Horse
Pronunciation:
aus-tra-lian draught
Breed Description:
The Australian Draught breed of horse is a tough and hardy breed known for its good temperament and physical strength and originating in Australia. It has been developed through the years in Australia by combining bloodlines of Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire and Suffolk Punch breeds of draft horses. All of these breeds combined to produce a variety of characteristics in the Australian Draught including many colors, body types and feathering types. All solid colors are acceptable but excessive white on the face or body is not encouraged. The head is not too large and has a distinct muzzle, good broad forehead and a large, clear eye. The neck is medium length and the neck should attach to the shoulder in such a way as to create a distinct collar bed with a balanced set of withers. The chest is wide and full and the hindquarters are wide and well muscled. The legs are well developed and muscular with strong, broad joints, dense cannons and light to medium amount of feather. The feet are average to large in size with wide heels, concave soles and are symmetrical in shape.
Temperament:
The Australian Draught breed of horse is people oriented, hard working and versatile. They are known for having a lovely kind temperament, being very intelligent and always wanting to please their owners.
Height:
The Australian Draught breed of horse varies greatly in height. According to the registry, stallions need to be taller than 16 hands and mares or geldings need to stand 15.2 hands or taller in order to be registered. The average height is generally between 16 and 17.2 hands.
Weight:
The Australian Draught breed of horse weighs on average between 1300 and 2000 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Australian Draught breed of horse is generally a healthy breed of horse. Most draft horses can be prone to concussive joint problems due to their size including sidebone, ringbone or other joint issues. In addition, some bloodlines can exhibit a condition known as stringhalt where the hind legs are lifted in a snatching manner, especially when backing the horse.
Living Conditions:
The Australian Draught breed of horse was bred to survive in the harsh Australian conditions. It is very hardy and can survive in very inhospitable environments with extreme heat and cold.
Exercise:
The Australian Draught breed of horse benefits from regular exercise. These horses are primarily used in led, novelty, ridden and draught competitions and are still valued as working horses on small farms throughout Australia. They are used in plowing competitions throughout Australia and there are still some horses in use in logging in remote forests. They are a breed that benefits from regular exercise as they tend to be easy keepers and can get too fat without regular exercise.
Life Expectancy:
The Australian Draught breed of horse has an average life span for a horse. Depending on management and environment, these horses can live to 25 or 30 years of age.
Grooming:
The Australian Draught breed of horse doesn’t have any special grooming requirements. Like all breeds of horses, they require daily grooming to ensure coat health and shine, especially before and after work. In addition, they should have their feet cleaned daily. All horses benefit from regular foot care, vaccinations and worming to maintain optimum health.
Origin:
The Australian Draught breed of horse can be traced back to the importation of various English and Flemish draft breeds to Australia in the mid 1800s. The horses were used for farming, mining and other agricultural uses until replaced by the advent of tractor and other mechanical means of transportation. The Australian Draught Horse Stud Book Society was established in 1979 to promote the breeding and registry of these horses. 