This may not be the place to ask this but figured I would give y’all a try. DH is looking at getting back into drafts. Looking at teams. USING teams, ie to do draft stuff with. No show horses, not overload pulling teams. Basic logs (for obstacles), farm equipment, wagon/cart stuff.
We are having trouble finding sources to search. Dreamhorse is a bust. A few on Equine.com. DraftsForSale is about it.
Any ideas or places you can point me to?
TIA
Try Rural Heritage, also make any of the winter auctions which feature drafts…
http://www.ruralheritage.com/
Waverly Auction in Illinois?
TroyerAuctions in Brighton Colorado. Draft horse auctions about three time per year - usually April July and October. http://troyerauctions.com/auctions.php
There is a yahoogroup called draftndrive which might
be a good place to put your question. Your DH may
also find some like-minded gentlemen there.
Guess it all depends on what breed you’re looking for. Belgians and Perchies, I’d be checking Draft Horse Journal. Shires and Clydes…the other sources suggested above. The “odd” ones, American Creams, Suffolk Punches etc…good luck with those.
Word of mouth is best IMO. I would go to some of the events he wants to participate in and talk to people, let them know what he’s looking for. The very best horses are often never advertised.
I would look locally also. It is surprising how many draft horses are advertised on craigslist.
Auctions are great but be careful. Lots of people who work their horses or are involved in big hitches dump their “broken” ones there.
I have heard that prices are down at the draft auctions for working horses. Just be careful (boggy hocks, nav., roaring, cribbing, feet issues, canker, behavioral issues, etc) and be aware that many frequent sellers will have people in the audience to bid you up. Be careful with the hand you show… particularly at places like mount hope.
That said, I know someone who just sold a great gelding team at Waverly for $2600. (not near what they were worth) and they were split up, which broke his heart.
For farm work: The price of Halfies is way down and the old fashioned kind are economical to feed and can do an amazing amount of work.
Now that makes me sad to see a team broke up like that.
I know my team would be heartbroken, especially one of them, who is the big cheese here. He defends his teammate with a passion, and doesn’t like him out of his site.
Sad, sad, sad.
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