You do not have permission to edit this page, for the following reasons:

This IP address has been blocked from editing Wikipedia.
This does not affect your ability to read Wikipedia pages.
Most people who see this message have done nothing wrong. Some kinds of blocks restrict editing from specific service providers or telecom companies in response to recent abuse or vandalism, and can sometimes affect other users who are unrelated to that abuse. Review the information below for assistance if you do not believe that you have done anything wrong.

The IP address or range 34.205.0.0/16 has been blocked (disabled) by ‪ST47‬ for the following reason(s):

The IP address that you are currently using has been blocked because it is believed to be a web host provider. To prevent abuse, web hosts may be blocked from editing Wikipedia.
You will not be able to edit Wikipedia using a web host provider because it hides your IP address, much like a proxy or VPN.
We recommend that you attempt to use another connection to edit. For example, if you use a proxy or VPN to connect to the internet, turn it off when editing Wikipedia. If you edit using a mobile connection, try using a Wi-Fi connection, and vice versa. If you are using a corporate internet connection, switch to a different Wi-Fi network. If you have a Wikipedia account, please log in.
If you do not have any other way to edit Wikipedia, you will need to request an IP block exemption.

How to appeal if you are confident that your connection does not use a web host's IP address:
If you are confident that you are not using a web host, you may appeal this block by adding the following text on your talk page: ((unblock|reason=Caught by a web host block but this host or IP is not a web host. My IP address is _______. Place any further information here. ~~~~)). You must fill in the blank with your IP address for this block to be investigated. Your IP address can be determined here. Alternatively, if you wish to keep your IP address private you can use the unblock ticket request system. There are several reasons you might be editing using the IP address of a web host (such as if you are using VPN software or a business network); please use this method of appeal only if you think your IP address is in fact not a web host.

Administrators: The IP block exemption user right should only be applied to allow users to edit using web host in exceptional circumstances, and they should usually be directed to the functionaries team via email. If you intend to give the IPBE user right, a CheckUser needs to take a look at the account. This can be requested most easily at SPI Quick Checkuser Requests. Unblocking an IP or IP range with this template is highly discouraged without at least contacting the blocking administrator.

This block will expire on 05:44, 30 September 2026.

Even when blocked, you will usually still be able to edit your user talk page, as well as email administrators and other editors.

For information on how to proceed, please read the FAQ for blocked users and the guideline on block appeals. The guide to appealing blocks may also be helpful.

Other useful links: Blocking policy · Help:I have been blocked
Your IP address is in a range that has been blocked on all Wikimedia Foundation wikis. The block was made by ‪Jon Kolbert‬. The reason given is Open proxy/Webhost: See the help page if you are affected .
- Start of block: 05:38, 21 February 2024
- Expiry of block: 05:38, 21 February 2029
Your current IP address is 34.205.92.177. The blocked range is 34.205.0.0/16. Please include all above details in any queries you make. If you believe you were blocked by mistake, you can find additional information and instructions in the No open proxies global policy. Otherwise, to discuss the block please post a request for review on Meta-Wiki. You could also send an email to the stewards VRT queue at stewards@wikimedia.org including all above details.

You can view and copy the source of this page:

((Short description|Large horse bred for heavy work))
((About|a type of heavy horse|the cartoon short|The Draft Horse))
((Redirect|Workhorse))
((More citations needed|date=December 2023))

[[File:Aa shirehorse.jpg|thumb|A draft horse is generally a large, heavy horse suitable for farm labor, like this [[Shire horse]].]]

A '''draft horse''' (US) or '''draught horse''' (UK), also known as '''dray horse''', '''carthorse''', '''work horse''' or '''heavy horse''', is a large [[horse]] bred to be a [[working animal]] hauling freight and doing heavy agricultural tasks such as [[plough|plowing]]. There are a number of breeds, with varying characteristics, but all share common traits of strength, patience, and a docile temperament.

While indispensable to generations of [[pre-industrial]] farmers, draft horses are used today for a multitude of purposes, including farming, [[draft horse showing]], logging, recreation, and other uses. Draft breeds have been [[Crossbreed#Horses|crossbred]] with light riding breeds such as the [[Thoroughbred]] to create [[sport horse]]s or [[warmblood]]s. While most draft horses are used for [[driving (horse)|driving]], they can be ridden and some of the lighter draft breeds are capable performers under saddle.

==Characteristics==

[[File:Horses Btwn 1374 and 1375.jpg|thumb|Comparison of a typical-sized carriage horse (top) to a heavy draft horse (bottom)]]
Draft horses are recognizable by their extremely muscular build. They tend to have broad, short backs with powerful hindquarters. In general, they are taller and tend to have heavier bone and a more upright shoulder than riding horses, producing [[equine conformation|conformation]] that is well suited for pulling. Many draft breeds have heavier hair, called [[Feathering (horse)|feathering]] on their lower legs. Draft breeds range from approximately ((convert|16|to|19|hands|cm|lk=in|order=flip|abbr=in)) high and from ((convert|1,400|to|2000|lb|abbr=on|order=flip)).

== Background ==

Humans [[domestication of the horse|domesticated]] horses and used them to perform a variety of duties. One type of horse-powered work was the hauling of heavy loads, plowing fields, and other tasks that required pulling ability. A heavy, calm, patient, and well-muscled animal was desired for this work. Conversely, a light, more energetic horse was needed for riding and rapid transport. Thus, to the extent possible, a certain amount of [[selective breeding]] was used to develop different types of horse for different types of work.

It is a common misunderstanding that the [[Destrier]] that carried the armoured [[knight]] of the [[Middle Ages]] had the size and conformation of a modern draft horse, and some of these [[horses in the Middle Ages|Medieval war horses]] may have provided some bloodlines for some of the modern draft breeds. The reality was that the high-spirited, quick-moving Destrier was closer to the size, build, and temperament of a modern [[Andalusian horse|Andalusian]] or [[Friesian horse|Friesian]]. There also were horses of more phlegmatic temperaments used for pulling military wagons or performing ordinary farm work which provided bloodlines of the modern draft horse. Records indicate that even medieval drafts were not as large as those today. Of the modern draft breeds, the [[Percheron]] probably has the closest ties to the medieval war horse.<ref name="Mischka">((Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nDbxrKedorEC&q=The+Percheron+Horse+in+America&pg=PP1 |title=The Percheron Horse in America|first= Joseph|last= Mischka|year=1991|publisher=Mischka Press/Heart Prairie |isbn=9780962266355))</ref>

By the 19th century horses weighing more than ((convert|1,600|lb|order=flip)) that also moved at a quick pace were in demand. Tall stature, muscular backs, and powerful hindquarters made the draft horse a source of [[horsepower]] for farming, hauling freight and moving passengers. The advent of railroads increased demand for working horses, as a growing economy still needed transport over the 'last mile' between the goods yard or station and the final customer.<ref>((cite book |last1=Bradley |first1=Simon |title=The Railways: Nation, network & people |date=2016 |publisher=Profile Books |location=London |isbn=9781846682131 |pages=348–349 |ref=bradley))</ref> Even in the 20th century, until [[motor vehicle]]s became an affordable and reliable substitute, draft horses were used for practical work. 

Over half a million draft horses were used during [[World War I]]. The British were importing American draft horses to supplement their dwindling stock even before America joined the war, preferring Percheron crosses which they said had "great endurance, fine physique, soundness, activity, willingness to work, and almost unfailing good temper". British buyers were buying 10,000 to 25,000 American horses and mules a month, eventually making up about two-thirds of British Army war horses.((r|purdy|page=118))

In the late 19th century and early 20th century, thousands of draft horses were imported from [[Western Europe]] into the [[United States]]. Percherons came from France, [[Belgian Draught|Belgians]] from [[Province of Brabant|Brabant]], [[Shire horse|Shires]] from England, [[Clydesdale horse|Clydesdales]] from Scotland. Many American draft [[breed registry|breed registries]] were founded in the late 19th century. The Percheron, with 40,000 broodmares registered as of 1915, was America's most numerous draft breed at the turn of the 20th century.<ref name="Mischka"/>  A breed developed exclusively in the U.S. was the [[American Cream Draft]], which  had a stud book established by the 1930s.

Beginning in the late 19th century, and with increasing mechanization in the 20th century, especially following [[World War I]] in the US and after [[World War II]] in Europe, the popularity of the internal combustion engine, and particularly the [[tractor]], reduced the need for the draft horse. Many were sold to slaughter for [[horse meat]] and a number of breeds went into significant decline.

== Modern uses ==
[[File:Pair of horses at plough.jpg|thumb|Two horses hitched to a [[plow]].]]

Today, draft horses can be seen in [[draft horse showing|horse shows]], [[horse pulling|pulling competitions]], heavy horse trials, parades pulling [[Wagon#Entertainment and show|large wagons]], and pulling tourist carriages. However, they are still seen on some smaller farms in the US and Europe. They are particularly popular with agrarian groups such as the [[Amish]] and [[Mennonite]]s. Draft horses are still used for [[horse logging|logging]], a forestry management practice to remove logs from dense woodland where there is insufficient space for mechanized vehicles or for other conservation considerations.

Draft horse breeds have played a significant role in the development of many [[warmblood]] breeds, popular today in advanced level equine sports.

Small areas still exist where draft horses are widely used as transportation due to legislation preventing automotive traffic, such as on [[Mackinac Island]] in the United States.

==Care==

[[Horse management|Management]] of a large draft horse can be costly, including feed, shoeing, and veterinary care. Although many draft horses can work without a need for shoes, if they are required, [[farrier]]s may charge twice the price to shoe a draft horse as a light riding horse because of the extra labor and specialized equipment required.<ref>((cite web|title=Do Drafts Need Shoes? - Farming|url=http://www.farmingmagazine.com/livestock/do-drafts-need-shoes/|website=Farming|access-date=14 May 2017|date=9 September 2015))</ref> Historically, draft horses were shod with horseshoes that were significantly wider and heavier than those for other types of horses, custom-made, often with [[caulkin]]s.<ref>((cite book|title=Wallace's Monthly: An Illustrated Magazine Devoted to Domesticated Animal Nature|date=1885|publisher=B. Singerly|page=496|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BtZIAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA496|language=en))</ref>

The draft horse's metabolism is a bit slower than lighter horse breeds, more akin to that of ponies, requiring less feed per pound of body weight. This is possibly due to their calmer nature. Nonetheless, because of their sheer size, most require a significant amount of feed per day. Generally a supplement to balance nutrients is preferred over a large quantity of grain. They consume hay or other forage from 1.5% to 3% of their body weight per day, depending on work level. They also can drink up to ((convert|25|gal|order=flip)) of water a day. Overfeeding can lead to obesity, and risk of [[laminitis]] can be a concern.<ref>((Multiref2 |1=((cite web|title=Feeding Your Draft Horse: Nutritional Feed Requirements - Triple Crown Feed|url=https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/feeding-your-draft-horse-nutritional-feed-requirements/|website=Triple Crown Feed|access-date=14 May 2017|date=11 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207145809/https://www.triplecrownfeed.com/feeding-your-draft-horse-nutritional-feed-requirements/ |archive-date=December 7, 2018)) |2=((cite web|title=Feeding Draft Horses|url=http://www.equinews.com/article/feeding-draft-horses|website=Equinews|access-date=14 May 2017|date=17 October 2011)) |3=((cite web|title=Nutritional Management of Draft Horses|url=http://www.equinews.com/article/nutritional-management-draft-horses|website=Equinews|access-date=14 May 2017|date=16 December 2011)) ))</ref>

== World records ==

[[File:Brooklyn Supreme (horse).jpg|thumb|[[Brooklyn Supreme]] (1928-1948) a Belgian draft horse, ((convert|19.2|hands|cm|lk=in|order=flip|abbr=in)) high and weighed  ((convert|3200|lb|0|order=flip|abbr=on))]]
The largest horse in recorded history was probably a [[Shire horse|Shire]] named [[Sampson (horse)|Sampson]] (later Mammoth), who was born in 1846. He stood ((convert|21.2|hands|cm|lk=in|order=flip|abbr=in)) high, and his peak weight was estimated at ((convert|1524|kg)).<ref name=largesthorse>((cite book | last1=Whitaker|first1= Julie |last2=Whitelaw|first2= Ian |title=The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge |publisher=St. Martin's Press |location=New York |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-312-37108-1|page=60|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tGq6_369WS0C))</ref>

At over ((convert|19|hands|cm|lk=in|order=flip|abbr=in)), a Shire gelding named Goliath was the Guinness Book of World Records record holder for the world's tallest horse until his death in 2001.<ref>((cite journal|url=https://www.thehorse.com/ViewArticle.aspx?ID=3009|url-access=registration |title=Living Large: The Death of a Giant|access-date=2009-10-08|date=November 1, 2001|last=Jurga|first= Fran|journal=The Horse))</ref>

==Draft breeds==
((See also|List of horse breeds))
((globalize-section|date=March 2024))
A number of horse breeds are used as draft horses, with the popularity of a given breed often closely linked to geographic location. In North America there were five draft horse breeds on the classic list: Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, and Suffolk.

In the United States, Draft Cross Breeders and Owners Association recognizes the following breeds as draft horses:<ref>((Cite web |url=http://draftcrossbreedersandowners.com/blog2/register-a-horse/ |title=List of breeds |access-date=2015-10-15 |archive-date=2015-08-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150823045312/http://draftcrossbreedersandowners.com/blog2/register-a-horse/ |url-status=dead ))</ref> 
((columns-list|colwidth=20em|
*[[American Belgian Draft]]
*[[American Cream Draft]]
*[[Ardennais]]
*[[Belgian Draught]]/Brabant
*[[Boulonnais horse|Boulonnais]]
*[[Breton horse|Breton]]
*[[Clydesdale horse|Clydesdale]]
*[[Comtois horse|Comtois]]
*[[Dølehest]]
*[[Dutch Draft]]
*[[Finnhorse]]
*[[Fjord horse|Fjord]]
*[[Freiberger]]
*[[Friesian horse|Friesian]]
*[[Haflinger]]
*[[Irish Draught]]
*[[Italian Heavy Draft]]
*[[Jutland horse|Jutland]]
*[[Latvian horse|Latvian]]
*[[Međimurje horse|Međimurje]]
*[[Noriker]]
*[[North Swedish Horse]]
*[[Percheron]]
*[[Rhenish German Coldblood]]
*[[Russian Heavy Draft]]
*[[Schleswig Coldblood]]
*[[Shire horse|Shire]]
*[[South German Coldblood]]
*[[Soviet Heavy Draft]]
*[[Suffolk Punch]]
*[[Vladimir Heavy Draft]]
))

Other breeds may be classified as draft horses by various organizations.

== See also ==
* [[Driving (horse)]]
* [[Heavy warmblood]]

==References==
((reflist|2|refs=

<ref name="purdy">((Cite book |last=Purdy |first=C.S. |title=
The Equine Legacy : How horses, mules, and donkeys shaped America |year=2016 |isbn=9780997515909 |publisher=Mozaic Press))</ref>

))

==External links==
((Commons category|Draft horses))
* [http://www.dcboa.com Draft Cross Breeders and Owners Association]

((Horse topics))
((Working animals))
((Authority control))

((DEFAULTSORT:Draft Horse))
[[Category:Types of horse]]
[[Category:Animal-powered transport]]
[[Category:Draft horses|*]]

Pages transcluded onto the current version of this page (help):

Draft horse (edit)
Workhorse (edit)
Template:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Ambox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Cite book (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite journal (view source) (protected)
Template:Cite web (view source) (protected)
Template:Columns-list (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Commons category (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Div col (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Div col/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Globalize (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Globalize-section (edit)
Template:Globalize section (edit)
Template:Hlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Horse topics (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Main other (view source) (protected)
Template:More citations needed (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Multiref2 (view source) (semi-protected)
Template:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Template:Plainlist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:R (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:R/ref (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:R/superscript (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:R/where (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Redirect (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Reflist (view source) (protected)
Template:Reflist/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Template:Replace (view source) (protected)
Template:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Template:See also (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Short description (view source) (protected)
Template:Short description/lowercasecheck (view source) (protected)
Template:Side box (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Sister project (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Unbulleted list (view source) (template editor protected)
Template:Working animals (edit)
Module:About (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Arguments (view source) (protected)
Module:Authority control (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Authority control/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Category handler (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/blacklist (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Category handler/shared (view source) (protected)
Module:Check for unknown parameters (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1 (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/COinS (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Date validation (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Identifiers (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Utilities (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/Whitelist (view source) (protected)
Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Convert (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Convert/text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:DecodeEncode (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Disambiguation/templates (view source) (protected)
Module:EditAtWikidata (view source) (protected)
Module:Find sources (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/config (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/links (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Find sources/templates/Find sources mainspace (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Format link (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:GetParameters (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Hatnote list (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Icon/data (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Labelled list hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:List (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/ambox.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Message box/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Namespace detect/data (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/configuration (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbar/styles.css (view source) (protected)
Module:Navbox (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/configuration (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Navbox/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Pagetype (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/config (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/disambiguation (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/setindex (view source) (protected)
Module:Pagetype/softredirect (view source) (protected)
Module:Plain text (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Redirect hatnote (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:SDcat (view source) (protected)
Module:Side box (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Side box/styles.css (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:String (view source) (protected)
Module:String2 (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:TableTools (view source) (protected)
Module:Template wrapper (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Unsubst (view source) (protected)
Module:WikidataIB (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/nolinks (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:WikidataIB/titleformats (view source) (template editor protected)
Module:Wikitext Parsing (view source) (protected)
Module:Yesno (view source) (protected)

Return to Draft horse.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Draft_horse"