Australian Draught facts for kids
Australian Draught competition, Woolbrook, NSW
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| Country of origin | Australia |
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| Horse (Equus ferus caballus) | |
The Australian Draught is a strong and calm horse breed from Australia. These horses are known for their power and good nature. They are often used for heavy work, like pulling carts or farm equipment.
Contents
What Makes Australian Draught Horses Special?
The Australian Draught horse was created by mixing different kinds of strong horses. These original breeds came to Australia a long time ago.
Horse Breeds That Helped Create the Australian Draught
The main horse breeds used were:
- Clydesdale
- Percheron
- Shire
- Suffolk Punch
- Later, Belgian horses were also added.
Sometimes, lighter horse breeds were also mixed in. This mix of breeds means Australian Draught horses come in many different colours and types. Most solid colours are allowed. However, too much white on the face or body is not preferred. White markings below the knee are fine.
A Look Back: The History of Australian Draught Horses
The story of the Australian Draught horse began around 1854. At that time, many strong stallions and mares were brought to Australia. These horses came from England and other parts of Europe.
Early Breeding in Australia
Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania) was a key place for breeding farm horses. The Van Diemen's Land Company played a big part in this. They even brought Shire horses to Australia. These horses later went to Western Australia and South Australia in the late 1830s.
Horses Replace Bullocks
Before the 1850s, bullocks (trained oxen) did most of the heavy pulling. But after the gold rushes, Australia's farming industry grew quickly. Farmers needed horses to move loads faster. Scottish settlers helped make Clydesdale horses popular because they knew them well.
Popular Breeds in Different States
In 1885, the Weinholt Brothers started an important draught horse farm in Queensland. Most Australian states liked Shire horses best. But in Victoria, Clydesdales were more popular. Suffolk Punch horses were liked in northern New South Wales. They were especially good on the black-soil farms there.
The Rise and Fall of Draught Horses
In 1915, the Clydesdale Stud Book was created in Australia. Before this, horse breeding was less organized. After 1918, new machines called tractors started to replace horses very quickly. This continued until the 1930s. During the Great Depression, people became interested in draught horses again. They were cheaper to use than tractors. However, by 1950, tractors had mostly replaced draught horses on Australian farms.
Australian Draught Horses Today
The Australian Draught Horse Stud Book Society was formed around 1979. This group helps promote these horses and their breeding. Today, Australian Draught horses are used in many ways. You can see them in shows, for riding, and in pulling competitions. They are still important as working horses on smaller farms across Australia.
