The Russian Heavy Draft horse is muscular in appearance, despite the short stature in relation to its size. The horse possesses a thick tail and mane, with legs that are lightly feathered. The neck is well crested and thick. The breed's compact size and body type provide it with superior traction, especially when called upon to pull considerable amounts of weight. The Russian Heavy Draft is most often found in a strawberry roan or chestnut.

One unique trait of the breed is how quickly it matures. A Russian Heavy Draft is said to reach almost full maturity by the time it is 18 months old. And despite this race to the finish line, they also boast long life expectancies and high stud rates – that means they're fertile.

The Russian Heavy Draft horse is also economical for other reasons. In terms of care and feeding, they have healthy constitutions and are generally a hardy breed. The mares are also considered good milk producers. They are ideal workers for farming and can still be found in the countryside doing just that. They are a strong and willing breed that possess a good disposition and inherent tolerance of the cold climate and rough conditions of their countryside. Plodding, willing, and strong are the words to describe a Russian Heavy Draft.

Though the breed wasn't fully registered until 1952, systematic breeding of this horse began in the 1860s and it was first known as the Russian Ardennes. The Russian Heavy Draft is the product of a comprehensive breeding program begun at the state studs of Khrenov and Derkul.

Back to the Horse Breeds Page      Russian Heavy Draft Breeders - Horses for Sale
Russian Heavy Draft - Horses for Sale