Brabant
The Brabant, or Belgian Heavy Draft, is the original Belgian horse from the Brabant region, and the ancestor of the American Belgian as well as an influence on most other heavy breeds.
European and American breeding diverged after the Second World War, and the two are now visibly different animals.
The Brabant stands 16.2 to 17 hands and is heavier, thicker-set and more compact than the American Belgian, with heavy feathering on the legs and usually a bay, roan or chestnut coat. It is a working draft horse in the truest sense — immensely powerful, slow-moving and, like most heavy drafts, remarkably placid for its size.
- Origin
- Brabant region, Belgium
- Height
- 16.2–17 hands
- Lifespan
- 18–25 years
- Build
- Heavier and more compact than the American Belgian; feathered legs
- Best known for
- Heavy draft work; ancestor of most modern draft breeds
- Health
- Chronic progressive lymphedema, PSSM1 and JEB1
2 brabant photos, newest first
Living with a brabant
The feathered legs need daily attention. Chronic progressive lymphedema starts under the feather where it is not visible, and by the time swelling and folds are obvious it is established. Clip the feathers, wash and dry the legs, and check the skin under them regularly — this single habit does more for a feathered draft's long-term soundness than anything else.
Mud fever and mite infestation live in the same place and are managed the same way.
Test for JEB1 before breeding; the condition is fatal in affected foals and carriers are healthy.
PSSM1 is common in the breed and is managed with a low-starch, higher-fat diet and daily movement rather than stall rest.
They are easy keepers and gain weight readily. Specialist farriery every six to eight weeks, and expect it to cost more than for a riding horse.
General guidance, not veterinary advice. Individual horses vary, and anything about a specific animal is a question for a vet who has seen it.
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