| As the name implies. this breed originated in | | | | dispositions. So the Belgian remained, and American |
| Belgium. Back in the medieval times, the center of | | | | breeders set out to keep what was right and fix what |
| Western Europe became well-known for the large | | | | was "wrong". The result has become one of the |
| black horses known as "Flemish". These are the | | | | greatest success stories in animal breeding history. |
| horses which carried the heavily armored knights into | | | | Today's American Belgian still has the solid middle, |
| battle. By necessity, only the largest and strongest of | | | | deep strong feet, plenty of bone and strong |
| this breed were trained as "chargers" or "destriers". It | | | | musculature, and that great disposition. He is still easy |
| is from this stock that other draft breeds drew for | | | | to maintain, ships well, and remains a hard and willing |
| genetic material. At the heart of this area, Belgium | | | | worker. American breeders very simply developed a |
| was established as a country. Stallions of the region | | | | horse with cleaner lines, more slope in the shoulders |
| were exported throughout parts of Europe, as the | | | | and pasterns, and a more elegant look around the |
| need grew for the larger stock horses to work in the | | | | head and neck. |
| industrial and agricultural settings. | | | | Description |
| Because Belgium was the resource upon which other | | | | As far as color, while the first Belgians to be imported |
| countries relied for these large stock animals, all that | | | | to America were a wide mix, about 50% were bay |
| remained was for the country to establish the breed | | | | and bay-brown. However, there was really no |
| and strengthen the genetic material already at hand. | | | | particular color which was a defining characteristic. |
| The Belgian government quickly helped to refine the | | | | Through breeding, shown by American preference, the |
| breed by setting up district shows, from which the | | | | ideal for a Belgian in the U.S. today is a chestnut or |
| winners would move up to compete in the national | | | | sorrel with a snow-white mane and tail, a white stripe |
| show in Brussels. From those who showed in the | | | | on the face, and four white socks. In other parts of |
| national, the finest were chosen by the country's | | | | the world, one can still find a very wide assortment of |
| inspection committees to stand as stallions for public | | | | colors. |
| service. The result of these efforts was that the | | | | In height, the Belgian is usually 16 hands (162.5 |
| fixed breed type rapidly improved and the Belgian was | | | | centimeters, or 64 inches at the shoulder), but can |
| established as a national heritage, and a treasure. | | | | exceed 18 hands (183 cm., or 72 in. at the shoulder). |
| When the Belgian was first imported into America, | | | | The American Belgian usually has a rather large head, |
| they were criticized for being "too thick, too | | | | short, "feathered", muscular legs, and large hind |
| low-headed, straight shouldered, and round-boned". | | | | quarters. |
| However, the Belgians quickly found a place with | | | | The average weight is 1600 to 2000 pounds (113.6 to |
| American farmers because they were easy to | | | | 142 stones), but stallions can exceed 2400 pounds |
| maintain, were hard and willing workers, and had good | | | | (170.4 stones). |