The "Cream" of Draft Horses

The Only Breed of Draft Horses Originated in America

THE AMERICAN CREAM DRAFT HORSE

Origination

   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 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.

   Description

    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 16 to 16.3 hands and 1800 pounds and up.

    Creams exhibit a refined head, well proportioned to body with wide-set, large, intelligent eyes, 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 and 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 close 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.

The Association

    In the Spring of 1944, a group of interested breeders met in Iowa Falls, Iowa and laid plans for forming the American Cream Horse Association of America. Directors and officers were elected and negotiations to obtain a charter were begun. On July 11, 1944, the charter was granted by the State of Iowa. Under this charter, registrations and transfers are made.

    In November, 1948, we were recommended for recognition by the National Stallion Enrollment Board. On February 15, 1950, we were recognized as standard by the Iowa Department of Agriculture. This gives us all the privileges granted to older established breeds in the state.

    Following the untimely death of the president, C. T. Rierson, in 1957, registrations and transfers steadily declined. By-Laws stated that after five years no animal would be registered unless both sire and dam were Registered American Creams. applications for registrations fail to verify that the ruling ever went into effect.

    In 1982, three member families and the secretary met to reorganize. It was voted to continue to allow females with dark skin to be registered while retaining the ruling that stallions must have pink skin.

    In July 1994, Restated Articles of Incorporation resulted in the name change to The American Cream Draft Horse Association.

    Since reorganization, 270 animals have been registered with 235 known to be alive. 107 persons have become members with 77 now enjoying membership and owning American Cream Draft Horses. (2000 statistics)

    The members have pledged themselves to develop and improve, by careful study and breeding, the breed of horses known as the American Cream Draft horse and to make and preserve accurate records of the breeding and ancestry of these horses.

    In an effort to obtain these goals, the Herd Book has been made available without cost to the members. Each American Cream horse, owned by a member, eligible for registration, must first be registered and, if sold, transferred to the new owner.

    To improve communications among the membership and to keep abreast of new developments, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation of Williamsburg, Virginia, underwrites the cost of publishing and mailing the American Cream Newsletter to members and to the National Sporting Library. A member of the Association, assisting in the Coach & Livestock Division of the Foundation, is the editor.

    As word of the breed having been placed on the "endangered breeds" list surfaced, owners and breeders accepted the challenge to come together as an association and replenish the numbers of this great American Cream Draft horse.

    Blood testing has established that, compared with other draft breeds and based upon gene marker data, the American Creams form a distinct group within the draft horses.

    The Association has put in place regulations for Artificial Insemination and also Embryo Transfer and the registration of foals resulting from these services. Members on the east and west coast are now offering A.I.

    Guidelines for showing American Creams have been developed and several shows have made classes where the Creams may compete.

    Youth member families are encouraged to apply for enrollment in Youth Draft Horse Clinics where training is taught which is not available to them locally.

AMERICAN CREAM DRAFT HORSE ASSOCIATION