THE BELGIAN 



E. S. Akin, Syracuse, N. Y. 



President, Xew York State Draft Horse Breeders' Club 



Belgium offers an example of the earliest and most successful 

 development of draft horse breeding, and, since remote times, 

 this country has been noted for its good horses. Tt may be said 

 that Belgium furnished the foundation blood for size and bulk in 

 the improvement of all of our draft breeds during their forniu- 

 lative period. The Kingdom is about one-fourth the size of 

 A'"ew York State, with a population of T.nOO.OOO. and consists 

 of nine provinces. Tn eight of these provinces the Belgian horse 

 is bred extensively, the province of Brabant alone having about 

 50,000 horses, besides much other live stock. 

 ^ Belgium is densely populated, having many cities, towns and 

 villages close together. The country is mostly low, fertile and 

 damp; the climate is mild, without the extreme variations com- 

 mon to this state. By intensive cultivation and the extensive 

 use of manure and phosphoric acid, immense crops are produced, 

 and, by the system of soiling, each acre supports a numlier of 

 horses. 



These conditions as well as the taste and requirements of the 

 people are especially favorable for the producer of large horses. 

 The Belgian peasants are generally enthusiastic draft horse 

 breeders. However, breeding operations are limited, as their 

 farms are small, averaging about three acres each. Xeverthe- 

 less the (puility and value of their colts are higher than in any 

 other country. On high-priced land, in thickly settled sections, 

 no aiiimals are kept that are not both useful and profitable. 



Unlike France, Belgium does not maintain any government 

 stud, the development of the Belgium breed since 1865 having 

 been left to private enterprise, aided by government subsidies and 

 prizes to horses of approved excellence. The establishment of the 

 National Society of Belgian Breeders in 1880, under the official 

 name of Le Cheval de frait Behje, marked the beginning of 

 greater improvement and activity in draft horse breeding. In the 



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