How agile are Draft Horses?

Question

I want a Draft Horse for their built body and sturdiness. But are they agile for trail riding? Do you know of any problems or expenses or benifits of having a draft horse or a half draft?

Answer 1

It depends really, they vary.

you will have trouble with dressage because they are bread for carrying very heavy loads and pulling heavy carts.

You should be ok just for hacking out on though.

Answer 2

Just about any horse can make a good trail horse if it is sound and healthy. Drafts are great horses, they are strong and typically have great temperaments. A TB/draft cross is also a good choice, you get a little more versatility with the same big bones and sturdiness.

Drafts are not likely suited for jumping or speed events, they are very big and heavy and not as agile as a TB or QH in some events. But for trail you should be just fine.  

Answer 3

I've known some Belgian drafts that were good on trails, and one that ran barrels and flags only at weekly saddle club playnights.  They are hard to keep.  These guys weigh close to or over a ton.  They can easily push fences and gates over, and require larger and sturdier stalls, and they eat double what an average horse eats.  They wouldn't be the best choice for the more challenging rides, especially through woods on narrow trails. They also require larger tack, so that is more expensive.  And the farrier usually charges more to do their hooves, and medications are double the dosage which means double the price.

They tend to develop mud fever (scratches), and they are harder to groom.  All that said, they are wonderful horses!

Answer 4

Draft horses can be quite agile. A large percheron mare I know well recently jumped over a 4 foot fence at a Parelli clinic. I am not making this up! But usually she just wants to trot around and isn't up for cantering, and frankly they just aren't made that way anyway.

They can do fine on trail riding, the only thing about draft horses is they may not be up for cantering.

A half draft is an excellent idea. You can get one mixed with quarter horse or thoroughbred. The TB combo is a great one, I recently saw a TB/Perheron cross that was a fine looking horse. He had some of those big draft horse characteristics but had the sleek racing legs of the TB. If you want a draft horse but want a little more get up and go and agility you might consider that option.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 5

You can get a "hitch " draft . This is obviosly not a breed, but these are the drafts that pick their feet up higher.  Generally the kind that you see in shows and they are actually very graceful and not clumsy at all.  Aslo croosbreeds are a very good place to look.  You can easily find all kinds of crosses including gaited crosses.

Answer 6

The Irish Sport Horse is a wonderful and versatile horse, usually a cross of 3/4 Irish Draft and 1/4 TB.

Check out this link. The photo on the front page should tell you everything you want to know about how agile they are!

http://teamwindchase.com/irishhorse.htm

Answer 7

Hi- I've always like the big ol' drafts myself-Yes they could be trail horses- One real big difference with them, compared to a reg. sized horse- Is how much it costs to shoe those big ol' feet.