Statue of Brillant, the 'Drawing Horse' of which Brabant is proud...
History in a nutshell:
A number of shrewd gentlemen farmers realized the valuable role for the economy at that time (agriculture, railway construction, mining,...) of a strong horse breed. They bought the best foals from stables with a good bloodline and crossed them, which eventually resulted in the Brabander, officially known as the Belgian draft horse. The Belgian draft horse is the result of a cross between the Flemish horse, the Ardennes horse and the Brabander, so truly 'made in Belgium'.
At the end of the 19th century, the Belgian draft horse acquired an international reputation. Such a reputation that the export of thousands of draft horses to just about the entire world was one of Belgium's most important export products until the First World War.
Brillant was a son of Orange I and won quite a few prizes on international horse markets. This stallion came from one of the four breeding stables of Belgian draft horses that gave Vollezele and the surrounding area fame far beyond the Belgian borders. Brillant produced countless descendants.
At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century, more than 20,000 Belgian draft horses were sold and transported abroad. Here too, the draft horse remained an indispensable force in agriculture for a long time to come. If after 1950 the tractor makes the draft horse completely obsolete, the draft horse population declines very quickly: From 200,000 in 1950 to barely 6,000 in 1980! There are now a few thousand more because horse lovers are breeding them again for driving.
The statue of Brillant welcomes many visitors to the Museum of the Brabant Draft Horse.