tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post2169969719328764911..comments2024-03-01T06:49:59.106-05:00Comments on Behind the Bit: Draft horses in dressage!Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-89376875687142604262016-09-07T18:37:42.871-04:002016-09-07T18:37:42.871-04:00I'm delighted to have stumbled onto this parti...I'm delighted to have stumbled onto this particular page, as I'm about to get a nice Clyde/TB vetted as a potential hunt horse and I wanted to see what sorts of experiences people are reporting. I have hunted and evented TBs, QHs, a Highland Pony and Holsteiners, but this would be my first drafty cross! Nancy Ambrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05253989116715723465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-50593768165902743562015-08-21T17:16:54.071-04:002015-08-21T17:16:54.071-04:00Videos of your horses are so intriguing, there mov...Videos of your horses are so intriguing, there movements are so elegant. I'm 16 and have just recently bought a 1 yr old Clydesdales foal. And I wanted to go into the dressage industry, he's to young to ride now, but for the future, do you have any advice on getting him started on groundwork, or any particular views you have to help me achieve the dressage horse I would like when he'sEniyenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-56687336940302745732014-02-01T18:46:28.584-05:002014-02-01T18:46:28.584-05:00I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale th...I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale that I found for an older student. Though I have 40 plus years riding and training all breeds and have a BHSI, I had never worked with this breed. They are surprisingly wonderful, at least this one is, super forward mover that accepts leg and contact and shows unreal ease with lateral work. here here Clydesdale!<br /><br />Roger<br /><br />February Classic Horsemanship LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903549061688283894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-45885782961066308992014-02-01T18:46:06.121-05:002014-02-01T18:46:06.121-05:00I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale th...I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale that I found for an older student. Though I have 40 plus years riding and training all breeds and have a BHSI, I had never worked with this breed. They are surprisingly wonderful, at least this one is, super forward mover that accepts leg and contact and shows unreal ease with lateral work. here here Clydesdale!<br /><br />RogerClassic Horsemanship LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903549061688283894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-47411938491230413392014-02-01T18:43:59.502-05:002014-02-01T18:43:59.502-05:00I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale th...I presently am schooling a wonderful Clydesdale that I found for an older student. Though I have 40 plus years riding and training all breeds and have a BHSI, I had never worked with this breed. They are surprisingly wonderful, at least this one is, super forward mover that accepts leg and contact and shows unreal ease with lateral work. here here Clydesdale!<br /><br />RogerClassic Horsemanship LLChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05903549061688283894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-33810867577948455442011-10-07T13:20:12.975-04:002011-10-07T13:20:12.975-04:00Valerie,
Here is a resource for draft sized tack ...Valerie,<br /><br />Here is a resource for draft sized tack http://drafthorsesaddle.com/index.php?cPath=13&osCsid=e603f461cae9067ecc8e4abf7e87f8f3<br /><br />Paulapaulaedwinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18227553793605056089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-39286905862961730582011-10-06T09:06:34.385-04:002011-10-06T09:06:34.385-04:00RE:"...riders' ability to ride without ap...RE:"...riders' ability to ride without appearing to muscle these horses around"<br /><br />Wow! You hit the nail on the head. I have a new-to-me Percheron/Standardbred cross and training with him has killed my form and makes me feel like I can't ride. One of the challenges is that I am leaning forward trying to drag him along! I think it's quite a trick to not appear to be &paulaedwinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18227553793605056089noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-38561819994534683442010-04-16T18:08:48.692-04:002010-04-16T18:08:48.692-04:00These are beautiful videos. I have a Percheron mar...These are beautiful videos. I have a Percheron mare who used to be able to wear my Warmblood's saddles. She however has matured a bit and NOTHING fits her any more. I need to find out where to get a Draft dressage saddle or at least a all purpose English saddle. Thank you for any info you can pass on.Valeriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01687542581148348717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-91325818572212763062010-01-01T15:05:08.518-05:002010-01-01T15:05:08.518-05:00thanks for sharing...I love drafties, they're ...thanks for sharing...I love drafties, they're kind and intelligent and it's wonderful to see them in a dressage rinkEcoLicious Equestrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872571045236762447noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-73679331461142129932010-01-01T11:14:29.296-05:002010-01-01T11:14:29.296-05:00well I thought they were a nice selection of draft...well I thought they were a nice selection of drafts....I esp liked the first Shire.....oilcanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10570053334551279018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-22490073248542248142010-01-01T04:05:26.506-05:002010-01-01T04:05:26.506-05:00I used to have a draft cross who took a good bit o...I used to have a draft cross who took a good bit of leg but lightened up in the mouth with training... eventually he needed less leg/seat but still a GREAT deal more than the thoroughbred I rode next. I didn't find his learning dull or anything. My group also used to take a green Shire eventing with us, who was a pretty good sport at very low level once he learned to jump over those "serissimehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16182745758052503035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-78653127142275232492009-12-31T12:14:37.133-05:002009-12-31T12:14:37.133-05:00Draft horses are bred for work. Cantering is not ...Draft horses are bred for work. Cantering is not necessary for work, so it's understandable that it's a weakness. Some draft breeds have changed a lot from lighter work horses to heavy work and now to getting sportier. <br />Since we discussed dressage on RFDTV in another post, there is another show called "Rural Heritage" which often features draft horses doing farm and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-11642329054286343532009-12-31T10:26:00.153-05:002009-12-31T10:26:00.153-05:00Nice videos. Thanks for sharing. I love draft ho...Nice videos. Thanks for sharing. I love draft horses. :)Achieve1dreamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15401246064499148344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-83148062958980939942009-12-31T09:09:00.967-05:002009-12-31T09:09:00.967-05:00Drafts are so much fun! I rode a Belgium mare a fe...Drafts are so much fun! I rode a Belgium mare a few times in lessons, including once over fences. She was a lot of fun to ride. Although, she did take a good amount of leg to get going, but she was easy in the mouth. You could feel it from the other side of the arena when she would trot or canter, and landing from a jump too! I was twelve when I rode her, so I had to use a step stool to groom andTorihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660081730941416314noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-90651021011997499452009-12-31T06:48:49.742-05:002009-12-31T06:48:49.742-05:00Horses can (and often do) function outside their s...Horses can (and often do) function outside their stereotypes. I can remember bemoaning my luck when I "drew" a young and very green Quarter Horse for a dressage test in college [waaaay back when]. I saw us as doomed to failure; but you know what? That little knocker performed brilliantly and we did quite well (sure taught me not to pigeonhole breeds :o)Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17608579972739041880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-70476471475420910132009-12-30T23:56:17.066-05:002009-12-30T23:56:17.066-05:00I'm not really an expert. But in my opinion, f...I'm not really an expert. But in my opinion, for what it is worth, some looked a little weak behind, but some videos are grainy so I can't be critical. The last guy at least looked rather strung out behind at the canter, and kind of running into it. Almost like a running walk in the hind legs crossed into a canter in front. I see what you mean about draw reins too. I didn't watch the A Bay Horsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519878838113259362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-79626298702541417102009-12-30T23:23:44.129-05:002009-12-30T23:23:44.129-05:00Regarding the canter:
Canters are quite often dif...Regarding the canter:<br /><br />Canters are quite often difficult for drafties. The first reason is the pulling rather than pushing that I noted earlier (had to post as anonymous %$#!ing Google password). So they tend to run into the canter. The other thing is their flat table backs. While this can make for a very comfy sitting trot, especially in the Percherons, it makes the true throughness inperpetual_novicehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14904224243425431333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-82209481019957115942009-12-30T22:49:45.202-05:002009-12-30T22:49:45.202-05:00that's interesting bay horse, to me the canter...that's interesting bay horse, to me the canters were better than I thought drafts usually offer -- at least in terms of being a a solid 3 beats and fairly balanced. I know friesians (old style) used to have weak canters. I don't have a really discerning eye myself. Can you describe what you're seeing?<br /><br />I think the thing that gave me a sese of their limitation is the Stacey Kimmel-Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08498926535389535263noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-67991368725565776232009-12-30T22:40:05.420-05:002009-12-30T22:40:05.420-05:00Drafties can make very good low level dressage hor...Drafties can make very good low level dressage horses and they really don't need as much "muscling around" as one might expect. The only time I ever had to really take a hold of my Percheron was when he became frightened out hacking (he is a terrible wuss) and I had to stop him from bolting through a woodlot. He was just wearing a snaffle but he stayed under control. But I sure Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-67450339627724190452009-12-30T21:42:02.683-05:002009-12-30T21:42:02.683-05:00I think they are cute. So not to be too critical b...I think they are cute. So not to be too critical but I didn't really love the canter on any of them. The last horse's canter looked the worst to me. Are drafties not known for their canters? I have little experience with them.A Bay Horsehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519878838113259362noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-36704293092198004302009-12-30T20:44:06.699-05:002009-12-30T20:44:06.699-05:00One of the lovliest horses I ever knew was a Perch...One of the lovliest horses I ever knew was a Percheron mare. She jumped and did dressage with a good honest work ethic, and a super cooperative attitude.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10029423500476995817noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-15743651725229297692009-12-30T20:37:22.158-05:002009-12-30T20:37:22.158-05:00Very cool! Can't say I come across too many d...Very cool! Can't say I come across too many draft horses in the hunter ring but this little collection is a lovely bunch. They all seem surprisingly light -- I bet they are lots of fun!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13790278181159401158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-68708894877798655152009-12-30T19:48:59.316-05:002009-12-30T19:48:59.316-05:00Thanks for the videos! I used to ride a Clydesdal...Thanks for the videos! I used to ride a Clydesdale and also a Suffolk Punch; drafts are lovely horses. They're smart and gentle and if they get interested in what they're doing they can be really forward too. The Suffolk Punch couldn't show jump to save himself but he loved to gallop around the small x-country course that was set up, he'd really put his heart and soul into it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-57416836180146935652009-12-30T19:30:31.786-05:002009-12-30T19:30:31.786-05:00I LOVE draft horses in dressage, and jumping. They...I LOVE draft horses in dressage, and jumping. They aren't just plow-heads ya know :) Though it can be tough on the big bones.Laura Dotson-Thomsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18224011052782103675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6317822193674196694.post-45653843470880259052009-12-30T19:04:45.600-05:002009-12-30T19:04:45.600-05:00Thank you for sharing this! My trainer has always ...Thank you for sharing this! My trainer has always show draft crosses and one of my good friends has a Percheron that she shoes in dressage and does really well with! They are very capable animals!LiveToFlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06588286496271994404noreply@blogger.com