The big contest of the city of Aalst

text William Tuypens

 

The contest is an organisation of the city of Aalst and the royal agricultural comice of Aalst, the Flemish breeders of the Belgian draught horse and the Flemish Haflingerclub.

HISTORY

IMG_8398

Aalst, the Dender region and draught horses have been incontrovertibly connected since ages. The breeding farm of a real Belgian thoroughbred dates from the beginning of the 17th century. In 1615 the first stage coaches were taken in use. These required very energetic and strong horses for their long journeys. Around 1770 Karel Van Lotharingen creates stallion depots, among them in Aalst. In order to improve the type of draught horse to a more required agricultural horse. Herefor he imports stallions from different breeds, but the result is disappointing. The depots were shut down in exeption of Aalst. Around 1775 roughly twenty Shires were imported from the English breeder Bakewell. These horses proofed to be excellent breeding stallions and became the far ancestors of the Belgian draught horses.

 

THOROUGHBRED

IMG_4636Meanwhile the Belgian draught horse is the base for about every other draught horse race and is still world famous. The Belgian draught horse is the thoroughbred among the draught horses. By the mechanization of agriculture the numbers of draught horses had a big fallback. Approximately there are still around 6000 specimen. Would you like to behold the exquisite of this draught horse stock, then come visit our yearly show of grace, nobility and beauty in all it’s simplicity. Meanwhile the Flemish Haflingerclub examines their beautiful family horse and gives away free rides on their horses. Small children can take a tour on the flying carpet, a tour on a chariot or pose on the back of one of these tough draught horses.

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_4659

Back to fixed assets