American Cream Draft Horse
Where did the American Cream originate? This is the question most frequently asked by those seeing them for the first time.
We Point with pride to the fact that the American Cream Draft Horse is the only draft horse originated and recognized as a breed in the United States.
Our breed descended from a draft type mare with an outstanding cream color. This mare of unknown ancestry was located in Central Iowa during the early part of the twentieth century. She has left her stamp on the horse world as the founder of a breed of horses distinctly and consistently resembling herself in color and type. By mating her offspring to other well-known draft breeds, the type and quality have been improved while the color has been maintained.
From the first, they were admired by all who saw them. It was not until approximately 1935 that any special effort was put forth to make a distinct breed of them. At that time, a few foresighted men began line breeding and inbreeding with the hopes of establishing a new draft breed.
The American Cream horse is strictly of draft breeding and must not be confused with palominos or other light breeds. Our records, tracing back to the beginning of the twentieth century, do not indicate any other than draft breeding.
Breed Standards for American Cream Draft horses call for light, medium or dark cream color on pink skin, white mane and tail, and amber or hazel eyes. Foal's eyes are almost white the first year. White markings on face and legs are desirable. Creams have long manes and tails, and tails are not docked.
Mature (five years) height and weight of females is 15 to 16 hands and 1500 to 1600 pounds. Mature height and weight of males (five years) is sixteen to sixteen-three hands and 1800 pounds and up.
Creams exhibit a refined head, well proportioned to body with wide-set, large, intelligent eye, small expressive ears and flat nose profile. They are short coupled with well-muscled hindquarters, wide chest, good sloping shoulders, short, strong back; deep throughout the heart girth, ribs well sprung, good strong legs in proportion to body set wide apart with strong, sure feet.
Their movement is smooth and easy, picking up feet and setting squarely on the ground. Their temperament is best described as amiable, easy going, willing, ready to please, and trustworthy.
On Recommendation of D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PHD. Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and Chair of Technical Panel, American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, appendixing of foals with cream breeding too dark to be considered cream is being done. They will be serviced to Creams which we believe will strengthen rather than dilute the cream genes and enable the numbers to increase more rapidly.
Until such time as the books are closed to outside breeding, a cream mare with dark skin and light mane and tail will be accepted for foundation stock. Stallions must, however, have pink skin and white mane and tail to be accepted for registration.
**Excerpt taken from American Cream Draft Horse Association "The Cream of Draft Horses" brochure.**
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