse is a very active horse. It has a kind, happy, willing nature, which makes it easy to train and work with. 

History
This horse has ancient origins. It is descended from the ancient native workhorse of Sweden and was influenced by the Dole Gudbrandsday from Norway. By the early 1900’s it varied in type due to out crossing to foreign breeds and a breed society was formed to develop greater uniformity. Today selective breeding is based on the best mares and stallions and strict testing of strength and ability were introduced at the main Wangen Stud. Although it is classified as a cold blood, it is smaller and lighter than most heavy horses.

Description
This breed has a fairly large, wide head and long ears. The neck is short, thick and crested. Its powerful shoulders slope to a rather long, deep, strong back. The rounded hindquarters drop from croup to tail. The limbs are short and strong with good bone. The mane and tail are very abundant. It can be seen in any solid color, although, dun, bay or brown are most common.

Height:
15 to 15.3 hands

PERCHERON

Temperament
This breed is known for its even temperament and excellent manners.

History
The Percheron originated in the limestone region of Normandy, France. It is thought that the ancestors of the Percheron carried the knights of Charles Martel who blocked the Muslim invasion of Europe in 732 A.D. 

One of the most interesting aspects of Percheron history is the heavy crossing with the Arabian horse. Despite the crossing with the petite Arabian. the breed has lost none of its massive size, or power. It has improved its movement, and gained a great deal of soundness.

Description
The Percheron has played many roles throughout the course of history. It has been a war horse, a carriage horse, a farm horse, and has also been used under saddle. 

The breed is known for its versatility. It is a very hardy horse. It has a fine head with large deep eyes, and long ears. Its legs are short and massive with few feathers on them. It is commonly gray or black in color. It is a very popular breed in the Unites States and Canada.

Height:
16 to 17.2 hands

POITEVIN

Temperament
This French draft horse is known for being very strong and reliable.

History
According to the French, the Poitevin horse is a reflection of the influence of earth where it was originally bred --the soil of his original breeding ground is a heavy marine clay, rich in mineral salts, hard in the summer and saturated with water in the winter. 
This makes this breed the "son of the sea wind, of the land and of the waters." 
This breed is the result of a rigorous selection throughout several centuries. Native mares from the marshes cross bred with these horses who had come from the North thus founded a line and gave birth to the mulassier breed called the "Poitevin". 

Description
The Poitevin, can been seen in a variety of colors; grey, black, buckskin or dun. The head of this equine is heavy and rather long, with a straight profile and a spread apart lower jaw. The ears are rather large and long. The neck is long with a long thick mane, prominent withers and a wide deep chest. The back is often long, wide and nicely attached to wide loins. The Poitevin's limbs are very powerful, and his joints are rather wide. The hair coat is thick and sometimes curly around the knees and hocks.

Height
15 to 17 hands

POLISH DRAFT HORSE

Temperament
Breeding horses has long been a Polish tradition. Thousands of Polish Draft horses were used during World War II. Unfortunately most of them were killed. Today the draft is still widely used for forestry, farming, hauling and pack work. 
These horses are calm, patient and adaptable. They are excellent working horses and are able to work in all climates over difficult terrain. They are very economical to keep. 

History
There are actually five different types of Polish Draft horses, although the are all called Polish Draft. They have been bred in different regions for different purposes. The five main types are the Lowicz, the Sztum, the Sololka, the Gravolin and the Lidzbark. Each was bred from local stock with outside influences.

Description
All five types of Polish draft horses are sound and robust. The heads tend to be large, with sloping shoulders and short, deep bodies. The limbs are short with little feathering. Most are chestnut, although the Sztum can be bay or roan and the Sokolka may be gray. The Sztum is the largest and heaviest of the group and the Lidzbark is the smallest.

Height:
15 to 16.3 hands

RHENISH GERMAN COLDBLOOD

Temperament
The Rhenish German Coldblood is a good natured and powerful horse. It is an honest working horse that matures early.

History
This horse is a 20th century breed from the Rhine area. It was founded on Brabant horses. The Ardennes breed was also used along with local bloodlines. This breed is barely surviving even though the studbook remains open. 

Description
This horse has a plain head with a short thick neck and a wide, seep, short body. Its frame is massive. The hindquarters are muscular and the limbs are strong and short with a great deal of feathering. The mane and tail are thick and course and the tail is often docked. It is usually roan in color although sometimes chestnut can be seen. It has either black points or a flaxen mane and tail. 

Height
16 to 17 hands

SCHLEZWIG-HOLSTEIN

Temperament
The Schleswig-Holstein was a very popular draft horse for hauling purposes until recently when mechanization replaced it. Some of these beautiful animals can be seen today as performing teams for shows parades or hauling advertisements in cities. 
This horse is very amenable and docile. It is very sound and has good conformation. 

History
This breed originated in northern Germany in the province of the same name. It was founded in the early 1800’s, when Munkedal, a stallion from Denmark was bred with local mares. Breeding became selective form 1860 on. The breed survived World War I (during which time its homeland was under the Danish), but it was seriously depleted in both numbers and quality. Introduction of Breton and Boulonnias blood proved highly successful and the Schleswig recovered and flourished in large numbers until the years following World War II.

Description
Schleswigs have large, rather plain heads, with very kind, bright eyes, tapering noses and wide nostrils. The neck is short and crested. It has very powerful shoulders. Their bodies are rather long with good depth through the girth, well-muscled hindquarters and short, strong limbs. There are some feathers. The mane and tail are often flaxen. Overall it is medium in size and compact. The colors to be seen are chestnut with some bay and greys.

Height:
15.2 to 16 hands

SOUTH GERMAN

Temperament
This breed has a very calm, docile temperament. 
This heavy horse is used in shows, parades and by trick riders. It is still occasionally used for work in agriculture.

History
This strong, agile heavy horse is descended for the Austrian Noriker, which was introduced into Bavaria towards the end of the 19th century. Breeders in Upper Bavaria set about to improve and develop their own breed of horse, while those in lower Bavaria experimented with an extraordinary variety of out-crosses. In time, however, German breeders reverted to using the original Noriker blood for upgrading purposes. The German version of this horse became known as the South German Heavy Horse. Today it is bred mainly in Daden Wurtembury and Bavaria. It still resembles the Noriker, although it is usually a little shorter than the Noriker. 

Description
This breed has a large head, with a kind eye. Its neck is short and strong. It has powerful shoulders, a strong back and a deep girth. The limbs are good with a small amount of feather. It can be seen in brown, bay and chestnut.

Height:
15 to 15.3 hands

VLADIMIR

Temperament
The Vladimir combines great strength with the most docile of natures. It matures very early. It si so well developed by the age of three that it can start work and can also be used at stud.

History
The Clydesdale played a significant part in the development of the Vladimir. During the early years of the 20th century stallions of various heavy breeds were imported from Britain an France to cross with local mares of the provinces of Vladimir and Ivanovo, north-east of Moscow. The aim was to produce a good-quality heavy work horse. The most influential foundations stallions were the Clydesdales. The experiment met with success, the result being a powerfully built heavy horse, well suited to all types of heavy agricultural and draught work.

Description
The Vladimir has a large, long head with a convex profile. The neck is long and muscular. Its withers are pronounced and the chest is wide. It has a long, broad back and a sloping croup. The limbs are long and some Vladimir's have feathers. It is predominantly bay but also may be seen in black and chestnut with white markings on its head and legs. 
The Vladimir is a work horse and it is used to pull the famous Russian troikas.

Height:
15.3 to 16.1 hands

© Janina Suuronen 2006