Captive Scientist
To some in this highly mechanized generation, promotion of a breed of draft horses may, at first glance, seem to be a fruitless task. However, we of the American Cream Draft Horse Association have not found this to be true. Even in this day and age there are many who still admire good draft horses. They not only enjoy working with a dependable team, but find them indispensable as well. When seeking to purchase a good farm or show team we honestly believe there is nothing to be found that will surpass our American Creams.
Hockett's mares on duty
The American Cream horse is strictly of draft breeding and must not be confused with Palominos or other light breeds. Our records, tracing back with absolute accuracy to the beginning of the twentieth century, do not indicate any other than draft breeding.
By the late fifties, forty-five members had registered 200 animals. For a breed with so small a membership and less than ample numbers of registered animals, the events of the late forties nearly wiped out the American Cream breed of draft horses.
As word of the breed having been placed on the "endangered breed"" list surfaced, owners and breeders were challenged to once again come together as an Association and replenish the numbers of this great American Cream draft horse.
Breeders/owners of American Creams today are no longer concentrated in the Mid-west as they formerly were. We now have breeders from the East to the West Coast and from the North to the South Coast.
The ideal American Cream is a medium cream color with white mane and tail, pink skin and amber colored eyes. Some white markings are also very desirable. Pink skin is the determining factor in securing this rich cream color. Past experience has proved that dark-skinned Creams often do not have a satisfactory color. Further when mated with our American Creams, they generally produce too light or nearly white offspring. Therefore, our chief and most sought for strain of American Creams has always carried the pink skin trait. These vary but little in color throughout the year and the white markings contrast beautifully with their rich cream color.
The amber eyes are also an unusual and distinguishing trait of the American Creams. The colts are foaled with nearly white eyes. In a short time they begin to darken and by maturity have turned to an amber color.
ClarAnn Cindy #247, Judy #270, Cathy #248, & Lady #215
The American Cream draft horse may be classified as a medium-heavy draft type. The ideal mature weight of females is 1600 pounds and height of sixteen hands. Ideal mature weight of stallions is 1800 to as much as a ton and height of sixteen to sixteen-three hands. We feel this size most desirable. With their type and action, they make good show horses and also are of a size that fits into the average person's plans.
A characteristic of these horses, which makes a lasting impression on those who have handled them, is their good disposition. The person who keeps a team wants one not only trustworthy, but one in which they can take pride as well. They will, therefore, be pleased to note the uniformity in color and type of the American Creams, making for easily matched teams.
C.W. Creamy Easter Sunrise #258 & C.W. Cream de la Creme #259
(Photo Credit: John H. Shelly II)
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 they are only draft horse originated and recognized as a breed in the United States.
Our breed has 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 in 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 has been improved while the color has been maintained.
JD's Nellie #262 & Sally #260
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 is the only draft breed which originated in the United States. They descended from a draft mare with an outstanding cream color who appeared at a farm auction in Story County, Iowa in the early 1900's. She was purchased by Harry Lakin, a well-known stock dealer, and foaled several cream colored foals on the Lakin farm. The foals were in great demand and sold for above-average prices. A veterinarian, Eric Christian, saw the mare and offspring at the farm of Nelson Brothers and was interested in the possibilities of creating a new breed of these attractive draft horses.
Beattie's Dolly #266 & Daffy #227
Nelson's Buck, No. 2, arrived in the spring of 1920, and became the first known stallion of the breed. He was just as true a cream as his dam, Old Granny, even though his sire was a black Percheron. The only son of Nelson's Buck, No. 2, to be registered, was Yancy, No. 3. He was foaled in about 1923 to a black Percheron mare. Eureka, No. 4, and Knox 1st, No. 5, were the only two Creams sired by Yancy. Knox 1st was foaled in 1926 by a bay grade Shire mare.
In 1931, Silver Lace, No. 9, sired by Knox 1st and out of a light sorrel, Farceur bred, Belgian mare was foaled and was to have the greatest influence of any on the breed. He was bred and raised by G. A. Lenning and was 16 hands, cream colored coat, pink skin, hazel eyes, white mane and tail, and a narrow blaze running down his face. At maturity he weighed 2,230 pounds. The Lennings saved him from the auction block during the depression days by hiding him in the barn of a neighbor. In order to stand Silver Lace for stud service to the public the State Department of Agriculture required a certificate of soundness and a permit which could not be issued to other than a registered stallion of a recognized breed. American Creams were not recognized until 1950. Shares were sold in the Silver Lace Company which then assured the shareholders stud service as all owned the stallion jointly.
Silver Lace #9 Sired by Knox 1st #5
By 1935, C. T. Rierson, of Radcliffe, Iowa, proceeded to buy all the good cream mare foals sired by Silver Lace that he could find for sale. He used these mares to create a new breed of these beautiful draft horses. The records of their ancestry were available and, with the help of afore-mentioned breeders, were used to create the registry.
In 1944, several owner/breeders met to organize a new association. Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws were composed for a second meeting which met in March of 1944. Both were accepted and The American Cream Draft Horse Association of America was begun with a total of twenty members. C.T. Rierson was elected president and remained president until his untimely death in 1957. The Charter was issued on July 11, 1944 by the Secretary of the State of Iowa. In November, 1948 they were recommended for recognition by the National Stallion Enrollment board and in February, 1950 they were recognized as standard by the Iowa Department of Agriculture. This gave them all the privileges granted to older established breeds in the state.
4 horse hitch of mares shown by C.T. Rierson
Breed standards for American Cream Draft Horses state: Light, medium or dark cream color coat on pink skin, white mane and tail and amber or hazel eyes. Foals eyes are almost white the first year. White markings on face and legs are desirable. 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.
Topsy & Queen No. 49 & #50 sired by Knox 1st
Creams exhibit a refined head, well proportioned to body with wide-set, large, intelligent eyes, small expressive ears and a flat nose profile. Creams are short coupled with well-muscled hindquarters; wide chest; good sloping shoulder; short, strong back; deep through 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.
Contrary to public belief, the best color is obtained by matings of a Cream sire and a Cream dam. Experience has taught that the more cream breeding to be found in their background, the surer we are of a desired color. The Cream color is transmitted from generation to generation. It does not run out. There are still foals born nearly white, turning darker as they grow; some with dark skin, and even fewer have flaxen mane and tail. These are good individuals and the females will be registered in the Association as foundation stock, even though they are not true American Creams. In 1998, on the advice of D. Phillip Sponenberg, DVM, PHD Professor, Pathology and Genetics; Chair of Technical Panel; American Minor Breeds Conservancy, Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Blackburg, VA. the members voted to begin Tracking Records on other than cream colored females with Cream breeding. At present, the percentage of Cream colts foaled when both parents are Cream stands at 75%. It is believed that mating the females being Tracked to a Cream sire could produce Creams although conceivably a smaller percentage.
ClarAnn Dick 4 years of age
In 1982, three families owning American Cream Draft Horses and the secretary, met and reorganized the association and opened the Registry. The membership renewed the Charter in 1994 as the American Cream Draft Horse Association. Thru 1998, seventy memberships have been granted and 227 animals have been registered. There are forty-nine associate members interested in the association and the breed but not owners who help to make possible the ongoing education of the public.
The American Minor Breeds Conservancy placed the American Cream Draft on the list of "endangered breeds" and interest continues to grow in rebuilding the numbers. In 1990, Dr. E. Gus Cothran, Director of Equine Blood Typing Research Laboratory of the University of Kentucky, contacted owners offering to blood type their animals. He was comparing the genetic relationship among domestic horse breeds. His results stated that "compared with other draft breeds and based upon gene marker data, the Creams form a distinct group within the draft horses. The Creams are no more similar to the Belgian than they are to Suffolks, Percherons or Haflingers." Many had thought that the Cream was only a color breed, but this research proved otherwise.
Members/breeders are located from Maine to Florida and from California to Washington as well as many states between. A Herd Book was printed in 1997 and is available to members. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation in Williamsburg, VA. underwrites the cost of a Cream Newsletter which is sent to members and associate members without charge. Karen Smith of the Carriage & Livestock Department is the editor and works with the printing department in preparing it for mailing.
| History of the Association | ||
| Articles of Incorporation | American Cream Statistics | News Articles |
| Forms | American Cream Draft Links |