A heavy horse, or a draft horse, is a large horse that was bred to be a working animal doing hard tasks such as plowing and other farm labour. There are a number of breeds, with varying characteristics, but all share common traits of strength, patience, and a docile temperament which made them indispensable to generations of pre-industrial farmers. Percheron horses are well-muscled, and known for their intelligence and willingness to work. Although their exact origins are unknown, people believe the Percheron originated in the area of La Perche, a district of Normandy, one of the oldest horse breeding regions in the world. They were originally bred for use as war horses. Over time, they began to be used for pulling stage coaches and later for agriculture and hauling heavy goods. Later, Arabian blood was added to the breed. This lightened up the Percheron for riding and light draft work. Since horses have an odd number of toes on each foot, they are classified in the order of Perissodactyla.
Get To Know Your Zoo Animals:
Come meet our Percheron horses, Flame, Ice, Tom, and Bob, as they give people rides at Assiniboine Park Zoo.
http://www.percheron.ca/history.htm
http://www.percheronhorse.org/default.html
http://www.ansi.okstate.edu/breeds/horses/percheron/