[Kat]

Is it common for a lot of people to ride draft horses? I came upon an article a while back about more people riding those "big" horses, instead of using them for carting etc.
Anyone here ride drafts? If so what type of riding do you do?Just curious....THANKS

Kat pony

[::Miss Kitty::]

A woman I knew trained her shire for dressage. She looks surprisingly graceful with those big feathered feet!

[belle4]

I had 2 drafts in training for 7 months. The mare was a paint, belgin shire cross, 17.2 hand, 5 years old and broke to single harness. She was very gentle, but really clumbsy. Easy to handle, lunge, saddle, work around, vet, etc. The gelding was a 17.3 hand, 3 year old belgin, percheron cross paint, unbroke. He was also easy to break. By the end of the 7 months my daughters, age 10 and 12 could ride both of the drafts bareback, with a halter, walk, trot, and canter. The biggest difference I found is the delayed reaction time they have. You know when you talk to someone on the phone in another country and there is that dead air space before the other person hears what you said? It's like that with the drafts. They do not have quick reflexes. You apply the cue and 3 seconds later you get a response. They were both the smoothest horses I have ever ridden. The term gentle giant does apply. The mare was broader about 2200 lbs. The gelding was taller, but not as built. He still had some growing to do at 2000 lbs.

<small>[ January 01, 2004, 07:34 PM: Message edited by: belle4 ]</small>

[luvmypercheron]

once moose is old enough i'll ride him western for sure! maybe do other things later. he's a perchie. we'll ride our other perch (blind in one eye) western also....and our pinto x belgian/perch cross. yay!

[Fine 'n dandy]

I have a QH gelding and a Pony...shes got QH in her too but i dont know what else...i know people who ride drafts but i dont have any.

[LadyJumper]

Right know i am riding a Clyde/TB mix. He is so wonderful to ride. He is always on cue except when i try to ask him for a extended trot. It take awhile to to the extended trot with him.

[monica-n-shiloh]

A friend of mine and me were going to ride some belgians in Dressage At Saratoga, but then her mom cancelled on us.
I was upset because we practiced really hard, but oh well, we still had a blast!! There is something about riding a draft...you feel so powerful, invincible, unstoppable...I could go on all day. I love it! Thats why I want drafts! I wanna ride em all!! Go down the road and stop traffic! Make people look and go "whoa...that thing would total my car." LOL applaud woot!

[kaitlyn]

i kno a draft horse by the name of buddy...or i used to...he was at the farm where i bought my baby and he was beautiful....he was a narrower built draft but they rode him to teach their neighbor how to ride western running_ red_hors

[Kat]

That is so cool. They sound like so much fun. I keep hearing the greatest things about them. I guess you could call them gentle giants! Hmm, I know what my next horse will be....lol.

Thanks guys for the info...I really appreciate it.

PS- I know its hard to "speak for breed", but are most pretty quiet on the ground. Or atleast what most of you know, how are your drafts on the ground?

Kat

[monica-n-shiloh]

All I've known were pretty gentle. Most are raised that way. They are too big to be running over people because...well....they could do just that! Literally!