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The horse breeds described as “coldblooded” are the largest and strongest horses in the world. They are the draught breeds that have carried out the heaviest work that humans needed horses to do for centuries. They have ploughed the land, logged the forests, and they have drawn vehicles of every kind in city streets. Coldblooded horses worked on railway yards, drew brewery drays and moved artillery. They even bore the massive drums in military bands - and still do today. Often called “gentle giants”, they are good-natured, willing to work and enjoy the company of humans. Although they are no longer essential for farming or transporting goods to keep cities functioning, many people love to see these charismatic horses at work. They still have an important part to play in heritage and in maintaining precious landscapes where motorized vehicles would cause damage.
The most obvious characteristic of a coldblooded breed is the sheer size of it. Coldblooded horses can easily be 18 hands in height (72 inches/183 cm). Some are as tall as 20 hands 2 inches (82 inches/208 cm). For farm work, a coldblooded horse with shorter legs and a low centre of gravity is often preferred, while for moving large vehicles, such as brewers’ drays loaded with barrels, somewhat taller horses with powerful quarters and special leg conformation are often preferred. The legs of coldblooded horses are big and powerful. They have charming but alert faces to go with their hard-working, willing natures. Coldblooded horses have large feet and lift their legs with an impressive, measured action.
Many of the draught horse breeds originated in Europe. The ancestors of the modern cold bloods were not as tall as the modern draught horse breeds, but they were stronger than the little light horses, such as Palfreys, which were used for everyday riding. They did not move as quickly, but were slower and steadier instead. They came to be called “coldblooded” in contrast to the faster, more agile light breeds, such as the Turkoman, Arabian and Clydesdale, Shire Horse and Belgian Draft Horse. Belgian Draft Horses and Percheron Horses have always been very popular in North America, particularly the USA. Clydesdales contributed immensely to the economies of Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and many were bred in Scotland and sold overseas for record-breaking prices. At one time, strong, sturdy Suffolk Punches were also used widely to improve European breeds. They are very similar to the coldblooded Schleswig Horses and Jutland Horses. French breeds, such as the Percheron Horses and Boulonnais Horses, are not only immensely powerful but also extremely beautiful and can be used as crosses to create successful warmblooded horses, particularly for use in a harness. The Ardennes and Brabant horse breeds are popular in Belgium, France and Sweden. The USA may only have one home-bred coldblooded horse - the American Cream Draft Horse – but it is a very beautiful breed, which is also used for horseback riding. Some pony-sized equines that are also used for draught, such as the Haflinger, are sometimes called coldblooded, though technically, they are warmblooded as they have some Arabian in them. Less well-known coldbloods include the stunning Noriker Horses, the Breton Horses, and the French Mulassier, which is used to produce by breeding to Poitou jack donkeys. Black Forest Horses and Friesian Horses are excellent examples of horses that are officially coldblooded, and both combine great strength with beauty. Today many coldblooded breeds are used for riding as well as their traditional roles.