When it comes to cold-blooded horses, there are few that can compare to the iconic Belgian. It has had a visible influence on most horses in its weight class. It has a proud history that dates back a long way, and job experience that includes everything from leisure riding to working horses and military horses and back again. It has been important to many people in all kinds of contexts, and it's not hard to see why when you look at its size.

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In the horse's homeland, there are a couple of different languages spoken. In Dutch, it's called a "Belgisch trekpaard," and in French, it goes by both "trait belge" and "brabançon." That's because it comes from the Brabant region of Belgium, so it's also a Brabant. In English, it's called a Belgian Draught Horse. Just remember to pronounce it as "draft."

The muscle bundle from the little country

The horse officially received its studbook in 1886, but in Belgium, this impressive breed has been bred for a very long time. During the Middle Ages, it was particularly France that made use of knights, and in Europe, there were no breeds better at maneuvering on the battlefield than the large Ardennes - the Brabant's ancestor.

After the Middle Ages, the largest horses were left in the stables when they went to war. It was more about speed and endurance, and less about physics and strength. But the large horse was still used to pull the heaviest loads. A horse of this size has no problem pulling the plow and carrying the heaviest burdens.

The bigger, the better

It was used for logging for a long time, and as soon as it arrived in America, it was of course also used by European settlers, where it has been bred to be a bit smaller. It's called an American Brabant, and it's still popular. This line has between 25 and 99% Belgian blood in its pedigree.

During World War I, it was coveted in the military to carry the biggest guns to the front lines. There was a great and early effort to preserve the breed when World War II broke out in Europe, and horsepower shifted from hooves to wheels. Although we had long since found a replacement for the heavy workhorse, we could not quite leave it alone. Because when the iron horse failed, it was a horse of this size that could move railway cars from one track to another - all alone.

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What does it look like?

The Belgian Draught Horse has a look that makes an impression right away. It's both compact, muscular, and robust. It can sometimes be difficult to see the height in pictures, but if you stand right next to the horse, you have no doubt - it's big. It has prominent feathers around the hooves, and the strong tail is often trimmed in its work as a draught horse.

In fact, the world's tallest horse is also - yes, you've probably guessed it - a Belgian. The large, good-natured head with sharp edges has a straight profile and friendly eyes. The neck is high-set and leads to a short and broad back. The chest is both prominent and muscular - just like the hindquarters, which are one of the strongest in the horse world. The limbs are strong and lead to medium-sized, solid hooves. The coat comes in shades ranging from dark brown to a blonde chestnut color, sometimes with a reddish hue, where the belly is often lighter than the rest of the coat. Black and gray individuals are rarer. The height ranges from 157 to 173 cm.

Big overview

It's not just the Belgian Draught Horse's physical abilities that impress. The Brabant is also beloved for its calm temperament, as despite its size, it has a natural sense and attentiveness to its surroundings. Therefore, it's not uncommon to see a Brabant in the middle of city traffic. The big-hearted horse is typically very happy to cooperate in all kinds of weather and is not delicate.

The Belgian Draught Horse is a lovely family horse, but you may need to be prepared to give a horseshoe to the smallest family members. Overall, the Belgian Draught Horse is a magnificent breed that has played an important role in history and continues to capture the hearts of people around the world with its size, strength, and gentle nature.

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