The American Cream is the only draft breed to
originate in the United States. The breed descended
from a draft type mare with an outstanding cream
color. ‘Old Granny’ (the first registered American
Cream) appeared at a farm auction in Story County,
Iowa in 1911. Her foaling date has been placed
between 1900 and 1905. She was purchased by a
well-known stock dealer, Harry Lakin, and began to
foal several cream colored colts on the Lakin farm,
all of which sold for above average prices.
C. T. Rierson of Hardin County, Iowa, had become
interested in these attractive, new horses and
began buying all the good cream colts sired by
Silver Lace that he could find for sale. With
the help of the horses’ owners, he meticulously
recorded the ancestry of each horse. In 1944,
Rierson wrote, "They are making a class for them
at the Webster City, Iowa, fair this year. This is
the county in which they originated and it will be
the first time they have been shown in a class by
themselves." It was at one of these fairs that the
inspiration for the name of "American Cream" came to
him. The named seemed particularly appropriate since
these horses are entirely American to the best of
our knowledge and they do have the rich cream color.
Rierson became the founding force behind The
American Cream Horse Association. Thanks to his
persistence, on July 11, 1944, a charter was
issued by the State of Iowa to a group of 20
charter members of The American Cream Horse
Association of America. This action culminated
nearly 40 years of interest in creating a new
breed of draft horse originating in Iowa. In
November, 1948, the National Stallion Enrollment
Board recommended The American Cream Horse
Association of America for recognition. On
February 15, 1950, Creams were recognized as
standard by the Iowa Department of Agriculture,
giving them all the privileges granted to older,
established breeds in the state.
The ideal American Cream is a medium cream color
with white mane and tail, pink skin and amber
eyes. Some white markings are also very
desirable. Pink skin is the determining factor
in securing this rich cream color. Dark-skinned
Creams often do not have a satisfactory color.
Further when mated with other Creams, they
generally produce too light or nearly white
offspring. Therefore, the most sought after
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.
The American Cream draft horse may be classified as
a medium draft type.
The American Cream Draft Horse Foundation began in
1994 for the purpose of promulgation,
preservation, and promotion of this critically
endangered breed. There are currently just over
100 of these horses known to exist in the world.
If you would like more information about this breed,
or would like to find out how you can help save
it, please contact the foundation at the address
or number below.
American Cream
Draft Horse Foundation
Box B 3 38175
Montezuma Valley Rd.
Ranchita, CA 92066
Phone (760) 782-3704
Fax (760) 782-0725
E-mail:
hooves-n-wheels@juno.com
Web Site: www.americancreamdraft.org
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