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