The main purpose of harness horses is to work in harness. The group includes a large number of breeds, we will describe some of them in this article.
For the same purpose, used and heavy horses, the description of which will also be given below.
Draft horse breeds
Consider the most common of breeds.
Bashkir
Most often found in the southern Urals. Anatomical features include the presence of a straight head profile, broad forehead, broad back, moderately lowered croup. The breed has a thickened neck and low withers. 
The main parameters have the following meanings:
- height at withers: stallions - 145 cm, mares - 140 cm;
- slanting body length: stallions - 147 cm, mares - 143 cm;
- pastern circumference: stallions - 18.5 cm, mares - 18 cm;
- live weight: stallions - 450 kg, mares - 400 kg.
Important! It is impossible to give the animal physical activity, if it has just eaten - this can lead to the development of problems with the work of the heart and breathing.Bashkir horses are often used not only as harvest animals, but also for the production of milk.
Tinker (Irish cob, gypsy sled horse)
Tinkers are owners of a muscular body, a curved back, powerful front and rear limbs, strong hooves. The main feature of the breed - the presence of lush mane, tail, bangs and brushes on the legs. Irish cob can grow from 1.35 m to 1.6 m. It has spotted color with white spots. 
Tinkers can be called universal horses, as they are very unpretentious and can be used not only in harness, but also in the saddle. In addition, they are able to give a lot of milk. Representatives of the breed are quite peaceful and friendly animals.
Irish Sled Horse
The height of the animal may be about 170-180 cm, weight - about 600-700 kg. Most often there are bay, gray and dark brown color. Representatives of the breed have a massive body, short legs, on which small brushes are located, and a long back. The animal at the same time moves easily and confidently, well jumping. Irish sledding is famous for its strong legs, which allow it to easily land after jumping.
Did you know? 23 nations of the world recognized the horse as a sacred animal.
Belorussian
Representatives of the breed have a strong constitution, they are durable and prolific. They are distinguished by good performance. The live weight of a stallion is about 540 kg. The head of the Belarusian horse has a short front part. 
The animal has a dry fore and hind limbs, strong hooves, a fluffy mane and tail. It has a friendly character. The palette of colors is quite diverse: red, bay, buckskin, mouse and other.
Latvian horse breed
Latvian racers have a large head, an even straight profile, have standing, bulging ears, big eyes. They have a straight wide back, strong loins, wide croup, deep chest. Attract attention with muscular thighs, bony legs. Can be used as a harness, and under the saddle. Among the most common suits are bay, karak, black and red. 
Kuznetsk
Representatives of the breed have a large head, a neck of medium length, and their muscles are well developed. They have a high and wide withers, long back and lower back. They have a wide, muscular croup with a normal slope. The rib cage is deep, the ribs are well developed. Kuznetsk horse has a very strong constitution. They live quite a long time, have high fertility rates. Efficiency can be maintained until the age of 25 years. Have a pronounced trotter gait. 
Kladrubskaya
Kladrubsky horse has a powerful and strong exterior. It draws attention with a confident, strong "Roman" profile - it has a nose, on which a crook is clearly visible. It has strong legs, ears stand out sharp, long. You can not resist the horse's eyes - they are big and expressive.
Among the stripes can be found gray and black. The height of an adult animal is about 1.64-1.77 m. The main destinations are exclusively sledding and horse riding. 
Thorian horse breed
Representatives of the Thorian breed differ harmoniously. They have short legs, a long, rounded body, on which a broad, round, deep sternum stands out. The musculature of the horse is well developed, the limbs are dry. Animals have a wide and long croup.
Did you know? In the Masai tribe there was a belief that if a man was killed by a horse, he must go to heaven.
The head is quite proportional, it has a high forehead, a wide nose skull, large nostrils and a wide jaw space. Have a muscular neck of medium length, which is approximately equal to the length of the head. They have a fleshy, broad, low withers. On average, the height of the horse at the withers is 155 cm. 
Among the most popular suit red with white spots, also found and bay, black and roan.
Old Flemish
The horses of the old Flemish breed are rather large and massive, possess a phlegmatic temperament. On average, the weight of one animal may be about 1000 kg. Most often found sivaya and roan suit. Representatives of the breed have a small head, massive neck, short and low withers. They are also owners of a wide, muscular forked sacrum. 
Freiberger
Horses of Freiberger breed are distinguished by their mobility and the presence of a steady move, calmness and kindness. Their height at the withers is about 152 cm, the horse has a dense constitution, has massive, strong hooves. The head of the animal is small in size, but at the same time quite expressive: it looks something like a pony's head. Freiberger has a short but powerful neck, strong croup and good muscles. 
Heavy horse breeds
This group includes large, massive, strong, hardy animals that are used in agriculture and carry heavy loads with their help. Consider the most common breed.
Arden
This breed belongs to one of the oldest European breeds. Its representative is a strong, cattle animal, which was originally used to transport wood. Arden horse is quite massive, has well-developed musculature. The animal has short and thick legs. The most common are horses with red, bay, gray and roan suits. 
Brabonson
The country of origin of the breed is Belgium. On average, the height of the horse is 165-172 cm. Most often you can find a reddish cheal, bay and brown suit. The horse has a small head, a short, not too muscular neck, has a deep compact body, short strong legs, on which are placed thick brushes. The heavy truck has a powerful body, short back and thin legs. All parts of the body they have large - and the head, and bones, and chest. 
Percheron
Representatives of this breed are owners of a wide bone, deep chest. Height at withers is more than 160 cm. Full chest girth may exceed 2 meters. Percheron differ athletic, massive, great strength, have strong hooves, low speed. In addition, they are very beautiful in appearance. Today, the most common gray and black color. Sometimes you can meet chaly or red. 
Shire (English heavy truck)
Shire are the highest, heaviest and strongest among all horses. They are characterized by a massive head, broad forehead, bulging profile, sharp ears, arched neck, muscular shoulders. They are owners of a short and strong back with a strong croup. Shire is distinguished by lush silky friezes that are located on powerful limbs. Most often found bay and gray suit. 
Soviet heavy truck
Soviet heavy-duty animals are rather large animals. The average height in the area of the withers is 160 cm. The head of a horse is average in size, a heavy truck has a muscular neck. Representatives of the breed have a soft convex lower back, have a wide, forked croup. 
Differ in wide breasts. But the limbs of the Soviet heavyweight rather thin. Among the most common colors - red, bay, gray. Chala is rare.
Important! Since all sled horses are involved in hard physical labor, it is mandatory to shoe them.
Vladimirsky
The height of the representatives of this breed is about 160 cm. They have a large head, on the nose there is a pronounced crook. Have a muscular neck, well-shaped withers. They have a wide and elongated back, long legs. On the limbs there is a thick coat. Vladimirsky heavy truck is energetic, moves freely and sweepingly. He has good endurance. 
Russian
This breed does not differ in large size, the height at the withers is on average 145-148 cm. It has a deep, elongated body. Limbs a bit short, but quite strong. Russian heavyweight has a small head, muscular, short neck.
Get acquainted with the heavy horse breeds.
The main characteristics of the horse - great performance, longevity and high fecundity. Most often, you can find a red or red-tan suit. 
Novoaltay breed
The horses have a large body, a massive, long, well-developed body, a broad chest and back. The limbs of the mount are quite strong and muscular. The average height of a horse at the withers is 156 cm, and the length of the body is 168 cm. This breed is perfect for working in a harness and saddle, it is also used in meat production. 
A large variety of horse breeds suggests that everyone can choose their own animal, depending on the requirements and purposes of use. The main thing is to remember that keeping a horse is an expensive task, and in order to make effective use of animals, it is worthwhile to put a lot of time and effort into caring for them.
