Trait du Nord — Specs and Facts (2026)

About the Trait du Nord

The Trait du Nord, previously also known as Ardennais du Nord or Ardennais de type Nord, is a breed of heavy draft horse developed and bred in the area of Hainaut in western Belgium and in northeastern France. Originally considered a subtype of the Ardennes, it was recognized as an individual breed with the opening of a studbook in 1903. Developed in the fertile Flemish grasslands, it was bred for size and pulling power for agricultural work. By 1855, the horses bred near Hainaut were considered by some veterinarians to be superior to other Flemish draft breeds. The Trait du Nord was used extensively in mining from the late 19th century through 1920, with lesser use continuing through the 1960s.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

More horse breeds from France

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Anglo-Norman horse France Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain

AQPS France Photo: Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0

Auvergne horse France Photo: Stephanemartin · CC BY-SA 3.0

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Barraquand horse France Height 1.45 cm Photo: Michael Barbereau WMFr · CC BY-SA 4.0

Berrichon horse France Height 1.58 cm Photo: Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain

Bidet breton France Photo: Revue Sport universel illustré · Public domain

Other draft horse breeds

Boulonnais France Height 1.5 cmWeight 650 kg Photo: Amélie Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0

Brennou horse France Photo: Eugène Gayot · Public domain

Breton horse France Height 1.55 cmWeight 750 kg Photo: Goulwena MOEL · CC BY-SA 3.0

Camargue horse France Height 1.4 cmWeight 425 kg Photo: Peter Broster · CC BY 3.0

Carrossier noir du Cotentin France Height 1.5 cm Photo: L. Moll & Eug. Gayot · Public domain

Castillonnais France Photo: Tylwyth Eldar · CC BY-SA 4.0

Cauchois horse France Photo: Théodore Géricault · Public domain

Charentais horse France Photo: Rélier Léonard · Public domain

Photo credits17 photographs on this page

Trait du Nord — Eponimm · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Angevin horse — Eugène Gayot · Public domain · file page
Anglo-Norman horse — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
AQPS — Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Auvergne horse — Stephanemartin · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Auxois — Cjp24 crop by Peli · CC BY 3.0 · file page
Barraquand horse — Michael Barbereau WMFr · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Berrichon horse — Wikimedia Commons contributor · Public domain · file page
Bidet breton — Revue Sport universel illustré · Public domain · file page
Boulonnais — Amélie Tsaag Valren · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Brennou horse — Eugène Gayot · Public domain · file page
Breton horse — Goulwena MOEL · CC BY-SA 3.0 · file page
Camargue horse — Peter Broster · CC BY 3.0 · file page
Carrossier noir du Cotentin — L. Moll & Eug. Gayot · Public domain · file page
Castillonnais — Tylwyth Eldar · CC BY-SA 4.0 · file page
Cauchois horse — Théodore Géricault · Public domain · file page
Charentais horse — Rélier Léonard · Public domain · file page

Photographs come from Wikimedia Commons under the licence each one names. How Animalso credits photographs.