The Belgian Draught, , , is a Belgian breed of draught horse. It originates in the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium, and may also be called the Brabant after the former Province of Brabant in that region.
The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently.
History
The Belgian Draught descends from the heavy farm horses of the region of the Low Countries that is now central Belgium: the from the valley of the Méhaigne in the area of Namur; the , named for Hainaut region and for the city of Nivelles, now in Walloon Brabant; and the , named for the Dender river of East Flanders and the area that is now Flemish Brabant.
In 1886 a national breed society for draught horses – the – was formed in Brussels; in 1887 it was merged with two earlier regional societies – in Liège and in East Flanders – under the name . In 1890 the existing stud-books for the three draught breeds of the Kingdom of Belgium – the Ardennes, the Brabant, and the Flemish Horse – were merged into one, with two separate sections, one for the Ardennes and one for the Brabant and Flemish together; the Flemish ceased to exist as a distinct breed. In 1891 the combined stud-book received ministerial approval. In 1919 the society received royal recognition and was renamed the . Stud-books were started in the United States in 1889 and in Canada in 1907.
The American Belgian Draught derives from the same original stock, but has developed differently. It is generally taller and less heavily built, and has a substantially different distribution of coat colours.
Characteristics
The Belgian Draught is a tall, powerful and massive horse. Heights at the withers are usually in the range , with an average height of for mares and for stallions. Average weights are approximately for mares and for stallions, but weights of over are not uncommon. The roan coat colour predominates, accounting for about 80% of all of the horses; some 12% are bay, and the remainder chestnut, black or grey.
Genetic diversity The Belgian Draught horse has been identified as having an intermediate level of genetic diversity, and found to have relatively low levels of inbreeding. However, due to low founder diversity, the breed is identified as likely to have a potential compromise of genetic diversity in future generations.
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