Is there any market for a draft/TB, foxhunted a few seasons, but is only 15h tall?
I know a horse is only as good as his worth in the huntfield, but all else aside, those that look for draft-crosses to purchase, is it the size/height?
I am looking to take on said horse for resale out East. ADORABLE 15 hand bay-roan.
Is there a market for draft-crosses that hunt this size? Or will it be a strike against her?
Depends. Some people, especially ladies and older rider’s will purchase a smaller horse. However, you’re not going to have the interest you would if it was in the 16-17H range. IMO it will be a tough sell. Also depends on the “drafiness” of the horse and only being 15H.
As stated before - there IS a market…just smaller than the number of people looking for 16+ hand sized crosses. Another thing I run across is folks not wanting mares. That gives you two handicaps, but if the horse does a good job in the hunt field there WILL be a buyer! Good luck.
re those 16 to 17+ HH
the jumps look a lot lower …
so are the tree branches.
the top of the bell curve is in the 16HH I would guess.
too small/big=fewer buyers
just right depends on the rider
it is what it is and just needs the right rider
Ooh, a 15hh bay roan draftx?
Be still my beating heart!
(sorry, not helpful, but had to drool a bit!)
From my perspective, the market isn’t doing that well. Add that to everything else, and it could be a tough sell.
I’ve had a few draft crosses in that height range on the market for quite a while. With the people looking, they would have sold if they had been dead quiet for older women in third flight. I wasn’t comfortable saying that my guys were as solid as these people seemed to need. The other request was if they were ‘up to weight’, and at their size, I didn’t want them to go on to large people.
Still, I’m out on a 15 hh draft cross, and when people borrow from me, they don’t seem too upset with the height of my guys.
Jennifer
www.draftymanor.com
Personally, I’m all about the short horses these days!
I’ve called someone about some young 3/4 TBs, but I suspect they will all mature well over 16hh which is more than I want. It’s not that I’m so short, but as staff, I want something I can easily mount from the ground and I’m not a limber person.
And, agree about the “draftiness” of the horse in question; it’s going to impact the buyer. Which flight do they ride in, how fast is the hunt, etc?
Where I hunt, a 50-50 cross would be ok, especially with the beagles. If light enough, might be ok keeping up with the foxhounds. But some of the country up north is WIDE open & a horse who can’t really gallop for a long time is going to leave you out.
Are you advertizing in New England ? Many draftX’s in our hunt, we dont have access to enough land to need a TB. And 15h is a great size for a child or a woman that likes a smaller horse.
]From my perspective, the market isn’t doing that
Still, I’m out on a 15 hh draft cross, and when people borrow from me, they don’t seem too upset with the height of my guys.
Jennifer
www.draftymanor.com[/QUOTE]
When folks are borrowing and getting a free ride it seems thier standards are much more reasonable than if they have to buy and pay! 
One of the absolute nicest hunt horses I have ever ridden is an angelic six-year-old Clevie x TB who is, incredibly, only 14-3. I cannot get my mind around the fact that she’s only 14-3 partly because she’s broad in the back and takes up my legs entirely, and I’m 5’10" with lots of leg. And it’s partly that she is simply so well-proportioned and beautifully put together that she looks bigger. I keep wanting to pull out the stick yet again as if it will read something different this time.
Normally I’d hesitate to buy a horse this small, but this mare has my heart, and if I had the odd $25,000 I’d snap her up. But admittedly it’s hard to sell such a horse because like me most people can’t believe that a small horse could suit them so well and they’re worried about how they’d look on her.
There sure is in the UK.
Snow Princess,
I’m kind, but not usually that kind. Most people pay to borrow my short horses…
Jennifer
www.draftymanor.com
Ha Ha, I loan out my 16H horses but keep the 14.3 H one for myself. She’s not a draft cross though. Over the years mine have ranged from 14.3 to 16.1. I’m happier with the smaller ones but the market certainly seems to like them 16H.
I’m promised the field master I’ll be getting gates whem my 14.3H one is a little more broke. I just can’t get on/off those 16H horses.
I took a young haflinger pony on his first full hunt (the lady riding him the weekend before couldn’t get him to cross ditches so they threw me on him) the other weekend (and my first time ever being thrown back to 2nd flight since he doesn’t jump very high yet) and it was so great to have such a short distance to mount. We ended up getting most of the gates even with my gimpy left knee.
The solid little pony saved my butt going up a mud slope with a 60* incline that I had no idea how to get up. He seemed more interested in the buffet than in staying still. The only bad thing is that he did get stuck in the mud once when it went almost to his stifles and he frantically tried to get out of it, nearly unseating me in the process. I tend to wow people with my velcro butt since I ride crazy and green horses all the time and the only time Ive ever fallen off at a hunt was on a mounting block :lol:
But at 5’6" and with an athletic build, I did not feel too short for the pushing 14 hh, smaller than my yearling, pony. I’m hoping to get to ride the little guy again sometime.
HA! Thanks TBlitz! That reminds me of the first time I went hunting, on a 13.3 hand halflinger ( I am 5’10). That little guy could get me out of the most trecherous spaces! He was the all-terrain vehicle!
Okay, I’m bringing her home tomorrow. The owner just called and GAVE her to me . . . .
Pictures to post tomorrow.
I bet I never re-sale her, she’ll probably be the best little mount I’ve ever had.
Now, to come up with names for the Roany Honey . . .
[QUOTE=Liver Yang Rising;3213041]
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Now, to come up with names for the Roany Honey . . .[/QUOTE]
Dr. Pepper
have fun! and we DO want pictures
Oh dear. Got her home, trimmed her feet (Egads, who lets there horses go without a trim for 6 MONTHS!!!)
Did the official stick measurement and she is a hair under 14.2 H.
Dear lord, I am almost 40 years old and have bought my FIRST PONY!!!
She looks more like a percheron crossed with a mustang. But she is a real trooper to ride and goes thru anything! Can’t wait to get her out cross-training this summer.
Pics to come, I need to get after that unruly mane!
For some reason, the name Tiny Bubbles just popped into my head.
Anyway, she sounds really cute!
We bought a TB/Clyde cross for my son(who is still growing at 6 ft.),and even though he now sticks at 17 hands, we call him the pygmy clydesdale,('cause he still looks small next to the full Clydes!)
Hope you enjoy your new girl!
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