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Sugarbush Draft Horse
| Country Of Origin | United Staes of America |
| History and Background | The Sugarbush Draft Horse has an interesting story to tell, as against all odds the colourful breed has persisted throughout the years. The breed began when the US calvary disbanded the glorious spotted herds of the Nez Perce. These animals were crossed with draft animals and their progeny was dispersed as plow and work horses. They were useful and tough so their breeding persisted up until the early 20th century when draft breeds worldwide succumbed to the mechanization of agriculture. As their use declined on farms, draft animals were often picked up for use pulling tourists and wedding carriages. One of the carriage companies that adopted this practice was run by a man named Everett Smith. Mr. Smith decided that a more colourful animal might make his business stand out so he looked to the newly developed Appaloosa breed for inspiration. Many of the animals he found displayed draft characteristics and suited his purpose perfectly. This actually did inspire Smith to begin his own breeding program by crossing quality Percheron animals with appaloosas that displayed his desired traits. His breeding was strict and specific and he chose animals based on certain characteristics. In the 1960’s a man named Michael Muir began to breed a similar cross called the Stonewall Sport Horse, his goal was a colourful draft harness type. The two joined forces and by 1982 Smith finally felt as though he had achieved his breeding goals and the foundation of the Sugarbush Draft breed. They managed to survive the advent of the 20th century simply by being comfortable enough to ride as well as strong enough for draft work. Although they have survived this far, their numbers are sadly very small today – the black appy pictured above is the last remaining stallion and including him there are about a dozen left. |
| Use Today | Riding horse, Draft, Transportation |
| Colour | Appaloosa white patterns |
| Characteristics | Neck is long Shoulder is sloped Back is medium in length Hooves are upright |
| Personality and Temperament | Willing attitude and strong work ethic |
