The Italian Heavy Draft (also known as 'Italian TPR Agricultural Horse', 'cavallo agricolo italiano da tiro pesante rapido', and 'CAITPR'. In English: 'Italian Rapid Heavy Draft Agricultural Horse',) is the only native heavy draft breed of Italy.

European origins:
Prior to 1860, there were no native Italian draft breeds. This changed when the authorities of the Province of Ferrara in northeast Italy decided to cross local mares with Breton stallions that were imported from France.

Later on, the blood of Hackney, Brabant, and more Breton was added to the mix. Refinement of the breed continued into the early 20th century with the addition of Ardennais, Percheron, and even more Breton and Brabant blood. Eventually, the Italian Heavy Draft was born.

1926 saw the establishment of the Italian Heavy Draft's studbook, and the breed became widespread. Used on farms and battlegrounds for agricultural work and artillery transportation, as well as for the production of mules, the breed did well until the 1960s when mechanization of agriculture and transportation made it obsolete.

The Italian Heavy Draft today:
The 1970s saw the decline of the Italian Heavy Draft. However, the breed was saved thanks to a series of legislations that allowed the breed's association to expand the breeding efforts which saved the breed from extinction.

Today, compared to other draft breeds, the Italian Heavy Draft is doing well. It is sometimes used on small farms where the ground or terrain don't allow for the usage of heavy vehicles. It is locally known for its speed at trotting, hence the word 'rapido' (meaning 'rapid') in its official name.

Conformation:
The influence of the Breton over the Italian Heavy Draft is very apparent in the conformation of the latter. Italian Heavy Drafts have a wide head with small ears and a straight or convex profile, a short and thick neck, a short back, a muscular, double croup, and short and thick legs. The body is wide and heavily muscled.

The mane and tail can grow long and thick and be wavy, and the legs have light feathering.

Performance metrics:
The following are the: range, average, (SD), and MOE of performance metrics of ordered Italian Heavy Drafts 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: 12.9-14.2, 13.6 (0.3), 0.05.
Sprint: 36-52, 44 (4), 0.7.

Accel: 0.93-1.10, 1.01 (0.04), 0.01.
Decel: 1.16-1.32, 1.24 (0.03), 0.01.

Jump: 4.50-4.86, 4.70 (0.07), 0.01.
Pull: 4.35-5.38, 4.80 (0.18), 0.04.

Turning: 56.03-68.29, 62.57 (2.75), 0.54.
Reverse: 2.1-2.8, 2.4 (0.2), 0.03.

Stamina: 57.59-63.00, 60.27 (1.21), 0.24.
Reaction: 0.83-0.90, 0.87 (0.02), 0.00.

Coats & Height:
Colors: almost always flaxen chestnut, but bay and non-flaxen chestnut also occur. The coat is usually dark with red and liver chestnuts being extremely common.

Additionals: flaxen, roan, sooty, grey mane & tail. White markings are extremely common.

Height: 14.2hh to 16hh.