Cold-blooded horse

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Percheron , a French cold-blooded breed

Cold-blooded horses are horse breeds that are characterized by their high body weight and calm temperament and are used as heavy draft horses . Warm-blooded animals, on the other hand, are more likely to be used as riding horses.

The term refers to the characteristics and temperament of the animals, not to the body temperature . This is in the range of 38 ° C on average for all horses, warm-blooded and cold-blooded animals. All horses are mammals and animals of the same temperature .

use

Until the middle of the 20th century, cold blood breeds such as Dutch draft horses , Norikers , Rhenish-German draft horses (sometimes also called "Westphalian draft horses"), Mecklenburg draft horses , Schleswig draft horses , Black Forest draft horses , Shire horses and Belgians were used as workhorses in agriculture and industry widespread. Above all, her enormous productivity and good nature were valued here. Cold-blooded horses are not suitable as fast riding horses due to their heavy build.

Even if the population has shrunk sharply since then, it still seems secure for most breeds.

Cold-blooded horses are still used today in forestry, e.g. B. as back horses , used when the use of heavy machinery is not possible or not desired. They are also used as leisure , western and family horses.

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