American Belgian Draft
The American Belgian Draft is the North American development of Belgian draft horse blood, generally selected for height, mass, power, and a practical farm or hitch-horse temperament. In the United States and Canada, the familiar chestnut or sorrel coat with a flaxen mane and tail became especially common. The type is often taller and more uniform in color than some older European Belgian lines.
American Belgian Draft horses are used for hitch classes, farm work, logging, parades, pulling, and quiet pleasure driving. Their size makes management concrete: stalls, trailers, harness, farrier work, and feed plans all need to fit a large draft body. Owners should watch body condition and joint stress, especially in horses that work seasonally. Breeders usually select for sound feet, calm disposition, clean movement, and enough substance to do heavy work without losing manageability.
