Dutch Draft

Origin: Holland

Color: Bay, chestnut, or gray.

Avg Height: 16 hh

Avg Weight: 1500 to 2000 lbs

Build: The Dutch Draft horse has a medium-sized head carried on a very short, thick neck. Its body is massive and deep, with heavy shoulders, a short, wide back, well-sprung ribs, broad, heavy quarters, sloping croup, and a low-set tail. The legs are well placed, strong, and muscular, and the feet are sound.

Temperament: Exceptionally quiet disposition.

Main use: With the increasing mechanization of agriculture, Dutch Draft horses are no longer in such demand and their numbers are steadily declining. Used for heavy draft and farm work.

Special abilities: Horses of this breed have a good action at all paces but are especially noted above all for their exceptionally quiet, willing disposition. It is a very hardy horse and since it is a light feeder, is a very economical horse. It can live for a long time, often up to 30 years.

History: One of the most massively built breeds in Europe, the Dutch Draft horse was developed in the Netherlands after World War I. The foundation stock consisted of native mares of the Zeeland type, which were crossed with imported heavy draft stallions from Belgium, including Ardennes. Today, a majority of the breed has been diluted with warmblood stock, such as the Norfolk Trotter, the Yorkshire Coach, the Cleveland Bay, and the Hackney, to create the Dutch Warmblood. There exists still three types of this breed- an elegant sport horse that is used mostly for jumping, dressage, combined driving, and vaulting - an extravagant, flashy show driving type that is shown mostly under harness - and the basic type, which reflects back on this breed's native type, is reminiscent of the Gelderlander, and which is still used for riding and show driving.