Draft Horse Pictures

A Percheron being shown in a cart class.
Percherons are almost always black or gray in color.

A two year old Belgian gelding getting ready to be shown
under saddle. Belgians, like the one in the photo above, are
characteristically chestnut or sorrel with a flaxen mane and tail.

A handsome Clydesdale.

The above photo shows "feathering," the long hairs on the back of the
lower legs of a horse, and "spats," the long hair that goes over the hooves. Feathering and spats are a common characteristic of
draft horses, though some breeds have them more than others.

A beautiful Clydesdale pulling a cart. Clydesdales come
in a range of colors with tall socks or stockings and
spots like the one on this horse being common.

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About Draft Horses

Draft horses are a type of horse that is tall, heavily muscled, powerfully built, and bred to pull or carry loads that would be too heavy for other types of horses. Historically draft horses have been used for a wide variety of labor including farming, logging, pulling carriages and wagons, and as war horses. Today, they are still used for labor but are also commonly used for recreational showing, driving, and riding.

Within the world of draft horses there are numerous different breeds. Breeds of draft horses found in the United States include Belgians, Clydesdales, Percherons, Shires, and others. Aside from being recognizable for their large and powerful builds, draft horses are characterized by their calm, intelligent, and willing attitudes.

Draft Horse Breeds

Below are brief descriptions of four common breeds of draft horses.

Belgian - Belgians are commonly 16.2 - 17.0 hands in height, but can be considerably taller. Belgians are usually chestnut or sorrel in color (sometimes with roaning), with flaxen manes and tails. They frequently have wide blazes and tall white socks or stockings. Like most of the draft breeds, Belgians are known for their gentle, easy-going dispositions. The Belgian draft horse is currently the most common breed of draft horse in the United States.

Clydesdale - Clydesdales are typically larger than both the Belgian and Percheron breeds, with a mature height of over 18 hands being common. Clydesdales come in a range of colors, with bay, brown, chestnut or sorrel, and black being common. White hairs scattered throughout the body ("roan") are common, as are very wide blazes, tall white socks or stockings, and white spots on the body.

Percheron - Percherons can range in height from between 15 to 19 hands, with ranges from 16.2 to about 17.3 being common. Their color is well known for most commonly being gray or black, but other colors can sometimes be found in the breed. Depending on the breed registry, Percherons that are not black or gray may not be eligible for registry, or they may be required to have their parentage verified by DNA testing.

Shire - Shires typically reach a mature height of approximately 17.2 hands. Their preferred colors are black, brown, bay, or grey, with other colors being discourages or banned. White socks and stockings (except on gray Shires) are common.