How to Identify a Draft Horse

Identifying breeds of horses can be fun and challenging. There are hundreds of different horse breeds around the world, varying from one another in subtle or dramatic ways. Knowing what type of horse you are looking at will give you a good clue to its disposition and possibilities under saddle or in harness. Like dogs, horses have been bred for centuries for certain purposes, and this article will help you identify a draft horse - the "heavy lifters" of the equine breed.

Things You'll Need

  • Good eyes
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Instructions

  1. How to identify a Draft horse

    • 1

      Identifying Draft horses is relatively easy. More often than not, a draft horse will be much larger and thicker than a standard horse. Draft horses were bred to do the "heavy work" of old farming and mining days, and their physique should reflect this.

    • 2

      Stand next to the horse if possible Draft horses will often stand taller than the average riding horse, although there are some breeds of Draft ponies. Most Draft horses will stand well over 15 hands, with some being as tall as 20 hands, or even taller. Shires are Draft horses, and they are the largest horses in the world.

    • 3

      Examine the body of the horse. The Draft horse is massive - the equivalent of body builders in the human world. Muscles will be huge, and the neck will be shorter and thicker than the average horse. Bones will be enormous, and feet twice or even three times the size of the average riding horse.

    • 4

      Look carefully around the hooves. There will often be hair around the fetlock of the horse, going down to the hoof itself. This is called "feathering" and is often a highly desired characteristic of certain Draft breeds - such as the Clydesdale.

    • 5

      Watch how the horse interacts with people. The disposition should be complacent and calm. Since they were bred to be workhorses, they do not want to go fast, and they are willing to be patient and slow. Draft horses are truly "gentle giants" and are favored for cart and harness horses, as they remain unflappable in most situations.