Horse Breeds
The Australian Draught Horse
The Australian Draught horse is the result of more than a century of mixed breeding of heavy working horses. In 1979 the Australian Draught Horse Stud Book Society was officially formed. Most working horses in Australia in the past were not purebred and, so, the Society was relatively relaxed about its breeding regulations in the early days, today however, there is a strict breed standard in place. Though this does not restrict draught horses competing in field days and shows around Australia. It is horse which was bred for the harsh Australian conditions, and has survived as the dominant breed since the first draught horses were bred in the 1800’s from crosses with those imported at the time of settlement.
The Australian draught has evolved from crossing the four recognised pure breeds of draught horse found in Australia – the Clydesdale, Percheron, Suffolk and the Shire, with some Belgian lines occasionally found. Cross breeding is still conducted to produce working horses and as such, the Australian Draught will carry the characteristics of all those pure breeds. With the feathering on the legs being light to medium depending on bloodlines.
Australia’s early days, the Australian Draught was used to open up this country, with most farms using them as their ploughing horses or the horse to pull the wagons to railway sidings and docks. In the early days, these horses also had the role of taking the family to town or church. People often remember the horses “Grandad” had as being draught horses. There are many recollections of great teams of draught horses working the land or delving bore drains or building dams in rural Australia. Many stories survive of old “Dobin” who was used to carry the family of kids off to school, or “Blossom” who was so quiet the smallest of children could drive them around the paddock. They were as much a part of the family as the working dog.
Of all of the draught breeds available in Australia today, the Australian Draught would be the most popular. There are many that are not registered with the society but whose breeders adhere to the strict breeding guidelines of breeding quality working horses. Horses how can still carry out a full days work.
Like all the other breeds of heavy horses world wide, they suffered a setback to their numbers when the world embraced mechanisation. No longer were they needed to work the land in such numbers, the tractor had put an end to that. Though still today in some parts of QLD, NSW and Tasmania, you can find the odd farmer who has not given up his dream of working the land with these magnificent pieces of Australia’s living history.
The Australian Draught can be found competing in ploughing competitions in all states of Australia. As well as competing in harness classes and led classes. There are still some draught horses used in forestry work log snigging as they can get where the machinery cannot and do not damage the land as much.
The Australian Draught horse come in all solid colours, excessive white is not favoured on the face or body, white below the knee is acceptable. The average height is between 16 and 17.2 hands. They will weigh between 600 and 900kg’s. They are exceptionally intelligent, stron, versatile, have a kind temperament, hard working and are people orientated.
The Australian Draught should have an average sized head with a broad forehead, clear docile eyes and alert ears. Their neck is of medium length and stallions have a well developed crest. The shoulder should be well muscled and blend smoothly into the chest, wither and back area.
The chest, hindquarter and hip are wide and muscled and the forelegs are set well under the body when viewed from the side. The Australian Draught should show good action and length of stride at the walk and trot with the hind foot stepping into or beyond the forefoot mark. They have a hardy constitution and enduring stamina.
For further information contact
Draught Horses
Marion Bangay
PO Box 37
Goomeri QLD 4601
(07) 4168 4378
marian.bangay@bigpond.com
The Clydesdale
The Clydesdale Horse one of the major heavy horse breeds of the world, has its origins in the Valley of the Clyde, Lanarkshire, Scotland. Although the exact details of the foundation of the breed are now lost to history, it is known that in the early part of the seventeenth century, selective upgrading of the native horses of this area was underway, with the use of infusions of blood from both Europe and England.
By the Eighteenth century, the local horses were becoming recognised as a separate and distinct breed. In 1815, heavy horse owners came together to begin to lay down formal criteria for the new breed and, in 1877, an official body was founded to promote the interests of Breeders. This body was the Clydesdale Horse Society of Great Britain and Ireland, and is the body upon which the Australian Society is modelled. The first Stud Book was published in 1878, and the Society in Scotland has continued to award prizes, control export of horses, and in general to influence the horse world-wide.
In Australia, numbers of heavy horses remained fairly low until the mid 1850’s. By this stage, roads were being improved, farm machinery was designed to operate more effectively at a faster pace, and the Victorian gold rush was in full swing. These conditions favoured a horse which was strong, long-lasting and having a quick, long stride. Under these conditions, the Clydesdale soon came to exert its supremacy in Australia, a supremacy maintained without falter for over 150 years.
The Governing Body in Australia is the Commonwealth Clydesdale Horse Society, which was founded in 1921, a merger of the then-existing heavy horse organisations. The stud book is maintained by Federal Council with branches in the majority of states. The Queensland branch was reformed in 1974 and holds regular meetings and training days.
Many fine horses have been imported to this country, mainly from Scotland but with representatives from New Zealand and elsewhere. These horses did much to influence the modern type of Clydesdale over the past 20 years. From 1993 to 1995, six Clydesdale Horses were imported from Scotland and Ireland. (five Males and one Female) two of which came to Queensland.
Clydesdale breeding reached a pinnacle in the 1930’s, but the onset of World War II and the trend towards mechanisation, saw numbers greatly reduced in the early years after the War. However, a core of Clydesdale breeders continued to maintain their studs and by about 1970, the strength of the breeders was again increasing.
The Clydesdale is noted for its pleasant combination of weight and power on one hand, and fineness and activity on the other. These attributes in the legs provide the Clydesdale with its light, smart gait, where the feet are lifted smartly from the ground and placed well forward in their stride. Other special features of the Clydesdale are the intelligent eye, finely proportioned head and neck blending into a sloping shoulder and a back not over-long. The Clydesdale is noted for its quiet docile temperament giving rise to the phrase “The Gentle Giant”.
The modern Clydesdale stands about 16 – 17 hands and weighs some 800 or more kilograms, Being a relatively “fine” breed of heavy Horse, horses of extreme height or weight are not favoured. Popular colours are bays, brown and black, although other colours are seen.
For further information contact
Clydesdales
Neil Page
625 Thagoona-Haigslea Road
Haigslea QLD 4306
(07) 5464 4744
neil-page@bigpond.com
The Percheron
The Percheron Horse originated in the small district of La Perche in north-western France. Here the Arabian horses abandoned by the defeated Moors at the Battle of Tours in 732AD were crossed with the massive Flemish stock, native to the rich, fertile province of Flanders. From this cross came the Percheron type which has endured for twelve centuries.
In the early 1800’s the French Government Stud at Le Pin introduced further Arabian blood into the Percheron breed, by mating selected mares with two of the outstanding Arabian sires then obtainable in Europe. All contemporary Percherons share this common heritage, descending from the small genetic reservoir of foundation stock which thus originated in La Perche. In the early 1900’s, only horses bred in this original area were entered into the French Percheron Stud Book.
The Societe Hippique Percheronne (France) was founded in 1883 and pure bred breeding stock have been exported to Argentina, Australia, Canada, Japan, the Union of South Africa, the United Kingdom, the USSR, and the USA. Registered animals in these nations trace directly to the nucleus of foundation stock originating in La Perche. Today the Percheron is known throughout the world as the leading breed of draught horse.
It is said that the first Percherons introduced to Australia were with a convict shipment from Canada and were in fact the first draught horses to come to this country, hence the high percentage of Percheron type horses in use at “Old Sydney Town”. Records from the RAS Sydney going back to the late 1800’s and early 1900’s show a reasonable number of Percheron horses in led classes. These Percheron lines probably died out as no records of progeny from these horses can now be found.
The first definite steps to establish registered Percheron Horses in Australia were taken by the late Alex J. Melrose, MLA who in 1913 purchased a colt and two fillies in France. They arrived in South Australia in 1914 to be the nucleus of “Kadlunga”. The Melrose family have remained active breeders ever since, making further importations of sires on a regular basis.
In 1922 six mares and a stallion were imported from Canada by the late F.B.S. Falkiner, “Foxlow”, Bungendore, NSW, and a further mare, thrice champion at the Royal Winter Fair, Toronto in 1934.
The late J.S. Anderson “Newstead South”, Inverell, made major purchases from “Foxlow” followed by the complete acquisition of the NSW Department of Agriculture’s Percherons in the early 1950’s and sires from “Kadlunga”. After Mr Anderson’s death, “Newstead” was dispersed in 1975 and following this sale the first positive steps were taken to form a breed association and register in Australia.
Since 1978 seven stallions (one bred in France) have been imported from the UK while a stallion and several mares have arrived from Canada: the first Canadian and French imports in over forty years.
Today in Australia there are close to 1,000 purebred Percheron horses, with numerous crossbreds.
The South Australian Mounted Police are using part Percherons and the Victorian Police are using Percheron Drum Horses, with the Commonwealth Serum Laboratories using Percherons for the production of anti-venine for the treatment of venomous snake and spider bites.
In its time, the Percheron has undertaken every role from war horse, coach horse, farm horse, to gun horse and riding horse. Percheron breeders were able to breed the horse to suit conditions. The Percheron Horse is essentially a draught horse, massive, deep, short in his coupling, heavily muscled, strong in this topline, rugged and straight in his bone, with feet of reasonable size with quality hard blue horn and legs as clean and free from long hair as possible. He must be neat in his head and neck and well balanced throughout.
There must be the unmistakeable evidence of quality in general; his action is strong and bold, with a long free stride.
For further information contact
Percherons
Elwyn Park,
Jackson
Queensland 4426
07 4627 6278
www.percheron.com.au
The Shire Horse
The Shire Horse is the giant of the equine world. Known as “Magni Equi” because of their large size, these great horses were bred for war and to carry knights in tournaments.
The Shire horse originated in the Midlands of England and takes its name from the districts it was bred, such as Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. It has been bred over hundreds of years and is descendant from the Old English Black and The Great Horse of Medieval Times. In Medieval England, the Shire was developed to be strong enough to carry a knight in plate armour and bearing heavy weapons and still be agile in combat. The Shire has carried Knights in full armour into battle and ploughed many paddocks. The modern Shire still has all the qualities desired in a draught horse- stamina, strength, constitution and adaptability. With immense power in its frame, the Shire is able to move weights which would surprise those unfamiliar with the breed. At one London show, two geldings harnessed to a springless dock wagon hauled 18 tonnes.
In Australia, Shires were used as draught horses, with large importations peaking in 1888 when 1400 Shires left England bound for Australia, Canada and the US.
The Shire horse is one of the rarest horses in Australia. There are less than 80 purebred Shire horses in Australia, and only 14 in Queensland. The numbers are slowly on the rise again with about 8 foals born each year in Australia.
During the 1800’s vast quantities of goods were shipped to and from English ports and the Shire contributed dramatically to the movement of these goods to and from the docks. At the same time farmers developed a need for strong, docile horses which could work in the fields of either the flat marshy “Fen” counties or drier Yorkshire and Lancashire. The horseman of Britain bred Shire horses to fill these needs.
Standards of quality were established early on and records were kept. In 1878 the Shire Horse Society was established. All Shire horses in Australia are registered in England. The horses have a DNA sample and passport (sketch card) held by the Shire Horse Society in England. The most common colours are black, brown and bay with white leg markings and a blaze, grey is also a popular colour in England. Chestnut and roan are not acceptable colours for a Shire horse.
The Shire horse has been bred by the English Royal Family for over 200 years, Edward VII and King George V bred them at Sandringham. In the 1920’s it was not uncommon to find King George V with his stallion competing in the show ring. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is the patron of the Shire Horse Society.
The Shire very nearly became extinct in the 1950’s with the tractor and truck taking their place on the farms and roads. Thankfully a dedicated band of breeders kept the breed going and their numbers have increased in recent times to around 7,000 worldwide. There are many farmers overseas who still use the Shire horse as the workhorse it is. The Shire is a horse who loves human companionship and works easily off his owner’s voice.
Shire horses are the World’s tallest breed of horse, standing from 16.2 hands to over 18 hands. The average size is 17.2 hands to 18 hands. The Guiness Book of Records listed the great Shire gelding Boringdon Black King as the Worlds Tallest Living Horse, standing 19.2 hands he lived in England. They are very gentle and docile for their size whilst being very agile and able to cover the ground with great speed when in full gallop.
Many European owners are successfully competing with their Shire horses in all levels of Dressage. The Shire is an ideal horse to cross with the Thoroughbred to produce top quality Warmbloods or eventing horses. Germany imports about 30 Shires each year for breeding and competition.
The NSW Mounted Police Force use Shire crosses and also have a Shire Drum Horse. The Police say the Shire cross horses are perfect for crowd control because of their strength and unflappable nature.
A Shire stallion should weigh about one tonne when mature and stand between 16.2 and 18 hands, and should not carry excess fat. Mares are slightly smaller in frame than the stallions. The Shire has a short strong back, broad chest and feathered legs. They are well muscled and in proportion. They have a strong sloping shoulder, with an arched neck. Their feet are strong and well structured without excessive flare.
SHIRE horses are now enjoying the cheers from crowds at Horse Shows in Australia and Overseas. They are known as “THE GENTLEST OF THE GENTLE GIANTS”.
For further information contact
Shires
Sue Bailey
PO Box 26,
Tamborine,
QLD 4207
Ph/Fax 5546 4106
suebailey@shiresofluscombe.com