Drafts in Dressage!

[mountainhorse]

Anyone training & competing in Dressage with their drafts? I felt like it would be fun to start a thread on it. Share your fun dressage drafties and their stories,…level competing?

My DH’s BelgianX is such a doll, and I have started fussing around with him in the arena. So much fun! He is mainly used for trail riding and basic arena work. My DH plays with some mounted shooting arena work too, and his darling horse just takes it all in stride. We are looking at incorporating more Dressage to build a stronger foundation in the coming year. I smile like a mad woman every time I am on this horse though! SO fun.

It seems to be quite the consensus with draft owners-their sweet giants are the kind, willing spirit that tries his/her heart for you, and I can definitely see why!

Excited to see other’s drafts (and crosses!), and your stories with them.

(Happy Valentines, all!)

[Draftmare]

I compete with my draft cross. She’s Belgian X Appaloosa, registered as a Sugarbush draft. We competed two years at Intro due to her going undiagnosed with PSSM. We now have that under control, have switched instructors and to western dressage and things are really moving along. I blog about our adventures: https://draftmare.wordpress.com/.

[BigMama1]

I have a lovely gelding by an Oldenburg sire out of a Belgian draft x TB mare. We are doing Training and First this year and hope that get to Third before I’m 50.

I’m a big fan of draft crosses personally. We have several in our barn, mostly Clyde X TB and Clyde x Hackney. They look and move like warmbloods and have super brains.

A local trainer will be showing her Clyde X at Grand Prix this year - am really looking forward to watching them. Also noticed Denielle Gallagher went in the CDI 3* Grand Prix this weekend in Wellington on an Irish Draught stallion

Photo of my boy: https://www.google.ca/search?q=welterful&client=safari&hl=en&prmd=mivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlvu7BxfrKAhXmrYMKHWyKDZsQ_AUICCgC&biw=667&bih=331#imgrc=NTlZnzsulYbDDM%3A

[CatchMeIfUCan]

I have a lovely Hannoverian x American Creme Draft gelding. He sure is a showstopper, whether I like the attention or not. He has all the pieces to go to Grand Prix, but I am taking it slow. He is only 6. We evented at Novice last year (schooling training). He was quite good at it, but he is such a nice dressage horse, we decided to just stick with that and jump for fun. He is the most low maintenance horse on the planet. His feet are perfect and last time I called the farrier for a trim it had been about 9 weeks, and the farrier said he could have easily gone longer. Not a chip, crack, or bit of thrush in sight. His show name is The Brave Little Toaster, just to throw the DQs off and to keep him down to earth :winkgrin:

He is definitely not bombproof and has an engine. He takes just the lightest brush of the leg. He would go all day long if you let him - loves to work. Makes him a joy to ride. He basically is a heartier and harder working warmblood - best of both worlds. And he’s only 15.1 which is the perfect size. 10m circles are so easy.

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/DB376BCB-9F0D-4AA0-8F63-DE1D54AECF26.png

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-06/532A19B9-8E35-451D-BBAD-2BBF2909F2FA.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-11/79C5EE4D-4DC4-4A78-8148-787ECAB1388E.jpg

http://i1178.photobucket.com/albums/x369/ifeturner/Mobile%20Uploads/2014-05/8713D140-9D21-4D83-BCF8-5CAC00995668.jpg

[amymoyer]

I have a Percheron Standardbred cross. We did Training and First 1 at our last show. I’ve been working on my position over the winter with my trainer. Hopefully we’ll be doing Second level at shows soon.

https://steelesharepictures.shutterfly.com/pictures

[lecoeurtriste]

I competed my Percheron/ASB gelding through 3rd level dressage and Preliminary eventing, before I lost him unexpectedly last year. My 8yo Percheron/ASB/friesian mare is coming out at I-1 next month. (She also events at Novice and does the 1.10 jumpers—which gives my dressage coach indigestion!) DraftX horses are simply the best!

[slp2]

We have a Percheron/KWPN cross who is my hubby’s horse. He is ridiculous sized (18 hands and big-bodied)—but perfect for my hubby since he is 6’4". He has done Training / 1st level and gotten good scores. He is very flashy since he’s so big and is black with 4 white socks and a huge, unusual shaped blaze. He always ends up with a fan club when we bring him to shows.

Despite his size, and 1/2 draft-ness :)—he is pretty forward going but not the bravest horse in the barn! He can get a bit spooky and amped up sometimes. I think he has the potential to move up the levels, but he needs to get much stronger and more balanced in the canter work. It’s a lot of horse for the rider to help balance when he can’t do it himself! But he is a big, fun boy. And yes–very low maintenance as far as health and injuries go. His legs are the size of tree trunks and nobody in the pasture messes with him.

[mountainhorse]

catchme-he is lovely! drool
lecoeurtriste and slp2, photos, please!!

I have to figure to a way to post of photo of DH’s sweet horse.
He is pretty good as far as being level headed, except around chickens.
He hates them!
Very unhappy with chickens.
So, I think we will get some chickens to have around the barn so he can overcome his fear…you would think they were little flightless, but winged, pterodactyls that were going to eat him. Poor guy.

[Jenerationx]

Gorgeous horses!

[Countrywood]

There is something majestic about a draft type horse doing dressage. The past centuries war horses who did dressage moves in battle had that massive build ( or at least the sculptures of them did)

[Guyot]

I ride a clients Percheron/TB cross at Prix St George. Hoping to try move him up this season to I1 if I can get him strong enough. He’s a big adorable soul who tries so hard.

Was at a show last season and did a line of threes down the long side… Evidently a bunch of horses were left spooking in our wake! The “Thunder” he makes in his tempi canter is loud??. I didn’t know until later when his owner told me. Now I try to make sure we practice that when no one is right near me.

[BigMama1]

I forgot to put in a picture of my big boy. Here he is https://www.google.ca/search?q=welterful&client=safari&hl=en&prmd=mivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlvu7BxfrKAhXmrYMKHWyKDZsQ_AUICCgC&biw=667&bih=331#imgrc=NTlZnzsulYbDDM%3A

[Countrywood]

Beautiful horses all!

[Inclined]

[QUOTE=BigMama1;8531500]
I forgot to put in a picture of my big boy. Here he is https://www.google.ca/search?q=welterful&client=safari&hl=en&prmd=mivn&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlvu7BxfrKAhXmrYMKHWyKDZsQ_AUICCgC&biw=667&bih=331#imgrc=NTlZnzsulYbDDM%3A[/QUOTE]

Beautiful!!!

[Draftmare]

A couple of recent pictures of Sydney:

Posing for a conformation shot.

Enjoying a day outside. Two weeks ago we had a week of weather in the 40s and half the outdoor was dried out enough for a ride. Now we are back into the teens and low 20s. I do not enjoy how Mother Nature keeps teasing us this year!

I am marveling at those that have competed their draft crosses to high levels. Around here it is not uncommon to see them packing around at shows, but I have never seen one above 2nd level. I am hoping to make it to the western dressage equivalent of 2nd level. We shall see. She is not a super flashy mover, which is why we converted, but she is steady in her gaits and our geometry is pretty good too.

[Graymaresrule]

The Irish DRAUGHT Steeped in Luck debuted at GP recently in FL. He’s not a true draft, nor a WB but worth mentioning.

His first test at GP http://horsejunkiesunited.com/?p=98857

[beowulf]

guys… guys… those of you who haven’t posted pictures ought to be admonished. come on!!

lovely images for those who did

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=carolprudm;8532434]
The Irish DRAUGHT Steeped in Luck debuted at GP recently in FL. He’s not a true draft, nor a WB but worth mentioning.

His first test at GP http://horsejunkiesunited.com/?p=98857[/QUOTE]

Then what exactly are they classified as? A heavy cob? I always considered the Irish Draught to be a draft breed (Draught and draft are pronounced the same way).

[MysticOakRanch]

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8532544]
Then what exactly are they classified as? A heavy cob? I always considered the Irish Draught to be a draft breed (Draught and draft are pronounced the same way).[/QUOTE]

Irish Draught, Friesian, Welsh Cob, and Haflinger are all heavy breeds that are NOT draft breeds. I would classify them as heavy sport horse types - bred for either heavy hunter or fancy carriage type, they are not bred as working pullers (drafts are working pulling horses).

Heavy and/or feathers does not make a horse a draft.

[Draftmare]

[QUOTE=MysticOakRanch;8532683]
Irish Draught, Friesian, Welsh Cob, and Haflinger are all heavy breeds that are NOT draft breeds. I would classify them as heavy sport horse types - bred for either heavy hunter or fancy carriage type, they are not bred as working pullers (drafts are working pulling horses).

Heavy and/or feathers does not make a horse a draft.[/QUOTE]

Cobs are a type though, and the Welsh Cob would fall under that.

Halflingers were bred for pulling work, and are considered a small draft breed.