Ain’t ever gonna be a “perfect world” so people like us get to clean up the messes.
We have lots of drafts hereabouts, too but they thrive.
[there’s more Perchs, Belgians and Suffolks standing around here than in Amish country, I swear...I have no idea what the flatlanders are *doing* with them...lawn ornaments, maybe, as you said]...LOL
Mostly expensive lawn ornaments here, but some people have them for nice gentle saddle horses, as well. No one ever seems to use them to pull or haul any thing, though-that is what tractors are for...
The heavy horses do okay here as long as they have shade and plenty of water in the summer. One of the families up the road has a gray Percheron mare-pretty horse-their teenage daughter rides her on the road and the hiking trails on weekends.
There is a Clydesdale ranch about 10 miles from here, too-they have fancy barns that have A/C and all-they also have several retired Bud horses as residents.