The Arctic Circle Draft

Horses of the North

Group Information and Rules

Welcome to Arctic Circle Drafts! This is a fictional breed of draft horses inspired by real horses. We aim to be inclusive and welcoming to all players and art styles, and as laid back as we can be. No activity requirements need to be met to participate in our group! These horses are free to create, and we value character development and art improvement over all else.

General Rules

- Please respect each other and treat other players with kindness. Harassment, rude attitudes, and bigotry are not tolerated in any of our spaces.
- Do not offer critique or advice on artwork or writing unless the artist specifically asks.
- Tracing of stock images is allowed, but they must be linked in the artwork itself. Tracing or referencing of non-stock photography is not permitted.
- Tracing of artwork is not permitted in this group.
- Pre-made lineart is allowed to be used, however you must give proper credit and link to the original creator in addition to following any other rules they have.
- Artwork content may not be gory, sexual, or in any other way breach DA terms of service.
- Use of the ACD lineart and backgrounds is only permitted in the group itself. These assets are only allowed to be hosted in the ACDRegistry gallery or in a player's personal sta.sh. Please do not reupload colored lineart to your own gallery.
- Credits on the ACD lineart/background must remain intact if you are to use it.
- ACDs can be bred with other horse breeds, but these offspring cannot be registered in the group, nor do they need breeding approval or design approval.

Getting an ACD

Obtaining an Arctic Circle Draft horse is easy! This is a semi-open breed, meaning that they are free to create with some marking restrictions.Making your ACD from scratch: If you wish to create a horse from scratch, you may do so. This horse will have no lineage and is limited to unrestricted markings only. Worry not, unrestricted marks can still create beautiful characters! Head over to the Design Approval page to get started.Breeding: Breeding is a great way to get an ACD. A bred horse will have lineage and a chance at restricted marks if the parents have one or a mutation! For more information on how to breed, see the Breeding page!Restricted Customs: These customs are similar to making your horse from scratch, except they can contain restricted markings or mutations. These customs are only sold at specific times or won in contests.

Breed Information

Breed History

The Arctic Circle Draft originated in Alaska and Northern Canada as a cold weather workhorse. Foundation breeds for this horse include the Irish Cob, Shire, Noriker Horse, Percheron, and Clydesdale.

Breed Standard

The Arctic Circle Draft is a heavy, powerful horse, with a thick barrel and strong legs. They have large feet and small ears, with long feathering down to the strong hooves. The nose is thick roman shape. During the winter months, this breed sports a thick coat of fur. An untrimmed mane can reach down to the forearm of the horse. Ideal height is between 17 to 19 hands tall.Maintenance on this breed increases in hotter temperatures, and they are not ideal for lower latitudes. The mane and tail can be trimmed for various work and still fit breed standard, and the feathering can be shaved.An Arctic Circle Draft is a kind, gentle horse. They are not reactive, nor are they prone to bucking, kicking, or rearing. Despite their gentle nature, they are not suited for a beginner rider or driver due to their power. They are built well for farm work and pulling, but can also make reliable trail mounts. With right training, these horses can turn heads in a dressage ring, and can be convinced to pop over jumps. They have an easy to sit, smooth trot with a flowing canter.

Design Guide and Approval

Design Basics

While we aim to be very relaxed in design approvals, there are some rules that should be followed.- Imports may either be made on the official group pre-made lines, or your own artwork. Other lines may not be used.
- Backgrounds are not required, but encouraged! You may use the pre-made background.
- Imports can be shaded and contain tack, but tack and shading should not obscure or hide markings.
- Import artwork or descriptions may not contain anything vulgar, obscene, or offensive.
- Designs may be done by yourself or another artist, but credit must be given.Before submitting your design, please post your completed design to sta.sh. If you are using the pre-made lineart or background, do not post it to your personal gallery.In the description of your sta.sh file, copy and paste the import information. All the (leave blank)s should be removed and the fields should be bolded. If your horse has a lineage, fill it out. From scratch horses do not have a lineage.You can find the import information here!

Restricted and Unrestricted Markings

Due to the nature of the breed, some markings and genes are restricted. ACDs can be any base coat seen in horses. Unrestricted markings can be added recessively to a horse made from scratch for free, and in a bred horse can be added by choice so long as one parent has the gene. Restricted markings and mutations may not be added to a horse made from scratch without special permission, and are rolled for in breedings so long as one or more parents have the gene.To view a list of markings, visit the Genetics page!

Group Pre-Made Lines and Background Rules

For ease of members, we do offer a pre-made lineart! This lineart is optional, but can be used for your horse, however several rules must be followed.- This lineart is only for use in ACD and may not be used to make random adoptables.
- You may pick any mane/tail or combo.
- The lineart may be edited.
- The background may be swapped for a background of your own, however the file size must remain the same and the lineart credit must stay.
- The background may be used in ACD designs that do not use the pre-made lineart, but the credit must remain.
- Neither background nor lineart may be uploaded into player galleries.To download the group lineart, click here!

Getting your Design Approved

If you are ready to submit your design, please head over to the Design Approval thread and fill out the form there!If an admin sends you to corrections, please navigate here!
Do NOT delete the previous design's sta.sh file!

Need Help With Your Design?

While you are allowed to make and submit your own design, we understand that isn't possible for everyone! For this reason, our admin, ordinaryredtail, is offering free design transfers to the ACD official lines. Terms below:- The design credits will read ordinaryredtail
- The interior lines will be colored with black exterior lines
- The ACD official background will be used
- No changes will be made to the lineart itself, including trimming feathering or making new manes/tails.
- A phenotype MUST be picked out
- You must state what mane and tail you want, including forelock.
- If you have any specific requests for the design, please say so.
- You are allowed to submit an initial design on any lineart!
- This service is completely voluntary and is subject to change or end without warning!One design will be given to you for approval, in which case you can request changes.If you wish to place a design request, please comment here!

Breeding Approval

How Breeding Works in ACD

Breeding in ACD is fairly laid back. Horses have unlimited slots, and unrestricted markings are free to use so long as one of the parents has the mark.In order to keep restricted markings, mutations, and homozygous markings rarer, these are rolled for using RNG.
Homozygous markings can only be rolled for if both parents have the marking. If both parents are homozygous, the foal may have the marking for free.Roll Rates
Homozygous Unrestricted: 50% chance of rolling a dominant
Restricted: 10% chance of rolling
Homozygous Restricted: 3% chance of rolling
Mutation: 1% chance of rolling in any breedingOnce your restricted markings and mutations are rolled for, you can get to designing your new foal!

Request a Breeding

In order to give a user permission to breed, reply to the "Breeding Tracker" comment on your import with the other player tagged!In order to request a breeding, reply to this thread here!

Import Information Changes

Import information can be changed on this thread. This includes:
- Import ownership
- Name and barn name
- Stable and rider information
- Height and age
- Build and personalityYour import image can also be changed and added to. If you wish to change your import image, it must follow all the design rules and resemble the same horse.Some information cannot be changed. This includes:
- Genotype, phenotype, and carriers
- Ownership history
- ID Number
- Gender
- LineageIf you wish to make a change to your import or transfer it to another user, please use this thread!

Genetics

Base Coats

Chestnut: ee/any a
Black: Ee or EE/aa
Bay, Wild Bay, or Seal Bay: Ee or EE/Aa or AA

Unrestricted Markings

Grey: G
Flaxen: FF (F carries, only in Chestnuts)
Silver: Z (only in Black or Bay)
Sooty: Sty
Pangare: Pn
Sabino: Sb1
Tobiano: ToAppaloosa Complex
Varnish, Snowflake: Lp
Leopard, Blanket: Lp/PTNNon-Genetic Markings
White Facial Markings
White Leg Markings
Dapples
Lacing
Injury White Markings

Restricted Markings

Cream: Cr
Pearl: PrlPrl (Prl carries)
Dun: D
Champagne: Ch
Rabicano: Rb
Roan: Rn
Overo: O (OO is lethal)
Splash: Spl
Dominant White: W (WW is lethal)Appaloosa Complex
Fewspot, Snowcap: LpLp/PTN
Peacock: Lp/PTN
Although genetically the same as blanket appaloosa, this expression can only pass if parents are peacock as well.

Mutation Markings

These markings do not pass in breedings hereditarily and are rolled at random with every breeding. They are not free to create in customs without permission.Brindle
Birdcatcher
Somatic