Italian Heavy Draught Horse
Heavy Horse originated at Ferrara in the north of the country during the second half of the nineteenth century. It
was created when Neapolitan blood was crossed with Arabian horse and Hackney blood to make a lightweight, active
workhorse.
Following this, the need arose for a heavy artillery horse and an agricultural work-animal. The breeders of the
Italian Heavy Draught horse began introducing new blood to their horses such as that of the Boulonnais horse. Then,
during the 1920s, purebred Breton horses were used to create the very horse today known as the Italian Heavy Draught.
The Italian Heavy Draught is a very stocky and muscular horse in build. It is noted for its conformation and active
gaits. Because of this, the Italian Heavy Draught can maintain a high speed while pulling a heavy load. It has very
short limbs and big joints. Though the need for the Italian Heavy Draught has deceased in Italy, you can see several
of the horses on small farms doing work.
The stocky horse is mainly chestnut in colour with a flaxen mane and tail. However, some horses break this rule and
come in the colour of dark bay. Stallions of this breed stand around 15 to 16 hands, while mares only reach 14 to 15
hands.