HISTORY
The American Cream Draft Horse is the ONLY native breed of Draft to originate right here in the United States. All other breeds of heavy horse have come from Europe. This native breed sprung up from the rich fertile Midwest farm belt in the early 1900's. The originating horse was a mare purchased at auction by an Iowa farmer. She was all draft, but anything else about her lineage was unknown. She was bred to Shires, Percherons and Belgians. Her dominant color and conformation was passed on to her get and her stud colts went on to establish the breed. This breed was accepted by the National Stallion Enrollment Board on January 15, 1950 and the registry got it's start in 1944 in Iowa. The implementation of the tractor around the same time spelled doom for all draft breeds and this one was almost lost with only about 29 horses left in 1984. But with serious effort this breed is making a comeback. There are now over 225 horses registered and approximately another 200+
nonregistered. This makes the American Cream Draft total at around 450 in the
US/world, taking them off the virtually extinct list and putting them on the critically endangered list with the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, an agency that watchdogs endangered breeds.
BREED DESCRIPTION
The American Cream Draft is typified by it's rich cream coat. These horses range in color from a buttermilk to a rich gold. They have white markings and white or flaxen manes and tails. They range in height from 15.2H to 16.2H usually, with some horses reaching 17H. Their weight range is 1600# to 1800# 
with many of the foundation studs measuring in at 16H and 2200# or more. They are considered to be in the medium to heavy draft category. They are relatively short coupled with a well muscled shoulder and ample hindquarter. They are built thick, making them appear close to the ground, which improves their point of draft. They also have very refined heads with wide-set eyes and small refined ears. But, what sets them apart and makes them somewhat of a genetic anomaly is their white eyes at birth that turn to amber by one year of age and their pink skin, that tans to gray around the muzzle and eyes, yet stays pink under the coat. It seems to be this pink skin that gives them a rich glow to their cream coat.
Being a medium draft horse with a gentle temperament, flash of gait and willing style, they make the perfect small farm or carriage horse for today's family. They create a beautifully striking hitch and would make any horse person proud to have in their barn. For more information, please contact the American Cream Draft Horse Association, 2065 Noble Avenue, Charles City, Iowa 50616-9710.
Carol L. Pshigoda
Cream Acres Ranch
Vice President to Director - American Cream Draft Horse Assn.
creamacres@hotmail.com
NetPets® wishes to thank Carol Pshigoda for providing us with this description.
