The word "draft" refers to any horse use for pulling heavy loads. The Budweiser Clydesdales are probably the most famous and well-known horses of this type. The magnificent animals depicted in this portrait have been competing in a "pulling" contest -- dragging a load of several thousand pounds on a stone boat or sledge. The usual distance the load is dragged in one pull is just over 27 feet. The team has been disconnected from the stone boat after a pull and only the connecting harness is shown. To paint this type of "active" portrait realistically and convincingly demands more than usual attention to detail, particularly regarding the anatomy, motion, and harness particulars of each horse.