Buyer question
Is a Belgian Draft horse good for beginners?
Yes: our Animal Library rates the Belgian Draft horse 4 out of 5 for beginners (calm, but size is real).
Source: the Belgian Draft horse page in the Everybarn Animal Library. Belgian Draft horse in the Animal Library
The detail
A heavy draft horse from Belgium, most often sorrel or chestnut with a flaxen mane in the US, bred for pulling power. Belgians are calm, patient and strong, and they carry two inherited conditions every buyer should test for.
- Temperament
- Calm, patient, strong
- Best fit
- Farm work, pulling, driving
- Trainability
- 4 out of 5 (Patient, willing)
- Upkeep
- 5 out of 5 (Big feed, big feet)
- Energy
- 2 out of 5 (Steady and unhurried)
What to weigh
PSSM1 is very common in Belgians, and JEB is fatal in foals. Their size demands oversized equipment and farrier work.