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The Belgian Draft horse, and its name suggests, originated from Belgium. It is said to be directly descended from the "Great Horse" of medieval times: the large, black Flemish breeds used to carry knights in armor to battle. As with other draft breeds, the Belgian was later used primarily for agricultural and industrial purposes. However, most other draft breeds are descended either from the Belgian, or from the Belgian's direct ancestor, the "Great Horse." The moderate, rainy climate in Belium allowed for lush pastures and hay for winters that allowed the development of what we now call the draft horse, which later led to exportations to other countries when demand for agricultural work increased. |
| The Belgian horse began to be imported to the U.S. around the mid-19th Century, and importations were fairly stead until WWI broke out, halting all horse importations. There was an interim with a few importations after the first World War until WWII, when they stopped again, then started slightly afterwards. However, with the advent of the tractor, for a number of years the Belgian draft population declined dramatically with other draft breeds. But as demand for hitches, commercial pulling, and hobby breeders increased, as well as a slight demand for agricultural work with small farms who did not desire to use mechanized vehicles for ecological reasons, the draft population for all breeds increased. Today, the Belgian is one of the most popular draft horses in the U.S. |  |
| Check out the links below for more information on the Akhal Teke and for farms currently breeding Akhal Tekes. Clicking on the link will open a new window: | |
| Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America: Official U.S. registry of the Belgian draft horse. Includes history on the Belgian and contact info for member farms throughout the U.S. | Belgian Draft Horse Directory: Provides links to farms and information on the Belgian Draft. |
| Belgian Horse Home Page: Provides information on the Belgian draft, including history, breed characteristics and breed organizations. |
| Links to other horse breed pages: |
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