Draft horses are great for pulling loads. As saddle horses they are sub-optimal for a bunch of reasons.
IMO if you want a saddle horse then find one what will do for you. Leave the drafters to the teamsters. 
G.
I have a 16.2 full draft gelding. He’s got the most laid back personality ever. I went out last month for our first trail ride in over a year (darn being pregnant and having little ones!) and other than being out of shape he didn’t bat an eye. And he is not seasoned by any means. He’s a small step above being green. Can’t beat the draft temperament IMO. However, he is obese on just pasture and everything does cost more. I don’t use a traditional farrier though. I have a local barefoot trimmer who is AWESOME and keeps his feet in tip top shape. I also pay her really well! Luckily the barn where I board here in Colorado also has draft horses so the fencing isn’t an issue. It’s a converted buffalo farm so the hot wire is high and hot. At a previous barn he did rather enjoy rubbing his behind on anything that wasn’t hot so their solution was to run hot wire around it. It worked!
Overall I’d say it depends on the individual horse. Drafts can do CTR but it depends on the horse. Best of luck!
Thank you all for your responses. 
i have an irish draught and he is a doll. no problem with the fencing, just 3 board, he never touches it. he also is great in the heat, no problems. he to has done some eventing, jumpers and fox hunted in ireland before being imported. lovely horse!
The Irish Draught is a wonderful horse, but I think it’s important to point out they are nothing like most American (and English) DRAFT horses, like Perchs, Belgians, Clydes, etc. Like the WB, the RID was bred more to be an all-purpose horse who could do alittle light pulling and then ride to the hounds, jump, etc.
Draft horses were bred to pull heavy loads, period.
I would put the RID more in the category of WBs, rather than “draft” horses.
Yay! Me likey!!! :yes:
Aw, he’s adorable! Let us know how you like him. :yes:
(…p.s. I think Kyzteke is a “draftist”…:uhoh:) LOL!
[QUOTE=JenLS;4998927]
Thank you all for your responses. [/QUOTE]
Getting a trial period is great…and says the owner really wants to be sure the two of you are suited…that is great! I look forward to hearing how it goes.
I have an awesome, gorgeous draft mare…probably 16.2+. I bought her several years ago for my beginner daughter, thinking that she would be laid back and easy. While she does not have a mean bone in her body, she is smaaart, and knows exactly how big she is, and if the rider is unwilling or incapable of being the boss, Dolly is more than willing to handle that job! She was waaay too much horse for a beginner. But she is major eye candy, has ideal draft conformation, is a brilliant mover, and an air fern. My farrier hates to trim her, though she does not need stocks to be trimmed.
I tried several saddles…settled on an Ascot, which is leather, comfortable, inexpensive, and fits her well.
OP, let us know how it goes!
I’ve got a 16.3 Perch/Paintx (mostly Perch). He’s wide and he’s big but I love him. You can see him if you click on my blog link below.
Anyway, I really don’t always understand why people say they had a terrible time finding tack that fit. I mean, finding a Western saddle that fit him? Wasn’t easy, I eventually went treeless. The treed western saddles that fit him best were actually Arab-treed saddles, for the record (and I have a friend with a draft cross who rides in an Arab-treed Simco). But I found an English saddle easily enough (Duett!) and bridles, halters, etc? Not so hard to find, either. Heck, my halters usually buy for less than $10 when they’re on sale at horseloverz. Bits can be problematic. It took me a while to find an eggbutt french link that was 6" wide but there are lots of basic loose ring snaffles out there in the 6" size and for a reasonable price. I’d still like to find something with copper in that size to see how he likes it (he’s kind of mouthy) but I haven’t one across one yet.
Mounting can be a challenge, in that I am not really flexible enough to do so from the ground. But it’s not too difficult to get him to stand next to something for me to mount off of (I’ve mounted off of hay bales, coolers, mounting blocks, logs, fences, plastic chairs, large tractor tires, barrels, and from a leg up).
Drafts definitely can be a challenge for some trail riding if it’s very rough or hilly, or, as we discovered on a camping ride last year: the trails were obviously made with light horses in mind and a few spots were very tight. Plus the branch issue someone else has already mentioned. And the fitness issue. I’ve been on long rides with drafts (long for us is four-five hours) but we mostly walked. I couldn’t say how well they’d hold up to doing mostly trotting during that time but I’d definitely make sure to condition carefully (I mean you should, anyway, but especially with a draft).
Also, keep in mind that a lot of drafts are prone to something called EPSM. It’s not debilitating, in and of itself, typically, but it does require the horse be on a high-fat (not high carb… Resist the sweet feed!) diet. You can read more about it at the link but basically, it means the horse can’t properly metabolize carbs for use by the muscles. My horse is on a high fat diet (it can’t hurt to give the diet, even if you don’t have a definitive diagnosis of EPSM, a lot of horses are diagnosed simply by seeing if they improve when fed a high fat diet) as a preventative measure.
I could ramble on all day on this subject but I’m attempting to restrain myself. Suffice to say, if you’re looking for a pleasure trail riding horse, in many cases, I’d say a draft is one of the best ways you can go. If you want to be really competitive at CTR…I’m not sure a draft is the horse for you but if you wanted to be really competitive I have to imagine you’d know that already?
And, I suppose, full disclosure: I volunteer for a draft horse rescue here in Maryland.
His vet check was yesterday and he failed spectacularly. Low ring bone in both front feet and thin soles. Vet said he’d have to stay shod year round to help keep him comfortable. We didn’t do xrays as she felt he wouldn’t stay sound even with the (imo) little amount of riding I wanted to do.
The draft horse farrier was a couple of hours behind the vet’s appointment. He liked the horse and said he’d be no problem for what I wanted to ride and drive unless I started doing road work on him in which case he’d need full shoes and some special work done to him.
Just to clarify, when I meant the competitive trail riding I wasn’t meaning 25 mile endurance rides. They have competitive rides around here that are about 6 miles and they have obstacles along the way and you’re judged on them.
I have about 2 - 3 days a week that I’d be trail riding around the farm and would hope to be able to haul out and ride occassionally too.
Talked to the owner about it, turns out she was fully aware of the problem, but chose not to mention it.
I’m having a hard time making the decision to return him. I know it’s the rational decision, but I’m emotionally vested now lol.
If anyone wants to chime in with encouragement or a kick in the pants that’s great!
Send him back!!! Just being a draft, doing CTR (even 6 miles) he isn’t the best choice. With his leg issues already… And yeah, the farrier will love you if you do road work with him lol… shoes upon shoes upon shoes. The vet already told you that he won’t stay sound for what you want… it’s not fair to either of you.
OK, I’ll chime in!
Return him, and visit him every now and then with a pocket of carrots.
He’s as cute as a bug’s ear BUT heed your vet’s expert advice. She said the horse wouldn’t stay sound even for the limited amount of riding that you want to do. Why chance it? I know you’re emotionally invested but it’s not fair to this horse. We have to make good, thoughtful decisions on our horse’s behalf and if trail riding him, even just 6 miles, is likely to break him down well, I just don’t think that’s very fair/kind. You don’t sound like an unkind person, I know you like him, but think about what he would want. Sore ankles, legs and feet? Definitely not. Sorry, I don’t mean to sound preachy…
Send him home and visit him with a pocketful of carrots occasionally as Selah mentioned.
There’s your kick in the pants. 
Oh, and P.S., I am the adoring owner of a draft cross so I fully understand how easy it is to fall in love with one. If a draft or draft cross is what you truly want, keep searching and find one that’s better suited to your needs. They’re out there.
[QUOTE=Guilherme;4997143]
Draft horses are great for pulling loads. As saddle horses they are sub-optimal for a bunch of reasons.
IMO if you want a saddle horse then find one what will do for you. Leave the drafters to the teamsters.
G.[/QUOTE]
OP, it is up to you to do what is right, if you want to invest in a horse you may not be able to ride later down the road then that is your option and your time and money. I have a mare who has the start of ring bone and she is as sound as anything right now. Her issues aren’t ring bone at the moment.
And Guilherme, your so off base I actually smiled about drafts being sub optimal and that they should be left to the teamsters. I have two 17.2H Percheron mares and they BOTH do it all, and I ride them a lot. Trixie is very forward and showy under saddle, she enjoys to be worked and to have a job. Smoke, who is registered, also is shown under saddle and does well, she may take a bit of leg but that is her. AND her and I were featured in the Trail Rider Magazine about owners who use their drafts to trail ride as well. So you see, draft horses may have some issues that the owner needs to be educated about when riding but there is no reason why they can’t be ridden.
And after seeing how our oh so wonderful draft club teamsters work their drafts, would rather they be ridden and loved than how they “work” them.
Pant kicker here!!
Seel, I’m not emotionally invested, so my response is to return him ( btw, nice owner…
) and get something sound, but that’s up to you.
Seriously is this a young horse? So are you REALLY willing to feed him for the rest of his life (easily another 10-15 years), invest all that $$$ on his care, shoes, etc. 'cause of his big brown eyes?
And when the ringbone gets worse (let’s say, in another 2-3 years) and he can’t do squat?
AND HOW MUCH HAVE YOU RIDDEN HIM ALREADY? Do you even know if he’s safe out on the trails? Have you even tried him out u/s?
If not, you need to do that several times before you can truly make up your mind.
Honestly, if you want to be a “rescue” then have at it, but if it was me I’d me taking him back.
Not sure what his owner is asking for him, but I sure has heck wouldn’t pay a DIME for him. If she wants to GIVE him to you (good home and all that), then maybe.
Otherwise…hook up the trailer, he’s going home…
Edited to add: I already know you are going to keep him and you are probably actually going to give the owner $$ for him as well. So just do me ONE favor…contact me when you are ready to buy your next horse. You are the kind of buyer we all dream of! :D:winkgrin::lol:
She didnt’ say they couldn’t be ridden – she said they were suboptimal as riding horses…which is true, like it or not.
The issues have been pointed out by many posters here – soundness, tack fit, height, mounting, cost of shoes, lack of nimbleness, inability to condition for trail riding, etc. etc.
That obviously doesn’t mean EVERY draft horse will have these issues, but enough of them do to make them suboptimal as riding horses. I’m sure we could find a poodle who could be a police dog, but not many.:lol:
You aren’t going to find anything in a draft that you can’t find in a well trained, easy going “light horse,” and they wouldn’t have the laundry list of issues (for riding) a draft will.
I’ve put 500lbs of grain in the back of my Geo Metro hatchback, but that doesn’t mean it was meant to haul weight on a regular basis!
[QUOTE=Guilherme;4997143]
Draft horses are great for pulling loads. As saddle horses they are sub-optimal for a bunch of reasons.
IMO if you want a saddle horse then find one what will do for you. Leave the drafters to the teamsters.
G.[/QUOTE]
How offensive (or ignorant).
I am a teamster (as in Smoke in Mirrors).
I drive all the time but I ride all the time too.
Nothing beats a draft horse for riding, in my opinion and certainly, certain lines of Percherons have always been bred for both riding and driving. I currently have 12 Percherons.
Yeh, I have a couple of light horses, I never ride them. Too much of a PITA and I don’t like feeling that low to the ground and they aren’t very smart. I love riding my sherman tanks on trails, we go every where. I love their work ethic. I love how they can think. I love to be able to trail ride or drive. And yeh, sometimes I do serious farm work with my horses.
Today, my seventeen year old son and I put serious miles on two mares, both in the ring and on a trail ride. One of them is going to the Congress in Oct. We had great fun, then I drove another mare to condition her for the World Percheron Congress. Tomorrow, I ride the one I drove today and drive the one I rode today. Right now, we are riding and driving everyday. We will probably hitch a team (maybe unicorn) this weekend also.
I will be riding and driving at the Congress (same time as the WEG and it will be a lot more fun, in my opinion). The World Percheron Congress will have riding and driving class! So, clearly more than a few people, who really work their drafts, think that riding drafts is perfectly fine. We will enter riding, pleasure driving, carriage driving and some farm classes.
We have never had a case of ring bone or side bone in one of our main horses, that we ride or drive. Does it happen? Of course! But draft horses that are used properly, shod properly and those with good conformation, tend to hold up very well. That isn’t to say, that just with all teen-aged horses, it happens. Just as with light horses.
The Percheron Assoc of America has no breed standard. Why? They believe in the versatility of the breed!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7UKz2sZ84Qhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9PrhT66J2Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wH8Bw2ytF8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rw31PgxG6o
They are anything but suboptimal!
BTW Most draft horses don’t have to be shod and most farriers will be glad to trim them.
Tack is not anymore expensive, that is just…silly. Ebay, adjustable saddles make finding tack a breeze. So many people ride drafts these days.
As to height, each to their own. I never have an issue with it. I use a mounting block to get on and then a hill or rock or tree stump to remount, if I am on the trail. If I have to, I can swing up on my 18.1 hand mare (I just look terrible doing it), and I am almost fifty! My working students, who are much more fit than me have no issues what so ever.
Sub-optimal…not!!!
He’s 10 yrs old. He’s been quite extensively driven, much more so than ridden and he’s very safe and experienced in that manner. I’ve ridden him and taken him out on the trail and had no problems at all. He did super on the trail, and I didn’t even feel a bobble except walking across the gravel driveway. I think that’s why I’m having such a hard time with it, because he seems just fine. If he was head-bobbing, three legged lame, I’d get it.
I already have a 30 year old NSH gelding that has been retired except for light riding for 7 years. I’m committed to him, I’ve had him since he was 7. Realistically I can afford 1 pasture pet and a trail horse, not 2 pasture pets and a trail horse.
Were you born rude or are you a self made man/woman?
My opinion is based upon draft horse ownership, too. Both full blood and half blood. And boarding them, too. And upon a study of history (of light horses and draft horses).
Opinions are like noses; everybody gets at least one. You certainly are entitled to yours. As am I. If mine offends you sugest you learn to live with it.
G.
P.S. My appologies to the rest of the group for my testiness today; it sometimes happens when temps run 90 plus for several weeks.
OK – here are the good points as I see them:
- Your NSH is 30 – seriously, how much longer can he last? So I’m betting, within another 3 years, you will be down to 1 horse. I know this sounds gruesome, but it’s not meant to be. We all have our limits $$-wise, and it’s smart to think of these things.
- So if the draftie is riding sound NOW and you only plan to use him lightly AND he is walking sound now (and I would ask how the vet determined this since he didn’t do any rads. Hoof testers?), AND you actually sit down and compute the realistic costs of shoes, etc (including all the extras he might need that the farrier mentioned) AND you really think he is the love of your life (exactly how many other horses have you looked at?) AND you can live with all of this, I say take him FOR FREE! Or at least only 1/2 what the owner is asking.
This horse is not readily marketable – and doubly so in this market. I can get a TEAM of Belgians in this market for $1200 in my area (QH mostly) and I bet they are even cheaper in the Midwest. So the owner will probably thrilled to get anything at all.
But if you can live with it, and you are fully aware that you MIGHT end up with 2 pasture puffs in 6 months – hey – it’s your dime!
Maybe you end up not riding much – I sure don’t ride mine that much…and have a horse more for a pet – that happens.
If this attraction is that strong and you can live with the costs & (possible consequences), then go for it.
There is an old saying, “Life says, ‘take what you want, then pay for it,’.”
In terms of horse buying, it’s not a smart move. But sometimes there IS more to it that that, and Beings come into our life for other reasons…:yes:
Good luck which ever you choose.
