Today, many draft horses are used on farms and ranches across North America and in exhibition hitches in the show ring or in parades. They were the workhorses used for agriculture production and hauling freight in days gone by. These horses may also be characterized as a heavy horse breed that stands from 15 to more than 18 hands tall and can weigh more than 2,000 pounds.
In contrast to pony and light horse breeds, draft horses are the gentle giants of the industry. Many of these horses originated in Europe. They stand approximately 16 to 18 hands at the withers. Sport horses have excelled in the Olympic events of show jumping, dressage, three-day event, and combined training. This breeding produced a horse with size, substance, and good movement. The warmbloods that make up the sport horse breed were developed through the selective crossing of hot-blooded Thoroughbreds and Arabian stallions to native European draft mares. They weigh 900 to 1,500 pounds and are used in activities ranging from recreational or trail riding, showing, ranch work, driving, dressage, and Olympic events such as show jumping and racing. The horse breeds classified in this group stand 14.2 hands or taller at the withers. They are ridden or driven by youth and adults in a variety of activities. These small equines are used in many of the same activities as light and sports horse breeds. Each hand is 4 inches a horse that is 14.2 hands is 58 inches at the withers. Equines that are less than 14.2 hands tall at the withers are classified as ponies. They were once prized by royalty and are now used in many show activities by adults and youth alike. These small equines range from 20 inches to 36 inches at the withers and can weight as little as 40 pounds. For horse owners who like small breeds, there is the miniature horse. The most predominant breed types will be covered. Horses are categorized by their breed type, and the following characteristics make each type unique. Published by Alpine Publications, Lovell and Co.) (Illustrated Dictionary of Equine Terms, by New Horizons Equine Education Center, 1998. This is called breed character, or the quality of conforming to the description of a particular breed. These characteristics make a breed different from other breeds. A breed is defined as a group of horses with a common origin and possessing certain distinguishable characteristics that are transmitted to the offspring, such that the offspring possess the parents’ characteristics.
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