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The Italian Heavy Draft, or Rapid Heavy Draft, is a draft horse from Italy. Generally chestnut in color, the breed is known for its combination of strength and speed. Its development traces to 1860 and continued through the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its versatility has led to its use in both agricultural and military capacities, as well as for the production of mules. In the 1970s, selective breeding goals were changed to produce a horse suitable for meat production, which today remains the primary use of the Italian Heavy Draft.