I'm curious to hear from people who own half draft horses . It seems like lately I have been reading about how much people love their half draft horses . What makes them great riding horses , and what cross do people prefer . Any comments would be welcome .
Posted 2007-01-28 9:58 PM (#54633 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Expert
Posts: 1871 Location: NY
I do not own a half draft .I own a full draft and he is great. why because the are easy going and the temperment is kind they love to work and as a trail horse that is a big plus in my corner a lot of cross are with pershrons just my thoughts
Posted 2007-01-29 1:26 PM (#54667 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Member
Posts: 10
Location: Eureka, MO
I also own a full draft, percheron stallion. He is a 2000 pound gray puppy! The sweetest horse and very smart and willing, great bone. He is one electric fence away from our quarter horse mare and never bothers her, and that's saying something. I would love to get a spotted draft!
Posted 2007-01-29 2:18 PM (#54674 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
I have (out of my tb mare)a 3/4 TB 1/4 clyde. I bred my mare to a half bred.The reason for this breeding was a quiet horse with nice bone ,but athletic.It kinda calms the TB dowm.My filly is dead quiet! Almost to quiet for me.The stallion I bred to was Glendevon's Mountain Man
His site is www.glendevonstables.com
Check him out.
This kinda of breeding is also called the American Warmblood,and my filly is registered with them.I took her to there inspection and she recieved a Blue preferred.Only 5% of horses in the US recieve this.
Posted 2007-01-29 3:01 PM (#54678 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Expert
Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I've also seen lots of draft crosses on TB's, it cleans up their minds and builds up their legs and fixes their poor feet! You really get the best from two worlds. A big, calmer, sane horse with sound legs!
Posted 2007-01-29 5:42 PM (#54685 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Regular
Posts: 55 Location: west valley city , utah
Thanks for the feed back on your horses . I will have to do some more research on the type of horse in question . I like the sound of a big , calm horse with good bone . I have had a bad run of luck with Quarter horses and leg problems .
Posted 2007-01-29 6:33 PM (#54689 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
Also I should mention easy keeper! This filly of mine could live outdoors threw the winter with no grain! She has a great winter coat and very fat off of a handful of grain 2 X a day.She also has great big feet.Also remember she is only 1/4 clyde.Even with that little bit of draft she is still an easy keeper with a mellow mind!
Posted 2007-01-30 8:21 AM (#54723 - in reply to #54714) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
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Posts: 1719 Location: PA
I've owned 2 mares that were sweet hearts but I agree that geldings are usually better than mares. I do believe that the breeding is the key. If the broodmare is a loon, most likely the foal, filly or colt, will learn that from her.
Posted 2007-01-30 2:07 PM (#54744 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
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Posts: 225 Location: Urbana,MD
I only own mares! I just love them.All of mine are very sane and not marish at all! I was hoping when I bred my mare that I got a filly from her,and I did. When you get a nice mare they will work and try very hard for you.I used to be one of you all saying you would never own a mare.I have had my first mare 10 years and she is what has changed my mind on them.I had one nutty gelding before her.I do beleive the mare passes her ways to her offspring.I have a nice bold friendly mare and she has defeintly passed that to her filly.
Posted 2007-01-30 4:18 PM (#54751 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
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Posts: 1989 Location: South Central OK
I have had mares and fillies in my barn but they aren't my first pick. (If I wanted to deal with hormones I'd have stayed teaching teenagers!) Only one filly I really liked, I rode her three times and she was sold. Some cattle rancher bought her and said she was the best working horse he'd ever purchased...funny thing is he didn't realize she'd only had a few rides. Next thing I know she's in Germany making little Paint horses!
I do agree they learn to be psycho. Too bad people think, oh well we'll just breed her, when they can't get a horse to work...it just makes little psychos!
Posted 2007-01-31 8:19 AM (#54777 - in reply to #54751) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Expert
Posts: 1719 Location: PA
YES! It drives me crazy when people have a mare with an attitude or physical problems and decide to breed it. What are they thinking??? That's why there are so many crappy horses out there.
Posted 2007-01-31 2:58 PM (#54802 - in reply to #54777) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 303 Location: Grapeland, Texas
Originally written by hav2ride on 2007-01-31 8:19 AM
YES! It drives me crazy when people have a mare with an attitude or physical problems and decide to breed it. What are they thinking??? That's why there are so many crappy horses out there.
Posted 2007-02-05 6:45 AM (#55072 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Veteran
Posts: 294 Location: Fort Worth, Tx
I own a half percheron, half QH gelding. He is fabulous! I bought him last year-the day I went to look at him, he hadn't been ridden in 2 months and I got on him and w/t/c, he went around just as nice as pie with no bucking, spooking, etc. Did I mention he was just 5 at the time? He is a great mover and I am training him for dressage and eventing. The only thing I will say negative about drafts is that they can be stubborn at times. But this can generally be avoided by keeping your work sessions short-once a draft does something right he resents doing it over and over again. Also, it is next to impossible to find a farrier that works on drafts and crosses, or at least one that does it well. But, with all the bonuses of my horse, these things are no big deal!
Posted 2007-02-05 7:36 AM (#55073 - in reply to #54630) Subject: RE: Half draft horses
Member
Posts: 23
Location: Wilsonville, Ontario CANADA
Some my all time favorite horses were 1/2 or 1/4 drafts!
Mostly Clyde/TB crosses, and one Percheron/Appy cross that was the most amazing mover and was sold to a lady who is doing Prix St George dressage with him now!
The Shire/TB crosses are also beautiful and talented as well for the most part
Personally I find the Belgian crosses a little too heavy for my taste though ...
Half draft horses
