A draft horse is a horse bred to pull heavy goods, from farm machinery such as ploughs to brewery wagons. Simply put, they were the tractor of yesteryear.
Also known as heavy horses, dray horses and - rather appropriately - cart horses, draft horses are famous for their size, strength and gentle temperament.
They are heavier-built than riding horses and their conformation, with a more upright shoulder and short heavily muscled back, is designed for pulling heavy loads. Draft horses usually range from 16 hands high (a hand is 4 inches) to over 19 hands. Draft breeds include the Percheron, Suffolk Punch, Clydesdales and the biggest horse breed in the world, the Shire.
Their popularity peaked in the 19th century, when they were widely used in cities and across the countryside. London's rubbish collection employed 1,500 draft horses, while the Shire Breed Society reported that the railway companies had a stud of 6,000 horses.
However, with the rise of motor vehicles and farm machinery in the early 20th century, numbers of draft horses declined and today many are considered a rare breed.
Want to learn more about horses? Check out:
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- What is the smallest horse?
- How much does it cost to own a horse?
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Main image: Percheron horses harnessed for ploughing © Getty Images
