I’ve got draft horses on the brain!!
Hey Guys and Gals,
If you follow EighteenHands on Facebook, most of you probably know that I rode a full draft for the first time on Saturday. I went out to Anglia Farm for my lesson, and rather than riding my usual mount, Shine the Haflinger, I was able to ride Paddy the Shire who had been out on lease for the winter. Paddy is over 17 hands and is the largest horse I had ever ridden. I was slightly nervous as I climbed the 3 step mounting block and pulled myself onto his back. Compared to the 15 hand horses I was used to riding, I was up HIGH and it was a long way down if I fell…Up I went and Ketherine and I started business as usual.
I don’t really know what I expected, never having ridden a full draft before, but I was very impressed at how forward Paddy was. “He’s not a lazy draft!” Katherine called to me from across the ring. “No, he certainly is not!!” I called back, quite enjoying myself. Another thing I noticed right away was the obvious length of his stride compared to the smaller horses I was used to as well as the feeling of his gait. Paddy’s movements felt as big as they were. We covered a lot of ground quickly and I had to familiarize myself with his rythm.
Over the course of my hour long lesson Paddy and I got to know each other very well. He responded to my aides, moved out under me and stayed collected for me for the entire ride. It was beautiful. Paddy and I walked, trotted, cantered, and even hopped my first cross rail together and I was able to stay connect with him better than I have with any other horse I’ve ridden (which isn’t very many). I’m not sure if I had such a good ride with Paddy because 1. My riding is improving so I am able to communicate with the horse better. 2. Paddy is an extremely willing and tolerant mount who puts up with anyone 3. I had an immediate connecting with Paddy that I haven’t experienced with any of the horses I’ve ridden or 4. A combination of all of these things.
I loved everything about this horse, and I cannot wait to ride him again. Do you own or ride a draft horse? Was your first experience on a draft “love at first ride”?
xoxo
~Lizzy
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3 comments
Permalink • 1
hey I own a draft cross. I love drafts. Huge warning once you have the draft fever you tend not to want any other horse. Everyone says that drafts are lazy and can’t jump. My mare is a shire quarter horse around 17.3 and this mare can jump. But she is definitely the one to tell u if the jumps get to small she will literally trot it if shes bored. I love draft horses!!!!!!
Permalink • 2
I finally got my own Draft this month, a 20 year old Belgian mare, after wanting one for years!
My first experience with a Draft was about seven years ago, when I went to horse camp at Zion farm in Rome, Georgia. (Previously I’d only ever ridden Quarter horses, Arabians, various ponies, and Thorughbreds)
I rode a Clydesdale/Saddlebred cross, and I was in love from the first moment I sat on him! I’ve never really had a hard time “making friends” with horses, but I’d never ridden one whose stride was such a perfect match to my own!
I was still a beginner, as far as form goes, at that time, so I never got to canter on him, but I got to canter on my mare, Katie (aka Kit-Kat) and it was the most amazing canter I’ve ever sat! I’m certain I’ll only ever have Drafts, or Draft crosses that maintain the type, from now on.
Permalink • 3
I have ridden draft horses for years. I am 5 foot 10 and 250 lbs. I have jumped them ,worked cows off them, and trail ridden for many happy hours on them. I reccommend drafts for everyone! I love their smooth gaits, steady temperament and solid strong build. I have even taken my one mare to second level in dressage.