Drafts and Draft Crosses as Riding Horses

[CanadianRider]

I have been cruising around the horse sale websites (although I really shouldn't be :p ) and have seen quite a few draft crosses and full draft horses under saddle that I have liked the looks of.

I really like larger horses and have a soft spot for chunkiness and feathers.

Over here in Canada Cobs are quite rare so that is not really an option when the time comes for me to buy a horse of my own.

I was just wondering if anyone here has an opinion on the suitability of a draft horse or draft cross for riding.

[KarinUS]

I am hoping they will do just fine as I have great hopes for Minose as my future dressage horse (although officially we still call her OH's future trail horse ;) )

When I was looking at potentials people on here did a great job pointing out things like neckset, etc. that can impact what a horse is more suitable for (driving vs riding, etc.)

[virtuallyhorses]

Here in NZ we don't really 'do' the cob thing but draft crosses are popular as general riding horses and as hunters and jumpers. Clydie crosses are the most popular - TB X Clyde. But part percheron is also around (Charisma had a bit of Percheron in him).

High country farmers who still muster on horseback go for 1/2 Clyde x TB, gives them the best of both worlds they reckon. You'll also find lots of 7/8's TBs with 1/8 Clyde around for sale. None of ours tend to look like British cobs too much

These photos are fairly typical of NZ Clyde cross sport horse types

http://202.21.128.20/photoserver/3/12324903_full.jpg

http://202.21.128.20/photoserver/30/12145830_full.jpg

[Skyhuntress]

From another Albertan here ;)

I used to own a 17.1hh Shire/TB cross
You can't see the full body, but you get an idea on his thickness.

http://equestrian-angel.com/skyhuntress/images/Magic.jpg

I took him up to second level. He wasn't as stocky as some, because he had the TB in him, but the biggest thing was getting him relaxed in his jaw and neck, because he was a bit thick in the throatlatch. What I really did like about him was his mind; he gave everything and once he 'got it' you never had to remind him.


Now I own a 16.1hh Irish Sport horse (who I guess isn't really a 'draft' per se, but whatever), who while only 1/4 Irish Draft, is a bit too stocky for my tastes. But you should SEE the movement on him. I'm in a barn full of warmbloods, own two of my own, and his extension puts them all to shame. He has a massive stride and is very loose limbed. The problem with him is balancing him; he tends to get a bit heavy in the hands and also likes to lean on his forehand if given the chance, but like my shire cross, got a bit thick in the throatlatch and tight in the poll but has a mind to die for.

http://ludusequinus.com/images/albums/23102_3964.jpg

I, personally don't like pure drafts for english sports-especially dressage. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but Drafts are naturally heavier in their movement and thus typically get marked down in movement above elementary level in favor of warmbloods, and you need to take a hard look at an individual draft's conformation to determine if he will be successful in higher levels of dressage.

But draft crosses? I adore! (and you won't have any problems finding them in Alberta either:)

[chev]

I used to have a Shire x filly. She was sold on to an eventing home, where she's doing really well. She was crossed with an ArabxWelsh, and although substantial wasn't that hairy (no feathers to speak of) and was very athletic.

There's a big market here for draft crosses - especially when crossed with more athletic horses to produce hunters and bigger riding horses. YO has a two year old half Shire gelding now - he is massive (currently about 17hh, and with growing to do) whereas my filly reached 16hh ish at maturity. He has tremendous bone; but he also has incredible elevated paces and would make either a hunter or maybe even manage a half decent level of dressage.

It depends really on how the cross comes out. Some draft derived horses will always make better driving horses than ridden prospects - when you look at them with a view to riding, as Karin pointed out, lots do tend to have a fairly low set neck, straight shoulders and if you're looking at Shire or Clydesdale types they often have pronounced dishing movement too. That's why the crosses with TB type blood tend to be more successful in terms of ridden work (although again, the TB neckset is sometimes a little low).

[Tharg]

StormArion what do you mean by thick int he throatlash and tight in the poll?, slight blonde moment :o :p

[Skyhuntress]

Ok, so you know that how what you tuck your head down between your shoulders, you might get a roll of skin? It's the same with horses, and those who are thicker in their throatlatch area will have even a harder time tucking their head down because the throatlatch from the bridle will be pressing against them (and its especially bad if they have a short neck)...does that make any sense?

[CanadianRider]

That's why the crosses with TB type blood tend to be more successful in terms of ridden work (although again, the TB neckset is sometimes a little low).

So do you think that a lighter horse with a higher neckset would cross nicely with a draft.

When I was looking at potentials people on here did a great job pointing out things like neckset, etc. that can impact what a horse is more suitable for (driving vs riding, etc.)

When the time comes for me I am sure I will be doing the same thing.

Thanks everyone.

[Tharg]

Cheers StormArion

[benjixchorse]

i've got something along the lines of irish draft cross connemara, and hes great! he has an amazing jump but again i have the problem coaxing him into a dressage frame, i guess because he has quite a chunky neck

[Alle]

My friend owns a gorgeous Clyde cross that is doing very well in his dressage training. There aren't many shows around here unfortunately, but I do think they plan to show him next year in the few that are available. It will be interesting to see how he does, although I suspect he'll do very well indeed!

His temperament is very nice too, although I don't like to stereotype temperaments to breeds. :)

[chev]

So do you think that a lighter horse with a higher neckset would cross nicely with a draft.

They can cross very well - but crossing different types is always going to be a bit of a gamble. The Shire x (Welsh x Arab) I had is typical of how well it can work; the higher head carriage and neck set of the non-draft blood (both Welsh and Arabs have more upright fronts than TB) really worked well with the Shire to give a good front on a horse with plenty of substance.

The problem is that it doesn't always work that well; my filly had a full brother with half the bone and twice the body... not a good cross at all.

The heavy half of the parentage should always be the mare, too; blood on bone and all that...

[Pink's lady]

The Shire x (Welsh x Arab) I had is typical of how well it can work

Yep, that would be Pink ;) (probably shirexwelsh)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Pink/ravilrigshow025edit.jpg

Many people have commented on how much she looks like a shire - she's got the colouring, feet and the long legs. She's just a bit small. :rolleyes: She does actually find it hard to tuck her nose in as she's thick in the throat.

She is a very good riding horse though - she moves nicely and freely, always getting dressage comments about her unexpectedly long stride.

[CanadianRider]

"but crossing different types is always going to be a bit of a gamble"

Yes I understand how that might happen. I have also known a horse that didn't turn out quite right, sticky legs and large body unfortunatly, the poor boy had a brain tumour and had to be pts before he was three years old.

"The heavy half of the parentage should always be the mare, too; blood on bone and all that..."

What is the reason for that? Any other reason than for the health issues that may occur for a lighter mare carrying a large drafty baby?


I was cruising around looking for pictures of draft crosses so I could look at their necks and I cam across a website selling hackney x drafts. I may be completely off the mark on this one but I'll take a stab at it anyway. I always thought that Hackney horses had very high active knee action, might this combined with the knee action of a draft be too much. How might a trot like this affect riding.

Here is the guy I am currently in love with a shire x standardbred how would his conformation be for riding?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v310/maria9657/865498.jpg


Pink is lovely very pretty!!

[Pink's lady]

OMG, I want - my two favorite breeds togther :D

That chaps really nice and I guess they'd produce a nice combination - draughts have upright, high kneed action and standardbreds are the exact opposite.

The horse you've posted though, is very on the forehand and will always find it hard to lift and carry himself. But apart from that he appears to be very well put together.

[CanadianRider]

Thanks, actually I noticed that myself (yay I'm getting better I am starting to notice these things, before it was more of a "he's pretty").

I am going to go see if I can find any other horses of the same breeding.

[BackintheSaddle]

These days I'm riding a perch/TB (half and half) and he's lovely ridden. Collects very nicely, springy trot, rocking horse canter. He's a bit of a beast to work with and currently very deadened to the leg, but his conformation leaves no complaints. He also has GREAT feet - the farrier is constantly in awe.

[chev]

The saying 'blood on bone' arises from the danger of putting a heavy stallion on a light mare. There's a very high chance that either the foal will grow too big for the mare, or that it won't develop properly and will end up with, say, a big head and little legs. Although it's a myth to say the mare dictates the size of the foal, what can happen is that a small mare restricts the growth of a foal (usually in a maiden where the uterus hasn't stretched yet) - it's not a naturally small foal, but can be born with uneven conformation or even limb deformities where space has made it impossible for him to grow properly. The restricted growth doesn't neccessarily mean she'll be able to give birth either.

I had a 13.3hh riding pony type (substantial but definite TB type) that was in foal to a 16.2 Shire x when I bought her. We were very lucky not to lose both her and the foal; he was massive. He also had crooked legs that took several weeks to straighten, and grew into a rather short-legged type after all that. That's pretty typical of the kind of problem that can arise.

Crossing Hackneys with drafts is an odd thing; it can sometimes result in a lovely horse, but you need to be careful that the offspring doesn't get the upright shoulder of teh draft combined with teh Hackney action. What happens then is that you tend to end up with an exaggerated knee action, but no real lengthening of stride.

The Shire x Standardbred you've posted actually has a nice, laid back shoulder; but it's also what you'd call a 'loaded' shoulder - there's a lot of it in front of his leg. That will make it hard for him to shift his weight off his forehand. He's also a little light of bone for my taste; his body looks too big for his legs.

[rabbit]

The Clydie X's are becoming very popular in Australia at the moment.

Here are some pics of my Clydie X. She does have a very high action in the trot, but it flows so beautifully... She will make a great dressage horse.