The North American Belgian Championship (NABC) 8 happens once every four years – and this year's gathering is ongoing through Saturday, Oct. 15. The draft breed and all those who love these beauties will show off at Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield, Mass. The public is invited; admission is free and so is parking.

The backstory to this event: Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America and the Canadian Belgian Horse Association made a pact to have a premiere championship show in North America every four years to showcase the best of the best, alternating the shows between locations in Canada and the United States to provide a premium show for Belgian horse breeders on both sides of the border.

In 1988, the first North American Belgian Championship was held in conjunction with the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto, Ontario. As per the agreement, the 1992 show went Stateside to Lexington, Kentucky before coming back to Brandon, MB in 1996 for NABC III for a very successful show. The show in 2000 was held in Columbus, Ohio, and in 2004 it went to London, Ontario; NABC VI was held in Indianapolis, Indiana; NABCVII came back to Brandon for 2012.

For more information visit www.nabc8.com.

Fast Facts: Did you know?

Belgian Draft Horses outnumber all other draft breeds combined in the United States.

History shows that Belgians are the most direct lineal descendants of the “Great Horse” of medieval times.

The Belgian came to the United States from the country of Belgium, located in Europe.

A Belgian foal will weight about 125 pounds when born and will nurse from its mother for about 5 months.

An adult Belgian can weigh more than one ton. That is in excess of 2,000 pounds!

Belgians can be 18 hands and taller in height.

Color has changed drastically from the early Belgian. Black, gray, red roans with black points, browns and bays have given way to the predominant colors of today which are blonde, sorrel, roans with light points and chestnuts. In all of these colors there are different variations. The white manes and tails are the most desirable. The white stripe is also sought after. This will vary in width also.

Most all the colors do have light colored legs. This does not necessarily mean that the horse has white socks. White socks are more desirable to some people than others.

Source: Belgian Draft Horse Corporation of America

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Big means big.

Currently, the world's tallest horse – according to Guinness World Records (2013) – is a Belgian Draft horse named Big Jake, a gelding born in 2000. He stands 20 hands, 2 and three-quarters inches high (that is 6 feet 11 inches).

From the GWR story profile: “He is friendly with all the other animals,” says Jerry. “He has a great temperament and and works hard when he is harnessed to a wagon.”

There's a lot of accommodation to be made for such a large animal, too. “Everything has to be big! His stall is 20X20 feet when an average stall is about 12X12 feet… when we transport him we have to use a semi trailer.”

While there's a lot of food that could fit in that stall, Big Jake is on a strictly healthy diet, consuming 1 1/2 bales of hay and 40 quarts of oats per day.

“We are proud to hold the record and enjoy the people who visit the farm,” said Jerry. “We enjoy the reactions and when people leave our farm happy from the experience of seeing Jake.”