Italian Heavy Horse Breed

From: Horse Breeds • Draft Horse Breeds List

Italian Heavy Horse
This beautiful and compact horse has a sound temperament and alert nature combined with a forward thinking and active way of going.

Originates
In the northern mountains of Italy around Verona and Venice.

Height
14 to 16 HH

Colour
Italian Heavy horses are predominantly chestnut and bay.

Conformation

The head has an alert profile with a big kind eye and fairly small ears.
The neck is strong and muscular with a gentle crest over the top line.
The withers are low to medium in height.
The back is short strong and broad.
The limbs are short strong and have feathering on the lower limbs.
The shoulders are muscular and sloping.
The hindquarters are well rounded and powerful.
The tail is well set on and the mane and tail are thick and full.

History
Native Italian horses were crossed with Arabs and Hackneys to produce a lightweight, fast draft horse. When a heavier stamp of horse was required for the army, Breton and Boulonnais horses were added to the breed with care being taken not to lose the Italian Draught horses temperament and forward way of going, the end result is a wonderfully powerful horse with a generous temperament and who is capable of both agricultural and ridden work.

Italian Heavy Draught Brand
This is the shape of a shield with a 5 pronged ladder running through it can be found on the horses nearside thigh and neck.