84 BREEDS OF HORSES 



THE BELGIAN HORSE 



History. — Belgian horses were first imported into 

 America from Belgium about 1886. Because of their 

 size, compactness, early maturing quaUties, strength, and 

 quiet disposition, they have met with much favor at the 

 hands of American farmers. The history of their origin has 

 been rather obscure, although it is known that draft horses 

 have been produced in this section of Europe for centuries, 

 and horses from Belgium have played an important part in 

 the improvement of other European draft breeds. 



They are said to be a product of the environment in which 

 they developed, so that few men stand out prominently as 

 improvers of the breed. Since about 1850, the government 

 of Belgium has done much through subsidies to encourage 

 the producers of these horses, and to keep the best ones 

 in the country. More males than females are brought to 

 America, most of the females being kept in Belgium or 

 sold to Germany, where Belgian horses are also well liked. 



Characteristics. — These horses are very compact, being 

 the heaviest breed of horses for their apparent size. The 

 body is short and round with well-sprung ribs, and set upon 

 short legs. The principal colors are sorrel, chestnut, roan, 

 bay, and black. Grays are quite uncommon. The breast 

 is wide and the limbs are muscular. The objections 

 to the breed are a tendency to meatiness in the re- 

 gion of the joints and roundness of hocks and can- 

 non bones. The pasterns are often too short and steep, 

 and a common criticism is that the feet, although of good 

 material, are too small in circumference at the hoof head 

 and too high at the heel. These combined defects often 

 lead to poor action and a stumbly gait. 



