The Belgian Draft Horse
Belgium lies in the very center of that area of Western Europe which gave rise to great black horses known as Flemish horses and were referred to as the "great horses" by medieval writers.
They are the horses that carried armored knights into battle. Such horses were known to exist in that part of Europe in the time of Caesar. They provided the genetic material from which nearly all the modern draft breeds were fashioned.
The Belgian is a big, powerful fellow that retains the drafty middle, a deep, strong foot, a lot of bone, the heavy muscling and amiable disposition possessed by early Belgians.
His qualities as an easy keeper, a good shipper, and a willing worker are intact.
Style, particularly in the head and neck, with slope to both shoulder and pastern, and the good clean, flat bone that goes hand in hand with such qualities.
The modern Belgian is still a great worker . . . and has become a great wagon horse. The fact that Belgians are equally effective in pulling competition as in hitch competition says it all.
The Belgian, as the name implies, is native to the country of Belgium. This little country is blessed with fertile soil and abundant rainfall providing the thrifty farmers of Belgium with the excellent pastures and the hay and grain necessary to develop a heavy, powerful breed of horses.
