This tool lets you compare two breeds of horses, ponies, or donkeys in the blink of an eye. See their geographical origins, heights, and weights to better understand each type of equine.
Origin:
The Auxois Draft Horse originates from the natural region of Auxois, located in the heart of Burgundy, in the current Côte-d’Or department (21), France. This area, characterized by rolling hills, preserved hedgerows, and rich pastures, provides an ideal environment for raising strong and rustic horses. The temperate continental climate supports a sustainable form of agriculture historically centered on livestock breeding.
– Region of origin: Burgundy, mainly around Semur-en-Auxois and Saulieu
– Department: Côte-d’Or
– Climate: Temperate continental, favorable to livestock farming
– Landscape: Hedgerow countryside, natural pastures, gentle hills
Cultural Origin :
The Auxois Horse is deeply rooted in Burgundian rural culture. It emerged in the 19th century from the crossbreeding of local mares with heavy draft stallions particularly the Boulonnais, Ardennais, and especially the Trait du Nord — with the goal of producing a powerful, docile, and agriculturally useful horse.
– Traditional use: Agricultural work, heavy traction, deep plowing
– Socio-economic role: A pillar of peasant economy before mechanization
– Regional symbol: Embodies the quiet strength and agricultural know-how of Burgundy
– Contemporary value: Now promoted as a living heritage, especially through ecological traction, leisure activities, and agrotourism
The Auxois region remains the birthplace of the breed, where breeders, local authorities, and enthusiasts work actively to ensure its preservation and its recognition as a strong element of regional identity.
Height: 165 – 175 cm
Weight: 800 – 1100 kg
Origin:
The Cape Horse is an old South African breed, resulting from crossbreeding between oriental horses (notably Arab-Barb), Criollo, and European breeds imported by settlers from 1652 onward. Developed in the Cape Colony region, it accompanied the expansion of Boer settlers during the Great Trek. Rustic, enduring, and resistant to disease, the breed is closely tied to the history of colonization and the Anglo-Boer wars. Its extinction around 1900 makes it today a symbolic and historically significant lost breed in South African equine heritage.
Height: 140 – 155 cm
Weight: 400 – 500 kg
