Horse
Breed Description:
The American Cream Draft breed of horse is the only draft breed developed in America. It is considered a medium to heavy weight draft horse. The cream color of the breed is due to a dominant gene called the "champagne" gene; this means the breed is unique, and not just a color variant of the Belgian. The American Cream Draft breed of horse possesses heavy musculature, a sloping shoulder and wide girth. Its head is refined in comparison to the body. The coat may range from near-white to a very dark cream color, with or without white on the face. The mane and tail are long and flowing, and usually white. There is marked feathering around the fetlocks. The American Cream Draft breed of horse is often born with blue eyes and pink skin with white hair. As it matures, the eyes darken to hazel, amber or green, and the coat becomes thicker and takes on the permanent cream color. This horse does not reach maturity until around five years of age. The American Cream Draft breed of horse is showy in appearance, an impressive example of the classical draft horse; it is often used for show and parades. There are currently fewer than 400 registered animals of the breed, across the U.S.
Temperament:
The American Cream Draft breed of horse is docile and willing.
Height:
Averages 16 to 17 hands, or 64" to 68" at the withers.
Weight:
The American Cream Draft breed of horse can weigh upwards of one ton.
Origin:
The American Cream Draft breed of horse was created in the late 1930's, using cream-colored stock from Beligian, Percheron, and Shires, along with other horses. The idea was to establish a cream-colored draft horse unique to America, based upon some horses that had first appeared around 1910 in Iowa, the offspring of a famous mare called "Old Granny". These cream-colored horses had attracted the attention of farmers of the region. By 1944, a man named C.T. Rierson had fully developed the breed and started to keep records of breedings. He coined the name, and so the American Cream Draft Horse Association was formed.
But the timing was not ideal for the development of a draft breed. Tractors were replacing draft horses, and by the 1970's the breed association had fallen apart, the registry books neglected, and the American Cream Draft breed of horse was nearly extinct. A few fanciers re-organized the association, and have worked to preserve the breed since. 