Work horse
The Schleswig heavy draft comes from the area known as Schleswig in North West Germany.
The breed is a very close relative to the Danish Jutland horse, which is derived from the same founding stallion, a Shire cross Suffolk Punch known as “Oppenheim LXII”.
The breed originally derived from infusions of Boulonnais, Breton, Yorkshire Coach horse and Thoroughbred.
In 1888 the breeders of Schleswig Holstein decided to separate the breeding of warm blooded and heavy horses, so a new society, called the Schleswiger Horse Breeders Society was formed in 1891.
Horses are branded with the letters "V.S.P" in an oval which is still used today. The brand mark appears on the horses left back leg.
The typical height of these large horses ranges from 15.1 hands high to 16 hands high (1 hand being equal to 4 inches). Stallions are typically larger than mares.
The traditional coat colour is Chestnut with a flaxen mane and tail, but black, grey and bay may also be found.
The Schleswig horse is a slightly heavy in the face with a short head and wide forehead, along with a well proportioned neck.
The body is wide and the back is strong and well muscled.
It carries a small amount of feather below the knee.
The breed has a placid and willing temperament and were originally very popular with farmers and were also used as a means of transporting the armoured knights in the middle ages.
They are versatile, agile and of great endurance,and are easy to keep.
They are used for agriculture, logging, military mounts, brewery horses and farm work.
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