The Belgian (also known as the 'American Belgian') is an American heavy draft breed, named after its ancestors who were Belgian Heavy Drafts (see 'Brabant'). It is famous worldwide for its colossal height and iconic chestnut coat.

A unique American breed out of Belgian stock:
Belgian Heavy Drafts were imported from Belgium to the USA at the beginning of the 20th century. It proved a good workhorse, and the American farmers were happy with the strength of this European breed. But not with its looks.

Using only the stock they had, and without crossing their horses with other breeds, the farmers started a breeding program whose aim was to modify the appearance of the Belgian Heavy Draft while maintaining its other qualities. Years of selective breeding resulted in a taller breed which was called the 'American Belgian', and later was shortened to 'Belgian'.

A record-breaking giant:
The minimum height of Belgians is 16hh, but many of them pass the 17hh and even 18hh mark. The tallest Belgian in the world, and the second-tallest horse in world's history, was a Belgian named Big Jake who stood 20.2hh and three quarters.

The press that surrounded Big Jake when he broke the world record in 2010 promoted the Belgian as a breed and made it one of the most famous worldwide. While Big Jake passed away on June 2021, he is still remembered as a most remarkable individual of a most remarkable breed.

The Belgian today:
Today, the Belgian is the most widespread draft breed in the USA, with over 3,000 horses registered in 2022. It is especially popular among the Amish population who uses it in agriculture, be it for working the fields or pullings wagons full of crops back to the farm.

Belgians are also used outside the Amish world, with many being used for pulling competitions and even for recreational riding.

Conformation:
Unlike their heavy and bulky Brabant ancestors, Belgian horses have a longer and leaner build, a higher head and neck position, and longer legs with little to no feathering.

Other characteristics are similar to those seen in other draft breeds of overall similar conformation (e.g. Shire or Clydesdale). The head is large and wide, the neck is thick with muscles, the croup is sloping, the hooves are as large as plates, and the body is wide.

The mane is usually short or medium in length, but can grow long. The tail is usually short.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Belgians in Horse Isle (not bred ones). In rare cases, horses might have metrics outside of the range. Breeders can produce horses that are beyond this range.

Speed: 14.3-15.8, 15.0 (0.4), 0.07.
Sprint: 30-43, 36 (3), 0.55.

Accel: 0.67-0.91, 0.80 (0.05), 0.01.
Decel: 0.92-1.15, 1.04 (0.05), 0.01.

Jump: 4.86-5.25, 5.07 (0.09), 0.02.
Pull: 3.43-4.55, 3.97 (0.28), 0.06.

Turning: 42.60-57.09, 49.59 (3.03), 0.59.
Reverse: 2.1-2.6, 2.4 (0.1), 0.02.

Stamina: 51.02-62.23, 55.90 (2.70), 0.53.
Reaction: 0.79-0.89, 0.83 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors & patterns: usually chestnut or flaxen chestnut. More rarely, bay. The coat can be roan or mealy, is always solid, and commonly has white markings.
* no brindle.

Height: 16hh to 20.2hh.