Horse_Illustrated_-_October_2019

[ 66 horseillustrated.com | october 2019 ]

topassalongherstunningcoloringtoheroff-

springledhertobecomethefoundationdam

oftheAmericanCreamDraftHorsebreed.

Inthe1930s,fanciersofthesecream-colored

drafthorsesintheMelbourne,Iowa,areabegan

tobreedtheminearnest,usinglinebreeding

andinbreedingtoestablisha distincttype.In

mid-1944,theAmericanCreamDraftHorse

Association of America was established with an

initial 20 members and 75 foundation horses.

Although the American Cream Draft Horse

reached 200 registered horses by 1941, this

turned out to be a tough time for many draft

horse breeds. Farmers had already begun

working their land with tractors instead of

horses, and as a result, the demand for draft

horses was dwindling. Consequently, the

American Cream Draft Horse Association

became inactive by the 1950s, and the breed

was in danger of going extinct.

It wasn’t until the 1980s that the associa-

tion reorganized and began a concerted effort

to save the breed using the horses that were

left. The hard work of these breeders saved

the American Cream Draft Horse from certain

disappearance.

fast facts

HeigHt: 16 to 16.3 hands

Color: light, medium or dark cream color on

pink skin, with white mane and tail and amber or

hazel eyes.

overall appearanCe: refined head, wide-set

large, intelligent eyes; small expressive ears.

Short-coupled body with well-muscled hindquar-

ters. Wide chest; short, strong back; strong legs.

registry: American Cream draft

horse Association http://www.acdha.org

AmAndA

delgAdo/Southern

horSe PhotogrAPhy

The American
Cream Draft
has a refined
head with
small ears
and a short-
coupled
body.

AmAndA delgAdo/Southern horSe PhotogrAPhy