Emblems of both strength and beauty, draft horses were once a mainstay of highly productive societies. They were powerful engines of war, agriculture, and transportation, without which civilization as we know it wouldn’t have been possible.
Today these elegant yet strong steeds serve more often as show horses or pulling carriages—like the ones seen in Central Park in Manhattan. The romance and allure of these horses was famously encapsulated in Budweiser commercials, featuring draft horses hauling beer through snow, their elegant manes and feather-laden hooves complimenting their imposing raw power.
But with the introduction of mechanization in the 20th century, many of these breeds have fallen by the wayside, their calling to serve man no longer deemed essential. Some breeders, nevertheless, have sought to preserve their existence….