THE BELGIAN 



139 



from Flanders range in height from i6| to 17 hands or more, 

 and the stallions weigh about 2000 pounds. Those from Brabant 

 stand 15! to i6 hands, and the stallions weigh about 1600, 

 while those of the Ardennais stand from 15 to 15^ hands in 

 height and weigh about 1200 pounds. In temperament the 

 Belgian draft horse stands without a superior, due no doubt to 

 being raised in a country having small farms, and in close con- 

 tact with the everyday life of the people. As the author saw 

 these horses at work on the streets of Antwerp and on the farms 

 of Belgium he was impressed with their docility of temper and 

 their great draft power. Certainly the typical draft horse of 

 Belgium possesses the weight so essential to move great loads 

 with the least exertion. 



The cross-bred Belgian has as yet been but little seen in the 

 United States, but he has met with a favorable reception where 

 produced. A few years ago a consignment of grade Belgian 

 drafters, the product of pure-bred stallions on native mares, was 

 sold at auction in Chicago market at from $200 to $335 per 

 head, and received much favorable comment. The writer has 

 seen numerous grade geldings shipped to Ohio feeders from the 

 West, which have presented a most attractive individuality. 

 Ohio shippers are looking with more and more favor on heavy 

 Belgian geldings as quite satisfactory to the city trade. They 

 seem to be reasonably sound of limb and possess the blocky 

 form and weight so much in demand for heavy hauling. 



The distribution of Belgian Draft horses is very widespread. 

 Germany is a prominent buyer, while England, Holland, Sweden, 

 France, Denmark, Austria, and the United States have buyers 

 in the Belgian market. In 1903 more than three hundred were 

 shipped to the United States At the 1904 Brussels show an 

 official representative of the Hungarian government purchased 

 ten stallions, including six first-prize winners. In the United 

 States the Belgian has been longest known in Iowa, Illinois, and 

 Indiana. Stallions and grades are, however, becoming distributed 

 over the Mississippi Valley states north of the Ohio, wherever 

 the heavy draft horse is needed. 



