Draft Horses for Sale

Identified by their size, draft horses (also known as "draught" or "dray") consist of four major breeds: Belgian, Clydesdale, Percheron and Shire—though there is also a Dutch Draft. Bred for their strength and pleasant demeanors, draft horses adapted by natural selection to the cold, damp climates of northern Europe. Typically 16 to 19 hands, a draft animal will usually weigh in between 1400 and 2,000 pounds. The largest draft horse on record is Sampson, a Shire who foaled in 1846, which stood 21.2 hands and weighed in at a whopping 3300 pounds. Though not as popular in American and Europe as they once were, Mackinac Island in the midwest banned personal motorized vehicles in the late 1800's and again in 1920. The ban still stands, and visitors are transported by horse drawn taxis and elaborate private carriages pulled by Belgians and Percherons. To find draft horses for sale in your area, check our classified ads!