Thursday, 16 January 2020

2 popular horse breeds: Clydesdale and Belgian Draft Horse

Do you know 2 popular horse breeds: Clydesdale and Belgian Draft Horse? This article will show you many interesting facts and compare them!

How Similar Are The Belgian Draft Horse vs Clydesdale?

They are both pretty meaty, a common characteristic of draft horses, and strong enough to pull large weights.
Like the Clydesdale, the Belgian horse has many white markings through the main coat (on the legs, face, mane, and tail).
It is also true that both the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale are easy to train, willing to work and eager to learn.
Now, let’s check out how different these horses are.

The Differences

Belgian Draft HorseClydesdale
Imagebelgian draft horseClydesdale Horse Lifespan
OriginationThe Brabant region of BelgiumClydesdale, Scotland
Life span30 years20 to 25 years
Average Weight2000 pounds1600 to 2400 pounds
Average Height168 to 173 centimeters162 to 183 centimeters
Colors* Most are chestnut
* Can be sorrel and roan
* Bay or brown are popular
* Can be black, sorrel, or roan, grey, and chestnut
TemperamentKind, gentle, calm, docile, steady and easy-to-handleAlert, active, gentle, responsive

UsesHistory:
* Known for carrying knights in war
* Post-war period: they were used in farms and also for meat while in the USA they were used for agricultural purposes and pleasure riding.
Today:
* Used for draft works (plowing, logging, pulling sleighs, hitches, and carriages).
* Used for pleasure riding, show jumping, dressage, and endurance.
History:
* Agricultural purposes (heavy draft, pulling freight wagons or plowing steep, rough hills);
* Crossed with thoroughbreds and quarter horses to produce strong, heavier-boned riding horses.
Today: popular in shows and parades and used as fancy carriage horses
Body type
BodyMuscular and powerful with a square head, heavily muscled gaskinsMore streamlined with strong and muscular shoulders
FaceStraight or slightly concaveWide (usually has a white stripe on the face), straight with a slight convex nature, intelligent-looking eyes
TailsLongerdocked
NeckShort, muscularlong and well-arched; shows more crest
HindquartersShort, broad backBulky
HoovesMedium-sizedLarger and round (around five pounds each)
FeatherHas some featheringHas heavy feathering in lower legs
Generally speaking, while the Belgian draft horse seems to be shorter, stockier, and also, a little longer-lived, the Clydesdale is available in more colors.
It is impossible to say which breed is better and deserves to be the winner in this comparison. Ultimately, it depends on whether you care more about their uses or appearance, their strength or temperament.

Conclusion

Those are similarities and differences you can consider to identify a more appropriate horse breed.
We hope that the above comparison between the Belgian draft horse and the Clydesdale will be useful for you.