There are many breeds within the classification of heavy horse and the intention of this book is to assist the reader in identifying the different characteristics of the five main breeds that pioneered Australia by way of history, visual references and personal accounts of those who own them.

The term draught refers to an animal used in the act of drawing or pulling, but here in Australia we are fortunate to have a breed of horse now known as the Australian Draught Horse. Therefore the term draught for the purpose of this introduction will refer to all horses of thicker bone and substantial weight and size.

Draught horses provided the power to serve man’s needs long before the invention of the motor. Horses were an integral part of everyday life, without them we would have struggled to achieve what they made possible for us. The power and strength of an individual horse was celebrated and admired. The strength of a team, and what they could together achieve was impressive and at times unbelievable.

Centuries of breeding and cross breeding created a horse that best served man’s needs at the time. The recognition of breeds and their importance saw societies and studbooks established. Breeders were, and continue to be in pursuit of breeding the best possible horse. Traditionally stallions were traveled around districts to improve the quality of foals in the area. Good bloodlines were sourced in far away countries and imported at great cost and sometimes, particularly in the early days of Australia’s settlement at the cost of the horse’s life. Today’s advancement of artificial insemination enables horse owners around the world access to quality horses that they may not otherwise be able to, and at a far lower cost than purchasing the animal, in the hope of giving them their desired foals.