The Italian Heavy Draft is also referred to as the Italian Agricultural Horse originating in the northern part of Italy principally the area of Venetia, in the plain enclosed by the Dolomites and Julian Alps to the north and Slovenia to the east. The Italian breeders wanted to improve the stock in the 19th and early 20th century so they imported the Belgian Draft or Brabant and crossbred them resulting in a too heavy and too slow workhorse. To correct this problem the breeders imported the Percheron and the Boulonnais to lightened up the stock and improve the action of the horse. However the stock still fell short of what they wanted. The common Italian mares were then crossed with the quick-moving Breton that produced the ideal type needed for the Italians small farms for driving carts and draft work. This horse was smaller than the Belgian, yet strong, docile, and had speed.The Italian Heavy Draft is similar to the Avelignese mountain horse, which is its neighbor and has a similar outline as well as usually retaining the Aveligneses striking coat color. The Italian Heavy Draft stands on average 15 to 16 hh. These horses are still in demand as an agricultural horse but are increasingly being replaced with machinery. A favorable feature of the Italian Heavy Draft is that it matured faster and gave an advantage for it being produced for meat as well as its working ability.