While the term “draft horse” conjures images of massive Clydesdales and Belgians, the category covers a variety of breeds and sizes. It’s more based on build — heavy bone, short back, muscular shoulders, thick neck and strong hindquarters.

So the horses that competed at the fair Friday included a Norwegian fjord and a trio of gypsy vanners, both of similar height to quarter horses.

The fjord, Julie, wound up as reserve champion and later helped 11-year-old Emma Kyllonen of Iron River win the youth show.

“They’re not giant, but they’re a decent size,” Kyllonen said of the fjord, which are among the most distinctive breeds with their dun color, upstanding mane and black dorsal stripe that runs from forelock down the mane and back through the tail.

SWEET MERCY, A 7-year-old Clydesdale mare owned and shown by Kelly White, won both best older mare and the grand champion title overall in the draft horse show at the Dickinson County Fair. Julie, a Norwegian fjord mare shown by Missy Spade, took reserve champion both among the mares and overall in the show. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

The 5 1/2-year-old fjord belongs to Kyllonen’s grandparents, Jim and Deb DalSanto of Channing, who sometimes use her for buggy rides, Kyllonen said.

Youth runner-up was Olivia Coron, almost 9, a third-grader at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Norway who said she likes anything that “involves horses.” Her family has 13, all but three of which are gypsy vanners. Annabelle, the buckskin paint vanner Coron showed, is due to have her second foal in February, said Olivia’s stepmother, Annaka Coron.

The family — which includes father Tim and 2-year-old son T.J. — also had a couple yearlings in the show from their Pike Hill Gypsy Vanners farm in Amberg, Wis. Annaka Coron said they were drawn to the flashy breed’s “beauty, their long mane and the feathering on their feet,” referring to the hair that can cover their hooves.

They are good movers, whether being ridden or carting, she said.

In the end, however, the big winner in the draft show was a big horse: Sweet Mercy, a 7-year-old Clydesdale mare owned and shown by Kelly White of White’s Farm in Dunbar, Wis.

She is White’s only draft horse, keeping company with an Appaloosa gelding.

White had to travel to Ohio to get her as a 3-year-old. Despite having a high profile as the mascot for Budweiser beer, Clydesdales are becoming a rare breed, she said. Draft horses in general lost a lot of status when replaced by machinery in agriculture, logging and other outdoor work. Few people still have buggies, wagons or carts.

White has never used her in harness but does ride her, both English and western style. “I’m a big girl, so I like a big horse,” she explained, “and she’s a smooth-riding horse.”

Sweet Mercy was reserve champion last year, the first time she competed at the Dickinson County Fair. White had hopes she, like vanner Annabelle, would be pregnant after breeding her for the first time earlier this year but it didn’t take.

Despite her imposing size, the mare is extremely gentle, White said — a trait common to draft horses.

“She’s a big baby,” White said. “My 2-year-old nephew can go in and give her treats.”

The five-day Dickinson County Fair concluded late Monday afternoon.