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Draft Horse
(redirected from Pack-horse)

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draft horse or work horse, any breed of horse horse, hoofed, herbivorous mammal now represented by a single extant genus, Equus. The term horse commonly refers only to the domestic Equus caballus and to the wild Przewalski's horse.
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 that is suited to or used for drawing heavy loads. Draft horses originated in central Europe, where their domestication preceded the Roman invasion. Popular breeds include the Belgian Belgian horse, one of the largest breeds of draft horses of pure European descent. It has a long history, antedating the Christian era, but became especially popular during the Middle Ages. In the 15th and 16th cent.
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, Clydesdale Clydesdale horse, breed of draft horse developed in Scotland. It closely resembles the Shire horse, although it is not as heavy. The Clydesdale is characterized by its graceful, springy step.
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, Percheron Percheron horse , breed of draft horse developed in NW France, originally of Flemish origin, but also containing some Arabian blood (see Arabian horse). For a heavy horse, it has considerable stamina and is a good trotter.
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, and Shire Shire horse, a breed of draft horse native to central England. It is equal in weight to the Belgian horse and is usually slightly taller. Widely used as a war horse during the Middle Ages, it was well adapted to carry the excessive weight of armor worn by both horse
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, all of which are extremely large and noted for their strength, endurance, and good disposition.
Draft Horse 

the collective name for certain specialized breeds of work horses. Draft horses have massive bodies and a great capacity for pulling heavy loads. The main draft horses in the USSR are the Soviet, Vladimir, and Russian breeds, while in Western Europe the most important breeds are the Brabant, Percheron, Boulonnais, Breton, Shire, Clydesdale, Suffolk, and Ardennes. Draft horses were widely used in agriculture, for transportation, and in other work. Their use has declined with the growth of mechanization.



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