CHAPTER XIX 

 THE BELGIAN DRAFT HORSE 



While but recently introduced to America, the Belgian 

 draft horse is very popular, especially where massive 

 drafters are demanded. At the present time, possibly, 

 this breed ranks next to the Percheron and Standardbred 

 in public favor (p. 434). 



The native home of the Belgian draft horse. — As the 

 name indicates, this breed is a native of Belgium. 

 Though a small country, Belgium has a reputation as the 

 home of draft horses extending back through several cen- 

 turies. The soil and the climate, as well as the habits of 

 the people, provide ideal conditions for the development 

 of large horses. The Belgian people are passionately 

 fond of horse breeding, although the farms are small and, 

 consequently, the breeding of horses is carried on in small 

 holdings and on a limited scale. 



The origin of the Belgian draft horse. — As with many 

 of the other breeds of horses, the real origin is obscure. It 

 is stated that as early as the time of Caesar, and even be- 

 fore, the Belgian people were great judges of horses and 

 willing to pay high prices for superior animals. For 

 many centuries the horses of Belgium have been in great 

 demand, and it is stated that the greater part of the 

 Roman cavalry consisted of Belgian horses. Certain it 

 is that up to about the sixteenth century horse breeding 

 was a very important industry in Belgium, but with the 

 invention and general use of gunpowder, it seems that 

 the horse was largely relegated to agricultural pursuits. 



In the early history of the Belgian draft horse no par- 

 ticular animals appear to have been prominent, nor has 

 any breeder of outstanding influence appeared. Unlike 

 most of the other breeds of horses, the Belgian has been 



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