Trail riding Draft...

[SmokenMirrors]

My draft mare Smoke and I got our 15 minutes of fame, we are one of the featured articles in Trail Rider Magazine and once I get some things done at the farm will be going to the store to get a few copies!!

I do trail ride Smoke, this is but one of her many talents. I am very pleased with this mare, she is worth her weight in gold and when I got her, was a diamond in the rough. I do have to watch how hot it is out in the summer as she is slower to cool down so I usually ride her in the early mornings or late evenings, this is just one of the many ways I keep her in condition.

She does well on trails, I have never had a problem with her, she can step over things that other horses have to either go around or jump or hop over, nothing really bothers her except deer, I have yet to convince her that they won’t eat her and she is a lot bigger than they are.

[cloudyandcallie]

Great that you got a good write-up in the magazine.

And great that you got a new draught also, now you have a team to use for driving.

My friend Kim has 3 draughts and they are wonderful with smooth gaits. She has moved to Ohio now, so I don’t get to ride her nice horses.

[SmokenMirrors]

Thank you for the response…figured not many would say anything. But thats okay, lol…I don’t mind.

They do have a nice gait if you can get them to utilize it. Trixi, the new girl I will take out riding too and see how she is on a trail, haven’t ridden her in 6 years or so, but it will be nice to see what she can do too. And yes, it will be nice to have a team and learn that too.

What breed of draft did your friend have? How tall?

[2Horse]

Awesome!! Your horse is beautiful! I used to ride Belgians when I was younger. They had some of the most smoothest trots I ever sat. If the opprtunity was to present itself, I’d get another draft again.

[nkgooch66]

I was so glad to read your post! I have a 6 year old Belgian mare that I trail ride and because I live in TWH territory, I usually get the “you’ve got to be kidding” remark when asked what I do with her. Hats off to you on getting published!

[ChocoMare]

:lol:

I usually hear the “Really!?!” in response to the “sooo, what do you DO with her?” question :lol:

I just tell them it’s like riding a couch… hence Tank’s moniker The Equine Sofa

[cloudyandcallie]

Kim who is in eastern Ohio now, near PA, has a great Clydesdale named Harry, she got him as a 2 yr old here in GA and he is wonderful. She also has a black mare Percheron that she bred for and raised down here and a mare I’ve never met. Her 3rd horse, a nice 1/2 shire 1/2 Clydesdale, who was sweet and nice, was sadly killed when hit by a car several years ago. The mare I’ve never met was the dam of the deceased mare.
Harry, whom I first met in 2002, is a gorgeous boy and has the smoothest gaits.

Enjoy your draughts. Everyone thought my horses, Cloudy at 16.2 and Callie at 16.0 were too big at one barn, till Kim came there briefly with her 3 18 handers.:lol:

[MintHillFarm]

I have always been a big fan…

I have a Percheron mare, Heather, that is 15 and been with me since she was 3 months…I’ve had several other drafts that hunted and showed. One that I showed for a friend won the Ladies Hunter Class at a hunter trials some years ago with me. All have been teriffic both in personality and as riding/companion horses. Heather is the latter and is a great turn-out friend for my TBs…

Smoke is lovely!

[ponygrl25]

Your draftie is soooooo cute!! I’ve been able to ride several great draft horses on the trail over the years and they usually make safe, steady trail mounts (as long as you don’t have to get off and back on too often:uhoh:). I have ridden 2 awesome percherons, one 3/4 perch. 1/4 TB. and 1 full perch., an American Cream, and 2 Belgian/QH crosses. The last two were young and very green but had lots of potential. My biggest problem was always the getting on/off since I’m only 5’ tall and all of these horses were 16.2-18.1 hands.

The other thing that was a problem for 2 of the drafts I rode was that they had smaller feet and needed a more supportive shoe for the added miles and rougher terrain. Those feet take so much impact and it doesn’t hurt to be over-cautious in protecting a big horses feet. Trust me it is no fun to have a 17 hand horse on stall rest after a coffin bone injury (did I mention he didn’t like being in the stall much anyway:mad:).

One of these days I really want a Haffie for a trail pony. They are sooo cute and more my size. I love my ponies!

[jnel]

You guys look like you’re having fun! I think the draft and draft-crosses owners are a small group here. I love my draft cross he is a bit of a weenie when doing something scary for the first time. I have a blast on the trail with him cause he has a motor when you want to go but doesn’t get too excited.

Pics of him. 15.3 Quarter horse x draft (?) cross

http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/jnel_photos/Mac/?action=view&current=DSCF0260.jpg

[JollyBadger]

I saw that article! Very cool!

Although I currently own/ride a TWH and board him at a barn where most of the horses are TWH or other gaited breeds, I miss riding non-gaited horses and would seriously consider a draft breed as a trail riding horse in the future.

[SmokenMirrors]

I have SO enjoyed reading about each one and the stories of how much you have had fun riding the drafts in your life or others. I was pleased to see our picture in the photo, the editor I spoke with was so nice on the phone, lots of questions and she did a great job in the article.

We do a lot of work with the public to let them know that while a draft means more work sometimes, your tack can be more expensive, they are so willing and easy to be around. Children especially seem to be drawn to the draft horses, maybe it is their easy going open look or that they know a steady soul when they see one. When we do have a wee one suddenly wrap themselves around one of Smoke’s legs, we use that opportunity to educate the parent about the right way of approaching an equine, big or small.

And yes, they ARE like big couches when ridden. I often say Smoke has 3 different types of trots…one is easy to sit, I can post to it, she isn’t in a hurry and when I can get her to tuck her head some really is pretty. Then there is the extended trot she uses when pulling, then there is the trot to jog your fillings out. Sure someone can relate to that.

so enjoy those beasts and keep the stories coming.

[rainechyldes]

draft crosses can be amazing, and congrats on yours:)

We had one for many years, a perch/arab gelding. He went to several endurance & CTR championships back in his day with my father aboard, as well as was a combined driving horse, a hunter, and a pony club horse in his later years. A truly irreplaceable horse.

[SmokenMirrors]

[QUOTE=rainechyldes;4213891]
draft crosses can be amazing, and congrats on yours:)

We had one for many years, a perch/arab gelding. He went to several endurance & CTR championships back in his day with my father aboard, as well as was a combined driving horse, a hunter, and a pony club horse in his later years. A truly irreplaceable horse.[/QUOTE]

How did he cool down when you were at stops and being monitored? Did it take longer? Was he taller or wide or more fine boned?

[ChocoMare]

@Belplosh;4208798

…3 different types of trots…one is easy to sit, I can post to it, she isn’t in a hurry and when I can get her to tuck her head some really is pretty. Then there is the extended trot she uses when pulling, then there is the trot to jog your fillings out. Sure someone can relate to that.

Amen!!! However, Tank’s favorite gait is Mosey. Her life motto would be: Life’s too short. Stop and EAT the roses." :lol: :lol: :lol:

Now as to Penny, my Clyde/Standardbred cross, she moves. Just ask Spotnnotfarm (Christina) how that mare can change gaits when we turn for home. Suddenly the Level 2 Dressage Training Fairy descends upon her and SHAZAM…we have pass’age. :winkgrin: :lol:

[rainechyldes]

[QUOTE=Belplosh;4214021]
How did he cool down when you were at stops and being monitored? Did it take longer? Was he taller or wide or more fine boned?[/QUOTE]

Since we get pretty hot here (not humid tho) we kept him clipped during the season.
He was large boned, a fairly heavy guy, 16.2hh as well. about 1200lbs. We never had trouble with his PR stops at all - he was always down - no waiting around vet check required.

[Cielo_Azure]

We LOVE to trail ride. Usually, we will take out two or three girls at once.

I have lots of photos trail riding, but I don’t post them on my site but these are two of the girls we trail ride with.
http://www.cieloazure.com/soleil.html
http://www.cieloazure.com/genie.html

As a group, they love to go out together. They are willing, stable, but my girls don’t “mossy” along, they like to go!

Hot weather does get to them BUT since I started body clipping during the summer, the heat factor has decreased significantly. I highly recommend body clipping during the summer months for drafts. They are so much more comfortable.

[spotnnotfarm]

[
Now as to Penny, my Clyde/Standardbred cross, she moves. Just as Spotnnotfarm (Christina) how that mare can change gaits when we turn for home. Suddenly the Level 2 Dressage Training Fairy descends upon her and SHAZAM…we have pass’age. :winkgrin: :lol:[/QUOTE]

Yep! I was a witness to her lovely movement this past weekend! She could put many dressage horses to shame:).
I love seeing drafts out on the trail. I do remember years ago I boarded with a man that had a belgian. he was tried of people asking why he bought her to ride. I loved his reply “I went and looked at a horse, she was what I wanted and I bought her. She was the right horse for me.” Good one!

[Yakmaniac]

Unfortunately I can’t see pics while I’m at work…darn it! Guess I’ll have to have a peek from home later, but wanted to say that I trail ride my drafts.
I have a percheron (17.2hh, 1800lbs) and a belgian/pinto cross(15.2 hh, 1500lbs) that I trail ride and camp with. My belgian cross is the mosey along type, could CARE LESS if the entire pack left him behind in the middle of nowwhere. My perch, on the other hand, likes to move on down the trail and will plow through just about anything in his path if you ask! Last weekend we took them to the beach and my hubby was doing back flips off his butt into the ocean, and he just stands there like its an everyday occurance. One by one we climbed on and dove off!
I love my versitale drafts, they are game for just about anything.