Belgian Heavy Draught Horse

The Brabant, or Belgian Heavy Draught Horse, is one of the most influential and, in its day, the most famous of the European heavy horse breeds. Known during the Middle Ages as the Flanders Horse, it played a considerable role in the development of heavy breeds such as the Clydesdale, the Shire, and the Suffolk Punch. In addition, it was probably used, centuries ago, to increase the size of the forerunners of the Irish Draught.

ORIGINS
The Brabant is an ancient European breed that has been a major factor in the history of horse development. Through the even older Ardennes it may be a direct descendant of the primitive Forest Horse (Equus sylvaticus),one of the four early types of horse. The Ardennes (and by association the Brabant) was known to the Romans and given honorable mention in Julius Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic War as a willing, untiring workhorse. Despite its virtual eclipse in modern Belgium, the Brabant retains a strong following in the US.

SELECTION AND IN-BREEDING
Belgium, like other countries of mainland Europe, suffered from the tides of war that regularly ebbed and flowed over its territory, bringing and often leaving behind horses of alien blood. Belgian breeders, however, despite pressures to produce the lighter stamp of cavalry horse, were unswerving in their devotion to their own heavy horse, which made up 90 per cent of their country's horse population.

It was one that suited their traditional skills, their climate and heavy, rich soil, as well as their economic reliance upon the land. They resisted the inclusion of foreign blood and practiced a policy of stringent selection, in-breeding where necessary, to preserve or develop exceptional qualities. By doing so they established definitive lines that produced a unique heavy horse, more versatile than most heavy draught breeds and with quite exceptional power.

Increasingly, this all-Belgian creation took on the name of one of its breeding areas, Brabant, and was as often called Racede Trait Beige. Both names are more befitting to its distinguished position among the heavy horse breeds than the modern, more pedestrian description of it as the Belgian Heavy Draught.

IMPORTANT BRABANT LINES
By about 1870 there were three main groups, although the distinction was more to do with bloodlines than with specific conformational differences. The first of the three groups was that of Orange I, forefather of the particularly massive, bay horses of the magnificently titled line Gros de la Dendre.

The stallion Bayard founded the line Gris du Hainaut, which had grey, dun, and sorrel or red-roan coloring. Red-roan, in particular, reveals the ancient, primitive origin of the breed. The third Brabant line was founded by the bay horse Jean I, and was grandiloquently named Colosses de la Mehaique. The horses from this bloodline were noted for the extreme strength and hardness of their legs.

FAMOUS BRABANTS
The demand for the Cheval de Trait Beige was much encouraged at the end of the 19th century by the success of Belgian horses in international competitions. The stallion Brilliant, son of Orange I, won the International Championship at Parisin 187 and repeated his victories in the succeeding years at London, Lille, and Hanover. In 1900 his grandson, R ve d'Or, became world champion, and after him there was the "super-champion"Avenir d'Herse.

CHARACTERISTICS
The Brabant is a massive, powerful horse of about 1.68-1.73 m (16.2-17 hh). It is short-backed and compact, and its legs are very strong, short, and sturdily built, with ample feather. The head is small in proportion, square, and plain, but the expression is intelligent. The action cannot be described as showy or elegant, but it is well-suited to the work for which the breed is used and these horses have a particularly good stride at the walk. The Brabant is also notable for its kindly temperament.