Comment

Comment by Ann Hatfield on July 14, 2009 at 1:10am

Is there any feeling in dressage, 3-day, show jumper or hunter against a non-registered cross? PJ said, several months ago, that she bred her Belgian/Thoroughbred mare to Hanoverian stallions. PJ, if you are reading this, did you register the foals as sport horses, or were you able to do that? If you did or didn't, does it seem to matter to buyers?

Other draft-cross competitors, are you concerned about registering? About having one registered parent? How does this affect prices?

Comment by Ann Hatfield on July 9, 2009 at 12:59am

Hello all:
I have two draft-crosses from Hedgeville Farms in Manitoba. I brought them out to my place, in the Okanagan Valley, BC, as yearlings about this time last year to breed to my mammoth spotted donkey to produce sport mules for dressage, jumping, competitive driving, hunting, etc. They will be bred next year, as three-year-olds. I have had a small draft cross before, a Fjord/Belgian as a team mate for my Fjord. That girl was fun to drive and a very powerful little jumper. She was surprisingly hot, much more energetic than the laid-back purebred Fjord.

Evangeline, one of the Hedgeville fillies, is a registered half Arab (Arab dam) whose sire is Arab, paint, and Percheron and her half sister, Lotta Brass is, I believe, Thoroughbred and Belgian on the dam's side and by the same sire. It is exciting to see how athletic these now-two-year olds are. Eva, as a yearlng was chased along our log barn wall and chose to go over a six-bar gate to get rid of the Icelandic who had taken exception to something she had done.

Lotta, her half-sister, is the smartest, boldest horse I have ever worked with. She will be the first youngster in 56 years I do not ride right from scratch. As I watch her, and her very alpha-mare behavior in the little herd, and the bucking and kicking when she is irritated about something, I know I want a much younger, tougher, virtually non-throwable rider to convince her that humans stay put once mounted. I dare not let her find out early that humans can be dispensed with...Eva I will ride from the beginning. She is much more sensitive and interested in pleasing. This doesn't mean I don't think Lotta will not be an very good horse, she will be very interesting as she, so far, appears almost unafraid of anything: dump trucks bringing fill, sprinklers spraying her, snow sliding of the barn roof. She also has her feet constanty into things that she wants to examine; I would be in real trouble if she had an opposable thumb!

As a mule from a good jack and a fine mare is smart and very athletic, I think these girls will make superior mommas of fine spotted sport mules. We will see.

Comment by Lori Tankel on June 29, 2009 at 2:13pm

Well, first, the negatives: you have to get EVERYTHING BIGGER...I had to get a bigger trailer...7'6 tall and extra long. I had to get an xw Stubben saddle. Halters and bridles, xl. Blankets, size 86. And then there is the fencing..because Tucker has allergies (I will save that for another post!), he itches ALOT. And fence posts snap like toothpicks! So hot wire has become my new best friend. Luckily he has trees he can rub on and I just found some affordable scratch pads that I am going to order.
Now for the positives: Draftx's rock! I love my Thoroughbreds, but it is nice to ride a horse that has the same tempo every ride! Jumping him is so much fun, he maintains the same even beat! He has a great personality..a big puppy dog! For the most part, he is very chilled about most everything, except that ever since a deer jumped out in front of him on the trail, he is now expecting it to happen again, so right now trails aren't too fun for us! But he takes everything in stride, other than deer jumping in front of him, nothing fazes him! I have had Tucker since he was 6 months old. It is great to train your own horse, my way! I know his every thought and he knows mine! He is super talented, very smart and very personable! I am rambling, I know, but I just think the draftx's are so much fun! Even my daughters, who event TB's, love to get on him and have a more laid back ride!

Comment by Barbara Sky Horse on June 29, 2009 at 2:00pm

Ohhhh My Gosh Lori!!!
You replied and I somehow missed it. :-0

Draft Crosses …
After 2 decades AWAY from horses, I’m only JUST making me comeback into Horses ...any horses ... PERIOD!!!
Just now ’m busy busy busy … remodeling my barn, building new fences, and shopping shopping shopping for that horse(s) that will hopefully become my New Best Friend!!

I hadn’t originally been interested in a Draft cross, I just honestly had never thought about them at all … I have No Experience with them, or Draft breeds PERIOD!

When I first started my shopping, I was looking for an Andalusian or a Lusitano,
( but also secretly wanted something BIGGER )
While researching what seems like a bazillion Breeder’s web sites,
I came across one in particular that offered on their “sales” page “Spanish Normans”
I REALLY Fell For the Spanish Normans HARD!!
I Loved the idea of the Andalusian or Lusitano crossed to the Percheron.
So on my list of potential horses to purchase, I do have 2 Red Percheron mares which bred to a cremello Lusitano (that I have in mind) would produce (no ifs, ands, or buts) a Palomino Spanish Norman (wouldn’t THAT make a Pretty Dressage partner??)
….Ohhhh You’re in Florida Lori!! … so is one of those Percheron mares!!

Anyway … long story made short, it was that initial “research” of the Percheron horse, that led me to “Draft” breeds .. And then my Interest in Draft Crosses in general!!
And Now … I’m suddenly finding myself REALLY drawn to the colored Draft Crosses!!

Soooooooo … I don’t have my Draft Cross companion YET, but that’s the direction my head’s going!!
I’m hoping Seriously to get some input from knowledgeable, experienced Draft Cross owners about EVERY THING regarding these wonderful horses!!
And I’m waiting on one foot and then the other in feverish anticipation of Mr. William Micklem’s Blog contribution with regards to his opinion
( … *whispers* … he said he’d be addressing that topic in the near future … I Can Hardly WAIT!! )

I’m just like a sponge here Lori!!
Looking for …and soaking Up ALL The Info I can get!!

…… hmmmmm ….
Shall I just ask my questions “here” ???
Or do you think I should start a specific “New Discussion” with regards to specific questions ... for instance ...
"Transporting an Exceptionally BIGGER Way Heavier horse" ... surely a Bigger, heavier Duty Trailer is called for.

and Please … I’d LOVE to know more about Your “Tucker”
And what you think about Draft Crosses … the Plus and Negatives.
Thanks Lori,
~ Barby

Comment by Lori Tankel on June 28, 2009 at 4:56pm

Well..lets change that!
How are your draft crosses dealing with the heat? I am in Central Fla and it has been horrible. I try not to ride past 9am or before 7:30 pm. During the day the horses are in their stalls with fans on. Tucker seems to be handling the heat ok for a draftx. It was funny, today we had a "cool down"..there is a tropical storm coming that we are to get tomorrow, so it has been breezy all day..rare for Central Fla. He was so fresh, I really had to hold him back! Usually he has the same quiet relaxed pace, today I thought I was on one of my TB's!

Comment by Barbara Sky Horse on June 28, 2009 at 3:48pm

....hmmmmmmm.....I must admit ...
I’m Honestly Shocked at the lack of traffic in through here.
~ Barby

Comment by Barbara Sky Horse on June 24, 2009 at 7:46pm

I grew up with Arabians and Thoroughbreds, then rolled on to compete heavily with the more stereotypical Eventing and Dressage Breeds … now .. after 2 decades away from horses to pursue a serious business career .. I’m BACK!!
But these days, my heart and dreams are wrapped completely around the uncomplicated, gentle giant Draft Crosses!!
The More I Learn … The More I Like!!
The More of them I experience … the more my love for them grows!!!

Comment by Barnmice Admin on June 12, 2009 at 9:21am

Hi All!
William Micklem has added a terrific blog post this morning that I thought might interest this group. Would love to hear your ideas! :) http://www.barnmice.com/profiles/blogs/rats-rewards-amp-results-part

Comment by Lori Tankel on May 26, 2009 at 10:01pm

I love my Perch-QH. He was a PMU foal, I adopted him when he was 6 months, he turned 6 yesterday! He events and is awesome!!!

Comment by Laurie on April 9, 2009 at 9:51am

I have a Shire/Thoroughbred cross mare - she is awesome - I event, showjump and hunt her. Also ride her in the mountains near Calgary Alberta - she is willing to try anything.

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