THE DRAFT HORSE IN AMERICA

Power For An Emerging Nation




THE MAJOR AMERICAN HORSE BREEDS



Shire

The Elegant Urban Work Horse

The Shire originated in the east central English counties of Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Although the first Shire was imported to America in 1853, substantial importation did not begin until after the 1880's.

As the new century began, the Shire seemed poised to challenge the Percheron as the nation's most popular draft horse. From 1990 through 1911 around 6,700 Shires were registered, with approximately 80% being native bred.

Because of their large size and flashy action, the Shire had been particularly popular in the urban America. By the end of World War I however, the draft horse had virtually been replaced by the truck, subway, and electric streetcar in the city. At the same time, farmers were looking for a smaller, more economical horse to work the fields.

As the Belgian and Percheron came to dominate the midwest draft horse market, the center of Shire breeding moved to the West. Still, their numbers continued to drop throughout the 1940s and 50s, with only twenty-five horses registered from 1950 through 1959.

Today the Shire, like most draft breeds, is making a comeback. By 1985 there were 121 Shires registered in America.



Percheron

The First Important American Work Horse

The Percheron is thought to have descended from the "Black Horse of Flanders", with additional influence coming from the Andalusian and the Arabian after the Moorish invasion of France in 732 A.D.. The Percheron derives from his name from the small French district of La Perche, southeast of Normandy. They were the first of the draft breeds to come to America, and remained the most numerous until surpassed by the Belgian in 1937. Edward Harris imported the first four Percherons to America in 1839. In 1876, the breed's leading importers and breeders established the "National Association of Importers and Breeders of Norman Horses." Two years later the term "Percheron" replaced "Norman" in the Association's name.

By 1910, the 5,338 American Percheron breeders had registered 31,900 horses over the previous decade. Although the internal combustion engine was rapidly replacing the horse on city streets, horses still remained the primary agricultural power source through the 1930s.

After the second World War, the tractor virtually destroyed the American market for draft horses. As a result, only 58 Percherons were registered in 1954. With the renewed interest in draft horses in the 1960's, registrations rose to 1,253 by 1982.



Belgian

The Most Numerous Draft Breed

The Belgian originated in the west European lowlands of Belgium. They are direct descendants of the "Black Horse of Flanders", which existed prior to the time of Julius Caesar around 200 B.C.. In 1866, the first Belgians were imported to the United States by Dr. A.G. Van Hoorebeke. Twenty-one years later, a group of prominent breeders and importers formed what would later become "The Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America." After World War I, Belgian breeders were among the first to respond to the American farmer's desire for a more compact and therefore more economical draft horse. This, combined with the fact that the Belgian was an "easy keeper," (because of the lack of feathering or long hair on their lower legs) and the preference for their predominant chestnut coloring, resulted in the Belgian surpassing the Percheron as the most numerous of American draft horses in 1937.

As with light horses, modern draft horses are used more and more as pleasure animals. In addition to their limited resurgence in agriculture, today's Belgian can be found in show rings throughout the country in halter, confirmation and hitch classes, and have also had great success in pulling competitions.



Clydesdale

Best Known Draft Breed In America

The Clydesdale originated in the Clyde River Valley of the Scottish county of Lanark when, around 1750, Flemish stallions were crossed with native mares. The most influential of these sires was Blaze, who was foaled in 1779. He is generally considered the founding sire of the breed.

The Clydesdale was first brought to North America by Scottish immigrants to Canada around 1850. Although a few of the breed undoubtedly crossed the northern border into the United States, no major importation of Clydesdales to America would occur until after the Civil War.

Alex Galbraith and Sons of Janestown, Wisconsin were among the first major importers of Clydesdales to America. Galbraith, a Scottish immigrant, helped establish Wisconsin and Michigan as traditional strongholds for Clydesdale breeding.

In 1879, the Clydesdale Breeder's Association of the United States was established in Illinois. The first volume of their studbook was published three years later. By the end of the 19th century, the Clydesdale was the third most numerous draft breed in America, and was well established in both rural and urban America.

Following the European tradition, many companies, especially breweries, put together colorful four and six horse hitches to help advertise their products. Since the repeal of prohibition, the Budweiser Clydesdales have carried on this tradition, helping to make the Clydesdale one of the most recognizable breeds in America.



Suffolk

The Heavy Horse Bred To Work The Farm

The Suffolk or Suffolk Punch originated in the eastern English countries of Norfolk and Suffolk around 1770. They are the only draft horse bred exclusively for farming. Suffolks stand about 16 hands and are known for their tremendous pulling power, hence the name Suffolk Punch.

Suffolks were first imported to America around 1880. The American Suffolk Horse Association was formed in 1911. The Suffolk never gained wide popularity in this country during the 19th century, partially due to the limited number available from England. During the 1930's, English breeders exported some of their better horses and the Suffolk's popularity increased rapidly in the United States and Canada.

By 1953, the drop in demand for draft horses forced the Suffolk Association to legally dissolve with the consent of all members. During the 1950's the number of American Suffolk breeders dropped to three. In 1961, the Association was revived to represent the eighteen Suffolk breeders in America.

The American Minor Breeds Conservancy designated the Suffolk as a rare breed in 1985. Between then and 1990, the number of Suffolks in the United States increased from 150 to slightly over 500. Today's Suffolk closely resembles its English ancestors, and is still primarily bred to be an efficient and economical farm animal.




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