Vladimir Heavy Draft horses come from Vladimir, in the
former USSR. They are a strong draft horse of medium size.
They were developed mainly from imported British horses;
consisting of the Suffolk Punch, Clydesdale and Shire horses. Some Ardennes and
Percheron horses were also used. In 1946, the Vladimir Heavy Draft was found to
be breeding sufficiently true to be type to consider it a true breed. This
quick-maturing, strong, heavy horse is popular for draft work. It is also used
for pulling Vladimir trokia sleighs. Today, they are bred widely.
Their head is large and long, with a Roman nose (convex
profile) or straight. Their jaw line is heavy. Their ears are pricked forward.
Their neck is strong and long and set in powerful shoulders. Their back,
although broad, can be weak. Their croup is long, with a definite slope and their
girth is deep with muscular hindquarters. Their abdominal area is tucked up.
Their limbs are strong with feathering that often has white markings. Their
legs tend to be short. Their chest is more developed than that of the
Clydesdale, and is very broad. Their withers are quite pronounced. Their hooves
are strong, broad, and round. They are found in all solid colors; most often Bay,
but some are black or chestnut. They stand between 15-16.1 hands high and weigh
between 1,500-1,675 pounds.