The Brabancon horse breed is of Belgian origin and belongs to the heavy-duty varieties. For her country, she became a source of pride and national property. Over time, horses have undergone many changes in appearance, as the requirements for them have constantly changed.
Belgian Brabancon
Breed origin
The Ardennes and Flanders horses are considered the ancestors of the Brabancons. They once lived on the border of modern Belgium and France and were distinguished by their short stature, strong constitution, violent strength and endurance. It was these horses that the knights needed in those days.
The ancient descendants of modern Brabancons were short, up to 140 cm at the withers, but were able to carry a heavy rider for a long time. The animals showed no fear and easily overcame obstacles on the way.
When knightly times were left behind, horses were still used in wars, only now they carried artillery on them. In the 18th and 19th centuries, when agriculture was actively developing, there was a need for assistants who could tirelessly work in the fields and transport goods. Then heavy trucks were bred in the Belgian province of Brabant, as well as in Flanders.
By the end of the 19th century, they decided to improve the breed, as over time it has undergone changes in the genotype. In Belgium, they created a special organization that controlled the selection of Brabancons. From that moment on, exhibitions of the best representatives of the breed line were regularly held and a stud book was kept.
During the First and Second World Wars, the breed fell into decline, then little attention was paid to breeding horses, but the breeding stock was saved. Today, Brabancons are protected and are considered the national treasure of Belgium.
Belgian working horses influenced the development of breeds:
- poem;
- Clydesdale;
- Dutch heavy truck;
- Russian heavy draft horse;
- Soviet heavy truck;
- complex.
Exterior
Brabancons are short horses with strong bones. The height at the withers of a heavy truck is 156-165 cm. Unlike other breeds created for use in heavy harness, these horses have dry and sinewy limbs with large joints. On the lower part of the legs there are lush brushes. The hooves are quite wide and massive.
Brabancons โ low horses with strong bones
Brabancons have a small head. The frontal part is wide, and the profile is slightly hook-nosed. The auricles are compact and mobile. The neck is wide and powerful, smoothly turning into a rounded deep chest, the girth of which exceeds 2 meters. The line of the back of the horses is straight, the sacrum is wide and elastic. The croup is slightly forked, the relief of the muscles is clearly visible on it. There are no high requirements for color, roan, bay, red, black and gray horses are found in the breed.
Attention! The weight of an adult stallion of the Belgian heavy truck breed reaches 800โ1000 kg.
Character
Despite the heroic appearance, the Belgian heavy trucks are good-natured animals. They are smart and humble. These horses are valued not only for their working qualities and complaisance, but also for their unpretentiousness to the conditions of detention and food supply.
Another advantage of the breed is strong immunity. The average life expectancy of Brabancons is 28 years. Mares can be used for procreation up to 20-22 years. Young animals are attracted to work at the age of 2 years. After 3 years, stallions become producers.
Use of the breed today
Modern Brabancons do not participate in wars, but this does not mean that their strength is no longer needed. The villagers continue to use powerful horses to work in the field and transport goods in uneven terrain. Horses carry timber, building materials, fodder, animal feed.
The help of the horse is needed where the equipment will not pass, for example, in mountainous areas. Brabancons are also used for herding sheep. Belgian heavy trucks participate in carnival processions in teams.
Belgian heavy trucks take part in carnival processions
At the end of the 19th century, when the stallion Brilliant won the International Championship in Paris, the demand for Brabancons increased greatly. Horses became interested in many European countries. Representatives of the breed Belgian heavy truck spread to France, Germany and Sweden.
Brabancon horses, worn by knights during the Crusades, have been declared a national treasure of Belgium. They had a huge impact on the development of other heavy draft breed lines. Their blood flows even in the veins of Shires, horses considered the largest in the world.
