Origin: Unknown
Height: 16-17.3 hh
Colors: Any Pinto Color - Tobiano or Overo
Build: Muscular, strong and compact
Attributes: Calm, willing to work and enthusiastic
History of the Spotted Draft Horse
The Spotted Draft is, at the moment, very different from other draft horse breeds. It, in fact, is not yet exactly a breed. The North American Spotted Draft Horse Association is in the process of building this breed.
Spotted Draft horses could be found back in the Middle Ages in England, where they were used as drum horses. However, at that point there was no Spotted Draft breed, it was just chance that a draft horse was born with pinto coloring.
It is unknown when Spotted Drafts were first methodically bred but it is known that in the mid sixties a breeder in Iowa had over twenty of these horses. At the moment the Spotted Draft is more about coloring than any other characteristics and can include horses of different draft breeds.
The NASDHA recognizes six draft horse breeds: American Cream Draft Horses, Belgian Draft Horses, Clydesdale Draft Horses, Percheron Draft Horses, Shires, and Suffolk Punches. It should be noted that if a horse is registered with another draft horse association then it is not eligible to be registered with the NASDHA.
Characteristics of the Spotted Draft Horse
Appearance and Conformation of the Spotted Draft Horse
The conformation of the Spotted Draft should resemble the breed that it is closely related to, such as the Belgian or Percheron, etc. In general this should be a large, strong and muscular horse. The legs should be hefty and well-boned. The back should be short and the ribs rounded. The chest is wide and deep. The neck is long and arched and the head is large and intelligent.
Color is obviously an important aspect of the Spotted Draft. The Spotted Draft breed is allowed to be Tobiano, Overo or Tovero.
Tobiano: A horse that looks to be white, but with large colored spots on it.
Overo: A horse that looks to be colored, but with large white spots on it.
Tovero: A horse that has a cross of Tobiano and Overo colorings, and demonstrates the coloring of both.
The other coloration requirements are:
As a weanling the horse must have four square inches of white.
As a yearling it must have eight square inches of white.
When it is older than two years it must have 15 square inches of white.
Temperament of the Spotted Draft Horse
Spotted Drafts are obviously very similar to other draft horses in their temperaments. They are calm and tractable. They are very willing workers and very gentle horses.
Uses for the Spotted Draft Horse
Again, this horse can be used for any draft horse occupation. They are popular for farming, driving (especially in matched teams), showing, logging and riding.