Heavy truck horse: breed names, their description and characteristics, where they are used

Heavy horses are not particularly graceful and swift, they do not show speed records. People bred these breeds to carry heavy loads, to facilitate labor. Horses with a powerful physique have a calm disposition, are stubborn and hardworking. Heavy trucks are breeds of horses created for everyday work in the field, in construction. They pulled luxurious carriages of monarchs and carts of peasants.

Features of heavy-duty breeds

Power, impressive size and strength are the main characteristics of horses of heavy draft breeds. Riding horses are distinguished by exquisite beauty, harmony, fast running, and the ability to overcome obstacles.Such horses are not suitable for everyday hard work. Nervous horses with a skittish character are not able to pull loaded wagons or perform routine work.

During the time of the knights, horses were needed that could carry riders in heavy armor, possessing strength and endurance. Man began to cultivate large horses, with powerful backs and limbs. In European countries, and then in Russia, heavy trucks appeared - horses that did not differ in speed characteristics, but were suitable for everyday work in terms of character.

The most important features of heavy draft breeds:

Soft move. Impressive size and weight do not allow animals to make sudden movements, raise their legs high, which makes their gait calm. Heavy trucks pull carts evenly, riders feel comfortable, do not get tired while riding.
Impressive size, powerful body. Heavy trucks are strong, powerful animals with excellent he alth, the ability to overcome the hardships of working life.
Calm peace-loving character. Phlegmatic by nature, heavy trucks walk together harnessed together, get along with family members and other animals.
Versatility of use. Horses are used in the transportation of goods, field work. If desired, heavy trucks can be saddled and used as a riding horse. In many regions, the productive qualities of animals are traditionally used. Koumiss, horse meat are useful, have a pleasant taste. Delicatessen products, sausages are made on the basis of horse meat. Mare's milk is close to women's milk in composition and value.

Heavy trucks were grown at many stud farms in Russia, sales amounted to 300-400 thousand per year. Almost 100 thousand heads were exported.

Characteristic and general exterior

During the active use of heavy trucks on the farm, almost 4 dozen breeds were bred, differing in external data, zootechnical characteristics.There were stud farms for breeding heavy trucks in many countries of Europe and America. With a significant difference in breeds, horses have a number of common features in the exterior:

The head is massive, wide.
The neck is short, inactive, muscular. Due to the short neck, the horse is stable, keeps balance with considerable effort.
Short nape, which often makes riding difficult.
The croup in heavy trucks is more developed in width to ensure the stability of the hind legs. This is required for carrying heavy loads.
Chest with a short bone and considerable width, which facilitates the work of the front legs.
The back is wide, of medium length with pronounced muscles. The back regulates the distribution of loads on the body, determines the strength of the animal.

Heavy trucks are easy to distinguish from riding horses by their large figure, thickened limbs, powerful chest. Depending on the preferences of the breeders, some breeds have more developed speed qualities, others impress with their impressive size, and others are famous for their fertility.

Heavy horses were not bred for fast riding, their gait is a walk, although some breeds move easily and quickly. The growth of heavy trucks is 160-200 centimeters, weight is 800-1000 kilograms.

Animal records

Representatives of heavy horse breeds have become famous for many records, which managed to be fixed by admiring owners and the public. Some impressive record numbers:

The highest growth was recorded in the gelding Sampson of the Shire breed - 219 centimeters. Sampson's weight is 1524 kilograms. The horse was born in 1848, when the record book was not yet kept. These indicators are considered record-breaking, so far it has not been possible to surpass them.
The Guinness Book of Records recorded another representative of the Shire breed - gelding Goliath with a height of 193 centimeters.
Percheron Morocco (weight 1285 kilograms) and Brabancon Brooklyn Supreme - 195 centimeters had an impressive growth of 215 centimeters.
Heavyweights are famous not only for their size, but also for their draft power. Photographs of 1893 have been preserved, in which a pair of Shire horses pulls a wagon with timber weighing 42 tons. The strong men drove a laden sleigh through the snow for a distance of 500 meters.
Draft abilities of heavy trucks were measured at horse shows. The gelding Volcano at Wembley created a thrust of 29 tons, which was recorded by the dynamometer. A pair of Shires in a harness showed a result of 51 tons.

Declining interest in heavy trucks is noted due to the development of technology. Records were set in the 19th and early 20th centuries, when the possession of powerful horses brought benefits and made work easier. Farmers were proud of thoroughbred, strong horses, horse breeders were looking for glory in order to sell young animals from farms at a higher price.

Reference: mares of many heavy breeds during lactation give 5-6 thousand liters of valuable koumiss with valuable properties.

Where horses are used

The horses created for heavy cavalry were appreciated by farmers. Heavy trucks were used for draft work, where great strength and endurance were required. The balanced nature of powerful horses made them indispensable for routine, everyday operations in construction and agriculture.

In England, heavy trucks dragged barges along the canals, carrying huge beer and water barrels. All over the world, mighty horses were used in arable work, where they pulled plows and harrows.

At the end of the 19th century, a special permit was issued in European countries for the slaughter of horses and the use of horse meat for food. Previously, it was prohibited and prosecuted by law. The ban was lifted due to the declining role of horses in all sectors of the economy and the transition to mechanized labor.

Now heavy trucks are used in tourism, sports, for walking and entertainment. The peaceful, benevolent nature of strong horses allows even beginners and children to feel confident with the animal, not to be afraid to fall and suffer from a quick temper.Heavy trucks are indispensable in horseback riding, horses carry riders and cargo along trails and off-road, ford rivers.

The calm disposition allows the use of heavy trucks at shows, festive events, in the circus. Mounted police choose peaceful animals to patrol the streets and quickly move through cities loaded with cars. The selection of heavy trucks is leading to the creation of breeds that are more frisky, less powerful, but retain the peaceful disposition and ability to get along with people inherent in large animals.

Breeds of heavy trucks and their descriptions

The leaders of heavy draft breeds are Brabancons, Percherons and Shires. The power and exquisite exterior of these horses have earned the respect of horse breeders in different countries. Representatives of these species served as material for breeding large horses in Russia.

Suffolk

Favorites of English farmers - Suffolk heavy trucks. Unpretentious, quickly maturing horses are registered in the stud book of England in 1760.

Height - 165 centimeters, strong, massive body with pronounced muscles. The front legs are more apart than the hind legs. The suits are red and chestnut, the legs are smooth, without hairiness. Suffolks are intelligent animals, they were used in various types of work that required intelligence.

Irish

The national Irish draft is widespread throughout the UK. The unpretentiousness of horses allowed even the poor to own them. Horses of the Irish breed are smart, quick-witted, perform any work. Height - 150-160 centimeters. Strong harmonious body. Suits - bay, red, gray. Used as riding and draft horses.

Reference: Irish heavy trucks are known for their agility, light stride, which allows them to be used in shows, sports and tourism.

Boulogne breed

The ancestors of Boulogne heavy trucks have been known since ancient times.The breed was registered in the 17th century, named after the main breeding region - Boulogne (France). Height - 160-175 centimeters, massive body, weight - 600-1000 kilograms. Boulogne horses are fed, according to standards, with grain, so the body is strong, dry, the muscles are dense. In a year and a half, maturity sets in - the horses are early. Character - flexible, non-conflict.

Soviet

Breed bred in the 1920s, officially recognized in 1952. The predominant colors are red and bay, combinations with roan are allowed. Height - 155-160 centimeters, weight - up to a ton. The body is harmoniously shaped with a slight arch of the back. The croup is bifurcated, slightly drooping.

Soviet heavy trucks are unpretentious in food, mares are famous for their high milk yield (up to 6 thousand liters per lactation season). Horses were used on farms to improve non-pedigree livestock; already the first generation grew into an excellent workhorse.The stallion Force at the competition carried a load weighing 23 tons over several tens of meters.

Russian heavy truck

Short and muscular, Russian heavy trucks are unpretentious, tolerate cold well, and are able to pull loads exceeding their weight off-road. The breed was bred from the Ardennes, Percherons by complex crossing. Horses do not grow more than one and a half meters, but they are famous for their strength, they are in demand in Russia and neighboring countries. The Russian heavy truck is active, energetic, good-natured. Work to improve the breed continues.

Vladimirskaya

Heavy trucks of the Vladimir breed are larger than other Russian types. Height - 165-175 centimeters, weight - 800-1200 kilograms. Suits - bay, karakov, brown, red. White spots on the muzzle and legs are welcome. Huge hard workers are unpretentious in maintenance, they were used in the army. Vladimirians obey the occasion, are used under the saddle, even a child can drive a massive horse.

Australian

The breed of Australian heavy trucks was formed at the end of the 20th century; they have been breeding for almost 100 years. Working horses in Australia were descendants of horses introduced in different years, outbred. By standards, the weight of Australian heavy trucks is 600-900 kilograms, the colors are plain. Horses inherited the qualities of different breeds. Horses are hardworking, calm disposition, friendly. Plowing competitions are held to evaluate the quality of Australian heavy haulers.

Bityug

A formerly common breed of heavy trucks of Russian selection. Horses were bred in the 18th century in the Voronezh province from local and European breeds. The height of the bityugs reached 178 centimeters. By the end of the 19th century, horses became less and less, the breed disappeared, displaced by imported horses.

Reference: Bityugs are popularly called any huge horses with remarkable strength.

Shire

Records for size, weight and pulling power belong to Shire heavy trucks. Giant horses have been lovingly bred in Britain for several centuries, with a studbook compiled in 1878. By standards, black, gray bay colors are allowed. Height - 163-178 centimeters, weight of stallions - 850-1100 kilograms. Shire heavy trucks were used in field work, when towing ships through canals, and for transporting goods.

During the years of mass breeding, the number of Shires reached a million heads. With the development of technology, the need for giant horses disappeared, animals began to be destroyed. At the end of the 20th century, due to public interest, work began on the restoration of livestock with slightly modified breed characteristics.

Percheron

The difference between the Percheron and other heavy breeds is the combination of strength and the ability to walk in a harness at a moderate trot. The birthplace of horses is the Perche region in France, where, to improve the breed of local large horses, they crossed with Arabian riding species.

As a result, powerful horses with a proportional body, a soft ride, able to run fast and carry cargo. Percherons were used in the postal service and for omnibuses. The growth of percherons is 155-185 centimeters (varies in different countries), the color is gray, dappled gray, black.

Belgian (Brabancon)

In the 19th century, Belgian horse breeders bred the heavy draft Brabancon breed by crossing Ardennes and local Flemish horses. The result was a horse with short, lean, muscular legs and a powerful body. The predominant colors are red, bay. Height - 168-173 centimeters. Rigid selection and harsh upbringing helped to create a breed of heavy trucks capable of working to a ripe old age, undemanding to food and conditions of detention. In Belgium, Brabancon meat is considered a delicacy. The breed continues to develop, the livestock is not reduced. Horses are used in shows, agriculture, hiking and walking.

Reference: Brabancons are widely used to improve the qualities of the breed and livestock of simple horses. Already the first foals grow into an excellent workhorse.

South German heavy draft

Bred in Germany, the horse of the draft breed is notable for its short stature (up to 156 centimeters) and strong body. The noble carriage of the head, short neck with a light mane give the horses a special charm.

The South German horses differ from other heavy-duty horses in their light moving body and brisk pace. The heavy truck quickly walks under the saddle, obeys the rider well, has a light soft trot.

Clydesdale

The first Clydesdales were low, in the process of selection, heavy trucks almost caught up with Shires in height (according to standards, the height of Clydesdales is 163-183 centimeters). Scottish draft horses are precocious, which increases the value of the breed.

Horses have a phlegmatic nature, which makes them unsuitable for sports. Because of the white stockings on their legs, the Clydesdales are welcome participants in parades and shows. Bay and karakov colors predominate. Clydesdales are used to improve breeds.

Gypsy tinkers

Gypsy draft horse (tinker) is bred in Ireland. Another name is Irish Cob. Nomadic people in the 15th century arrived in Britain, brought horses of piebald breed. Spotted horses were of no value to the British, the Gypsies got culled specimens of various English breeds.

A small (1.36-1.6 meters) gypsy horse with a rough head and a dense body gradually began to arouse interest among horse breeders. The heavy truck walks in a harness, is hardy, mares feed foals of other breeds. Tinkers were registered as a separate breed at the end of the 20th century.

A livable character, friendliness, calm strength and unpretentiousness are the main advantages of heavy trucks.Due to the loss of economic importance, the number of powerful horses has decreased in most countries. People no longer need the help of horses to do most of the work. Peace-loving animals are now used in non-traditional areas for heavy trucks - sports, tourism, shows, are used for the rehabilitation of children, walks and entertainment. Horse lovers hope that the magnificent animals that have stopped doing hard work will continue to be people's best friends and companions.