The Belgian "Brabant" Drafthorse

In Belgium, a small country in the west of Europe, a horse race is bred that in former days had the respect of the complete world. Yet horses were and still are regularly exported to the farthest corners of the world.
The small country is split in two regions: the northern part Flanders and the southern French speaking part Wallonia.

All Brabants are Belgians, not all Belgians are Brabants

Until the mid 1900s, the Brabant and the American Belgian were essentially the same horse. After World War II the Brabant was bred in Europe (especially in Belgium and the Netherlands) to be thicker bodied and more drafty, with heavy feathering on the legs, while in the United States the Belgian was bred to be taller, lighter bodied and clean legged.

The left picture at the bottom shows a typical Belgian (American) Drafthorse. It absolutely doesn't look (anymore) like the 'real' Belgian Drafthorses known in Europe. That's why those European Belgians are called "Belgian Brabant Drafthorses". Brabant refers to a Belgian province in the center of the country. At this place the largest studs were established in former days. (see history)

American Belgian

Brabant Belgian