Horse
Breed Description:
The Lithuanian Heavy Draught breed of horse is an extremely rare horse that was bred for multiple purposes in Lithuania. This included the performance of heavy agricultural work, carriage work, and also for meat and dairy. The Lithuanian Heavy Draught is a handsome horse, with a kind expression and intelligent eyes. The head is very large and features a prominent jaw, flat profile, and a thick, coarse forelock. The chest of this horse breed is deep, wide, and extraordinarily powerful, and rises up to a short and muscular neck. The withers are wide and pronounced for a large draught breed, sloping down to a long and ideally straight back. As with most of the heavy horse breeds, the legs are short but wide, have large joints and well-formed hooves. The Lithuanian Heavy Draught is typically bay, black, chestnut, gray, and occasionally roan.
Temperament:
The Lithuanian Heavy Draught breed of horse is noted for its reserved but willing personality. The breed is kind, relaxed, and very intelligent. Because of their docile nature and incredible physical ability, the Lithuanian Heavy Draught is often used for a multitude of purposes, and, were the conditions in Lithuania not so poor, this breed would make an excellent family pet, daily riding horse, or even a horse for young children. Overall the breed is unmoved by items or situations that might make other horse breeds nervous, such as loud noises, sudden movements, or crowded situations. This solid disposition makes them suitable for virtually any task.
Height:
15 hh to 16 hh
Health Problems:
The Lithuanian Heavy Draught breed of horse is a hardy breed that is well-known for its ability to withstand extremely cold environments, and to subsist on grazing alone year-round. The breed is exceptionally fertile and has an incredibly long life span, despite the unfavorable conditions in its native homeland. However, like the Belgian breed, the Lithuanian Heavy Draught may be prone to an excessively dipped or sloping back, which may cause problems in the overall skeletal structure. Care must be taken with specimens of this breed that do have dipped backs to ensure they are not asked to perform more heavy work than their skeletal structure will allow. In general this breed is very rare, and is on the verge of extinction due to the deplorable conditions in which they live in their homeland of Lithuania.
Origin:
The Lithuanian Heavy Draught breed of horse was developed in Russia near the end of the 1800’s. Local farmers sought a breed that could be used to tend to large plots of farmland while still being able to produce milk and, ultimately, meat. The breed did not become recognized as an official horse breed until the early 1960’s, when the Russian government took steps to strengthen the breed and increase its numbers. Other breeds used in the development of the Lithuanian Heavy Draught include the Zhmud, Swedish Ardennes, and the Finnish horse. Today the breed is no longer under development, but is being used in certain areas to improve other horse breeds. 