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The Trio
me and my beast :)
People that rides Draft horses

Group Lead: Ali Hegler
Created: Nov 06, 2008
Members: 172

For peolpe tha enjoys life with those gentle giants, sharing experiances, training tips, medical and hooves treatments, and have to buy XXL


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Loki 4 months old,Draft Cross
Posted By Amy Fetterhoff
on September 16, 2011, 6:10 pm
Hi All,
I adopted a copule of PMU Shire mares 3,10 years old. We love them but they are a lot of work.They weren't even halter broke when we got them 1 1/2 years ago. We have them broke to ride and doing well. I have been surprised by their personalities. They can get pretty bossy if I let them. My background is in Arabians who think very differently:)
We love the big mares, but I have had to learn to be much more demanding of them:)

Amy

Posted By Amanda Siebert
on July 1, 2011, 8:10 pm
Hi :o) I just recently started riding drafts and draft "x". For the most part they are so mellow. Although "dude" (see pic) can be quite a hand full. We recently got a clyde at the rescue where I volunteer (they thought he had heaves but now we're thinking just an allergy from his former home). Such a sweetheart (loves to bath and will sit on cross ties forever). He has good size holes in all 4 frogs :o(, but the sugar/betadine soaked cotton is working pretty well. Retired though at only 11. Love the gentle giants.

Comment By Ali Hegler
on July 3, 2011, 10:43 am

Congratulation on rescuing him and thank you!!! :) His feet are going to be a never ending challenge, but once you got them under control, everything get easier, but you always have to put special emphasis on hoof care, and laaaaaarge quantities of biotine, I give mine Biotine Plus -it is not the cheapest one in the market, but it has a very high concentration comparing to many of the other ones. also for the soaking cotton if you can get Choloidal Silver, works wonders!!! they are wonderful creatures and friends, we ae sure you will be totally inlove with your GG in no time :)
and welcome to the group!!

Posted By molly groves
on May 19, 2011, 1:01 pm
I love drafts!!!!! The first horse I leased was a 17.3 Clyd. He was my giant teddybear for 3 years. He taught me everything he could, until I stopped leasing him when I got my own horse. Sadly a few years ago he had to be put down due to an injury to his leg. I am hoping that the next horse I get will be a draft( I'm tall almost 6ft) and I'll find another gaint teddybear to take care of me..

Comment By Ali Hegler
on May 31, 2011, 9:54 am

Hi Molly!!! Welcome to this 'teddy bear' loving group ;) yes you are VERY tall, It will suit you perfectly!!. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend, its never easy :(
We hope to see you around here soon enjoying like us a gentle giant :)
Best regards ALI :)

Posted By Ali Hegler
on January 22, 2011, 10:28 am
Well It seems that nobody has had nothing to say for a while!! Hope everybody is having a mild winter full of fun with your gentle giants

Posted By Ali Petingalo
on March 2, 2010, 7:54 pm
Heyy every1, just thought i would update on me and my horse "vinnie".We r doing so well ! I am starting 2 get the hang of keeping vins head down 4 drassage. He has an awesome canter when his head is down. I am building a barn at my place, so 4 the summer he and 1 of my friends horse r coming 2 my barn. it will be so funn! Any more questions just ask me ! thanks *Ali*=)

Posted By Ali Petingalo
on January 25, 2010, 4:21 pm
heyy every1! i own a clydesdale TB..hes 16.3..best horse ever! hes like an angel 2 ride..i am learning drassge with him

Comment By Ali Hegler
on January 26, 2010, 9:14 am

What a wonderful warmblood!! I rode one like that many years ago and was soo inlove with it, but could not aford it at that time. But now I have Sebastian and would not change him for anything else, so it worked out ; ), Enjoy your horse! let us know how you guys are doing :)

Comment By Rliz Currie
on January 29, 2010, 2:25 pm

hi ali p and hi ali h so i was wondering can a horse get up to 20.3 hands? rachel told me she rode a horse at a jumper barn and they had a big work horse so i just wondering

Comment By Ali Petingalo
on January 30, 2010, 9:21 pm

well i guess so..but their is a higfhest horse that u can search on google..i think the highest horse ever recorded is 20 hh not sure though

Comment By Rliz Currie
on February 14, 2010, 3:32 pm

cool okay thank you

Posted By Carol Ann Williams
on December 9, 2009, 8:48 am
Hi everyone,
I just found your group, and it's great to find some like minded folks. I've been riding drafts for a probably 20 years now. My current mount is Nick I got him when he was 4 and trained him my self ( he's now 15) We ride trails, work cows, rope, and he will work in harness ( if he has to :) ) He prefers to be a saddle horse.
I love the drafts because in general they are a more sensible group than a lot of the lighter horses I know.
I would love to hear what traditions you all have with your horses over the holidays.

~ Carol Ann

Comment By Ali Hegler
on December 10, 2009, 9:33 am

Hy Carol Ann!! Well we seem to have many things in common ; ) I also have the 3 sizes ; ) the belgian, the welsh pony (but mine is a happy gelding) and a TB stallion, but the stallion is the most well behaved dream horse you have ever met. My Belgian loves goin out on the trail the most, but he also loves pulling things (like logs or heavy stuff-for my husband to show off) he has never 'worked'pulling anything, just for fun one day we neded a fallen tree moved, in the moment he felt the 'resistance' and "I" told him it was ok to 'step up', MAN!!! you should see his eyes!! when his body tensed and his muscles started working!! heeee waass in heaven : ). I had!! to let him do it several times , as I combined it with a 'race like signal' of -ready,set,GO!!-keeping my arm extended-like blocking-and then lifting it at the 'go' signal.We also do "Backyard Dressage" and I do natural horsmanship with all my horses. welcome to the group! : )

Comment By Ali Hegler
on December 17, 2009, 9:17 am

saw the videos in your profile!!! way too much fun!!!

Comment By Loretta Arey
on February 2, 2010, 7:42 am

Hi! YES! I actually ride my 17.2 Belgian X Irish in his rope halter. I do ground work first, then just tie up the lead to the fiador for reins. I do everything with him that way. We only trail ride, so he has see it all. We cross a rode with construction trucks, etc...He is awesome. This did NOT happen over night. When he was 6 I had to restart him because he was so spooky and I couldn't even get him tacked up! After 2 years, yes years, of only doing ground work and desensitizing I started riding him again, in a small paddock with the halter. (I know some people have issues with desensitizing, but he is a VERY sensitive horse and spooked at everything.) So, we progressed from the paddock and now here we are 4 years later. He is NOT the typical calm, slow, quiet draft. He acts more thoroughbred like. Anyway, just ask if you have questions, it is what I am most passionate about!

Loretta

Posted By regan currie
on January 8, 2010, 8:45 pm
i rode a big big big draft horse on a trail once and i fell off her then she bit me and i still have the marks in my shoulder i love her thou her name is morgan and she is at a horse camp i go to all the time i always ride her even cantering shes perfect but not the biting she shoud quit that like i said i love her and she is very very close to 20 hands she 19 some thing very hudge horse but very gentle and friendly

Comment By Ali Hegler
on January 9, 2010, 12:57 pm

Hi Regan and welcome!, well biting is not good for sure!! AAUUUCHI : ( .....wow if she is that big she may make it to the guinnes records! something that works REALLY good to discourage ANY tipe of horse that likes to bite is 'McNasty' by Equiss, spray some in your clothing (be careful of not breathing it!!) and let the horse bite at it!! or a glove, do it with different people at different times .it worked great with a nasty pony that I know (not mine, mine is an angel ; ) ) and witha an apendix of a friend that she bought out of the track and came with a few problems, in both horses did work like a charm!!..take care and thanks for visiting our group : )

Comment By Rliz Currie
on January 16, 2010, 2:51 pm

hi ali hegler im new to the site and group iv riddne a couple draft horses. i love them my fav is a fresain. and i like percherons i would love to ride one =)

Posted By Perseus LePage
on January 11, 2010, 10:45 pm
Back in 1989 I rode a Percheron across the UK and this former TB rider has been hooked on the drafts ever since. I've long term leased a Percheron, a Clydesdale cross, a Friesian Percheron, and I'd love a Shire someday. I like low level eventing, dressage, trail riding, vaulting, hunter paces and hunts, beach and cross country riding. There is nothing like a good draft or draft cross. Give me dinner plate hooves and feathered feet forever.

Comment By Perseus LePage
on January 11, 2010, 10:46 pm

edit, I owned the Friesian cross, not leased.

Comment By Ali Hegler
on January 12, 2010, 9:40 am

Wow Perseus! it seems that you really had fun 'feeling' what is to ride a 'muscle horse' with all your experience as a rider. They are simply delightful! aren't they? I hope that very soon you can get back in the saddle : )
that ride across the UK must have been an awesome experience! TELL US more about your epic rides!! : )
welcome to the group : )

Comment By Perseus LePage
on January 12, 2010, 11:30 pm

We rode from Scotland to Spain and back, ferries and all, it was a life changing experience for sure. We felt like old style highwaymen, well, without the robbing, looting, and pillaging. ;-)

Muscle horse, I love that, and so true, there is no going back if you've ridden a good one, I love the cadenced power, just the feel of all that horse underneath, and most of all their personalities.

Posted By Kristi Bowen
on October 21, 2009, 9:47 am
Hello everyone! I'm new to the group and the draft world. I purchased a 4 y/o Percheron this past weekend. He's such a sweetie! I'm excited to get things moving a long with him. He's a pleasure to be around.

Comment By Ali Hegler
on November 9, 2009, 9:09 am

Hello Kristi and Welcome! sorry for the delay on the welcoming as I have been out of town ; )
we are looking forward to hear about Your Percherons development and you enjoying him as time goes by, Whats his name? is there anything specific you are looking forward to do with him?

Comment By Kristi Bowen
on November 30, 2009, 7:51 am

His name is Randy =] He's 18.2, black with a star stripe and snip... he cracks me up. GREAT personality! He's also a very quick learner. He's learned WTC already and I just started him a month ago. I'm in love with the breed now! This is my first draft experience...

Comment By Ali Hegler
on December 5, 2009, 9:41 am

Awesome!! so great to hear!! he IS a big boy like mine!! its just so amazing how careful angd gentle they are around you !, isnt it? : )

Comment By Kristi Bowen
on December 7, 2009, 2:58 pm

yeah it is =) i rode him in a xmas parade the other day doubles with an 8 year old girl and he was the best behaved out there. first time he did doubles too. what's yours like?

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