| There are four heavy draft horse breeds recognized | | | | bloodlines. Clydesdales have been used for heavy |
| in Great Britain: The Shire Horse, the Clydesdale, the | | | | farm work and today they are still used for farming |
| Suffolk Punch and the Percheron. | | | | and pulling logs, where machines are not suitable to be |
| In former times heavy horses had been used for pulling | | | | used. |
| loads and as the "heart"of transportation. Tractors and | | | | They are a symbol for the Anheuser-Busch brewery |
| lorries haven't been invented yet, only after the | | | | (Budweiser). |
| Second World War, when the diesel engine was | | | | And they are performing in shows in halter and |
| introduced into the world of farming and transportation | | | | performance classes. In performance classes the |
| their importance decreased suddenly and they almost | | | | horse is judged on how it is behaving in harness, on |
| disappeared. | | | | how it is moving in the ring and its capability to work in |
| Nowadays those horses are becoming popular again: | | | | a team, its responsiveness to the driver and on the |
| due to their docile temperament, stamina and versatility | | | | quality of the horse and the equipment. |
| they can be used for all sorts of equestrian activities: | | | | The Suffolk Punch |
| showing, driving, pulling logs or agricultural machinery, | | | | It is like the Shire horse a descendant of the medieval |
| riding and even dressage and show jumping. | | | | Great Horse. The Suffolk Punch was developed in the |
| The Shire Horse | | | | counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in England and is one |
| This is the tallest of the modern heavy horse breeds, | | | | of the oldest heavy horse breeds. This heavy horse |
| their height reaches 18 hh and they can grow even | | | | has got stamina and is very powerful. Its temperament |
| taller. Their weight is about a ton. The world's tallest | | | | is docile and it is well known for easy handling. |
| horse "Sampson", born in 1846 in Bedfordshire in | | | | It reaches in average16.1 hh. It has got a very muscular, |
| England, was 21.2 hh (2.20m) at the whither and his | | | | arched neck, a short strong back and strong, upright |
| weight was estimated for 1.5 tonnes. | | | | shoulders. The hips are broad and the tail high in onset. |
| The Shire horse was developed out of the medieval | | | | The legs appear short and have no feathering. The |
| Great Horse, which William the Conqueror brought | | | | usual hair coat color is chestnut in various shades. |
| 1066 to the British Islands. By planned improvement of | | | | White markings occur. |
| a breed called the Black horse or later the Bake well | | | | It was used for heavy farm work and pulling heavy |
| Black, the Shire horse breed was formed. The number | | | | loads in the past. |
| of Shire Horses decreased considerably after the | | | | Today it still performs in draft horse competitions and |
| Second World War, because of a more and more | | | | is used for driving and showing. |
| motorized agriculture and haulage business. Nowadays | | | | The Percheron |
| numbers are slowly rising again, because they are | | | | The Percheron is a very popular heavy horse breed |
| used for crossbreeding and showing. | | | | and in the UK amongst the four recognized heavy |
| In former times it was used for pulling heavy loads and | | | | draft horse breeds. |
| for heavy farm work. It was originally used to pull | | | | This breed is named after the Perche valley in the |
| ale-delivery carts. Nowadays it is still used as a | | | | North of France. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is |
| brewery horse, e.g. the grey Shires of Samuel Smith | | | | believed that Moores brought them to Europe and their |
| Brewery in Tadcaster and the Tetley brewery in | | | | ancestors are Arabian horses.in the middle age it was |
| Leeds. | | | | used as a heavy warhorse. Then it was used for |
| The Shire horse is also seen in Draft horse | | | | heavy work, like pulling stagecoaches etc. The |
| competitions and shows. They are used for | | | | forehead is square with a straight profile. The neck is |
| crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds to produce a | | | | muscular and strong, some individuals have a long and |
| heavy hunter horse type. | | | | heavy neck. |
| The Clydesdale | | | | The chest is broad, the back short and they have a |
| This breed originates in the Clydesdale in Scotland, | | | | deep girth. The hindquarters are very muscular and |
| where it was bred and developed over the last 300 | | | | powerful. They should have a round hip and a long |
| years. | | | | croup. The mane is thick; the hair coat color is gray or |
| It was used for heavy farm work, pulling carts and in | | | | black. They can reach heights of 15 - 19 hh and weigh |
| the timber industry for pulling logs. These heavy draft | | | | up to a ton and above and lives 27 - 39 years. A |
| horses have been exported all over the world. | | | | modern variation of the Percheron is longer and |
| The Clydesdale became like the Shire horse a victim | | | | slender in appearance. This type is used for showing |
| of the motorization and would almost disappear, but it | | | | competitions. |
| has regained popularity and its biggest population is | | | | This is a very gentle and intelligent horse and ideal for |
| now in the United States with yearly 600 new foal | | | | driving. It can pull heavy loads as well as perform in |
| registrations. | | | | front of a fine carriage. |
| Two stallions are recognized as the founders of the | | | | It is also suitable for riding and competes even as a |
| breed ("Lord Darney" and "The Prince of Wales") and | | | | show jumper. |
| all Clydesdales nowadays originate from these two | | | | |