The Draft Horse - A Great Friend

Equine evolution was characterized by a reduction inindispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers.
the number of toes, from five per foot, to three perThey tend to have short backs with very powerful
foot, to only one toe per foot . Austria is knownhindquarters, again best suited for the purpose of
worldwide for its Lipizzaner horses, used for dressagepulling. They are also by and large used for
and high school work in the famous Spanish Ridingcross-breeding, especially to breeds such as the
School in Vienna. Horses are oriented to be ridden orThoroughbred. These Shire horses are used to pull a
driven in a mass of different sporting events andWadworth Brewery dray delivering beer to pubs in the
competitions.Devizes area of Wiltshire, England. Today, draft horses
A number of equine breeds are used as draft horsesare again valued as riding horses thanks to their
with the variation being largely geographic. Drafttemperament and stamina. The draught equine
horses are recognizable by their tall stature anddeclined in economic importance following the end of
extremely muscular build. Additionally, they are generalthe Second World War, and in the latter half of the
for crossing to lighter breeds, especially thetwentieth century even the most well-known of the
Thoroughbred, to create a good-minded sport equineheavy breeds were on the verge of disappearing.
for amateurs. Draught horses are versatile breedsThe vast majority of horses used in harness racing
used today for a multitude of purposes, including draftare of yet another breed, the Standardbred. They are
equine showing, farming, and for pleasure, but all shareused in carriage driving activities, pulling coaches,
the traits of strength, stamina, health, longevity, patiencetraditional and modern carriages, marathon vehicles,
and a docile temperament which made themcarts and gigs etc.