Minutes of the International Meeting

Review of the Breed Standard

click on the pictures to enlarge them

Anyone familiar with the equine world is aware of the decreasing number of draft horses, raising the question: which draft horse do we want to revive? We’re dead certain about one thing: not the huge colossus of bygone days. Let the stud book, the official jury and the technical committee decide upon the ideal type.
The Technical Committee busies itself right now with the rework of the breed standard and is confident to publish the results in the near future. These guidelines describe the ideal type. It is up to the breeders to pursue this ideal, although effectively achieving it might prove a difficult if not impossible job.
The Belgian breed standard was covered in four languages, inviting the foreign delegations to carry on and highlight the divergences between their standard and ours.

The Netherlands gave the kick-off. Their spokesman was Gerard Kruders, a yearlong member of the technical breed committee of the Koninklijke Vereniging het Nederlands Trekpaard & de Haflinger and since 2005 a juror at the expertise of the stallions. A fancy presentation revealed that the ideal type in the Netherlands strongly resembles the Belgian one. Mr Kruders also discoursed on some practical stud book related matters. Registration within the stud book is mandatory when participating in the Central Examinations and the National Exhibition. The Dutch utilise a 100-points counting system where scoring 60 points or more results in registration and breaking the 78 points barrier delivers an invitation for the national ‘star’ examination. Stallions are furthermore required to evidence their offspring after the fourth breeding season. Mr Kruders concluded with an inventory of the Dutch desiderata:
- breeding objective : upholding the standard
- type: robustness; the animal ought to remain a draft horse, radiating masculinity and femininity for the stallions and mares respectively
- quality of the limbs
- smooth movements : long-shinned forelegs, good use of the hind legs; longevity

Denmark delegated Mr Niels Poulsen, draft horse breeder and member of the Dansk Belgisk Hestavl management. His good relationship with Belgium goes back a number of years: Mr Poulsen e.g. attended the first Flemish Championships. The Danes seem to breed an older type (see Avenir d’Herse). Although they trot along the same path as we do, they still prefer a horse bearing a broader chest. The main problem confronting the Danish breeders is the small number of horses and hence the limited options available when crossing blood lines. Progress regarding movement has nevertheless been made over the past fifteen years. Mr Poulsen finally stressed the Danes’ longing for clean legs.

Next we crossed the Atlantic and landed safely at the American Brabant Association, hosted by their secretary-treasurer, Mrs Karen Gruner. Deep of girth, a close-coupled body, plenty of bone in the legs and a short, thick neck were the characteristics emerging while reviewing the pictures which Mrs Gruner brought along. An import from Belgium (John van de Vosberg) - appearing on the picture - is more or less representative for the American model. Mrs Gunner also dwelled on the confusion reigning between the American Belgians and our Belgian Draft Horse. The American name ‘Belgian’ applies to the less muscled chestnut variety – known in our country as Flemish Horse – and not to our Belgian breed, which the Americans call “Brabant”.

France puts the emphasis on the movement, thus requiring a neatly inclined shoulder, explained Mr. Hubert Toppart from Le Trait du Nord. He further mentioned the agreeable and reliable disposition, a quality of character somewhat neglected by the previous stud books.
A second French stud book, Les Auxois, was introduced by Mr Florian Bizouard. Their breed standard resembled the previous one: a rather compact horse with a muscled croup and a lively yet peaceful nature.

Mr Rolf Bekkershof of the Rheinisch-Deutsche Kaltblut came all the way from Germany. The Rheinländer is one of four German draft horse types. Some noteworthy differences emerged here: the Germans prefer a clearly curved long neck – for mares and stallions as well, a rounded croup, a sloping back with movements originating at the back quarters. The withers height varies between 1m55 and 1m70 and plain colours are the preferred ones. Mr Bekkershof went on with the expertise of the stallions, unlike ours: stallions are approved at the age of 2 years and a half and retain that status for the remainder of their life. There is only one additional condition: the stallions must be shown ‘at work’ within the same year, the trial consisting in a dressage exercise in front of carriage and plough. Mares aged three and above are granted a governmental fee when obtaining seven points or more. Foals are examined at a tender age (between 4 and 12 weeks) and subsequently incorporated (or not) in the German stud book.

The debate then switched to the Ardennes draft horse with the Belgian, Luxemburg and Swedish stud book entertaining the audience in that order.
Mr Michel Bulteau (Le Cheval de Trait Ardennais) started with the history and evolution of the Belgian Ardennes draft horse. Preponderant in the breed standard are the height (from 1m60 tot 1m62), the close-coupled body and the slightly rounded neck. The Ardennes region offers a wide range of tourist attractions where draft horses (could) play an important role. The stud book did not want to miss this opportunity and has therefore started a selection programme to produce an Ardennes horse that is less heavy. This objective should be achieved by crossing the Ardennes’ blood line with the Arab thoroughbred and the Cob from Normandy.
The Lëtzebuerger Ardenner was outlined with the assistance of a computer program.
Mr Holger Karlsson of the Svenska Ardennerhästen was the last speaker. Sweden breeds Ardennes horses belonging to the Belgian type, bigger but more elegant, with the sole purpose of putting them to labour. Stallions are examined at the age of 3 to 4 years and have to stand a temper test. The ‘final judgement’ is delivered by the vet who can merely refuse a stallion with unclean legs.

Let us conclude with the wish expressed by all stud books: clean legs please. Fairness commands us though to admit that substantial improvements have been realised in the past decade. A marginal discussion then developed itself regarding the exclusion of designated stallions from the breeding process, Sweden being the only country to have applied this practice since the 1930s-1940s. Some nuance is needed here: heredity is but one of many factors and nutrition, climate, hormonal balance, proper care… is undisputedly of equal importance.

Herman De Gezelle

Back