Any one own a ‘sporty’ Shire horse??

[Goldenstar]

Alf is either Shire or Clydesdale x TB, and whilst he has been fantastic, his soundness has always been an issue. He retired from competition at 11 years old, and whilst he is still in work at 23, it has been an expensive struggle to keep him comfortable.

I always assumed he was a shire x I did not realise you did not know .

 

[Mule]

That’s what’s missing in market now the half draught something lighter and or smaller crosses are much much rarer than they where fifty years ago .
shire /Tb or the three quarter bred version of that where the mare is one more outcross out .Even the trusty ID / TB cross is hard to find ( not my favourite cross in temperament department as if the get the difficult trait of the TB and the ID they can be a complete pain ) are hard to find .
These types of horses where the norm for horses for adults in my youth .

There's still a lot of TB/ID in Ireland. Mine has an ideal temperament but he has skinny little legs, a body that is too muscular for skinny little legs and dinner plate hooves ?‍

In saying that, the draught temperament and the TB athleticism is a lovely mix. All mine have been ID/TB with varying amounts of blood. The exception was the old ID mare. She is a heavier ID type but was a fantastic jumper in her day.

 

[Caol Ila]

Draft crosses are the poor man's warmblood in the US, so there are lots of them. Some of them are conformational nightmares, but some are nice riding horses that don't cost upwards of $40,000. Maybe not anyone's GP prospect (although some of them have achieved the FEI levels), but how many of us need that anyway? They became really popular as sporthorses in the early 2000s. When I bought my horse as a seven year old in 2000, I though she was pretty cool and unique. It was like getting a Friesian (who looks nothing like a Friesian and definitely did not cost as much)! A couple years later, it seemed as if everyone and their brother had a Percheron, Shire, Belgian, or Clyde crossed with a QH or TB.

 

[GingerTrotter]

I have an 8 year old clysdale x QH, He's 16.1hh and pretty chunky. I dont jump him as its not my thing but he doesn enjoy the odd small log out on a hack and i've done small sets of bounce grids with him for fun during lock down with him when our activities elsewhere were limited and he was quite good at it, remarkably athletic!
We do low level dressage (prelim just now). He gets constant comments of needs "more hind leg travel", "needs to step through more" etc but my instrustor says its not that he cant do it as although he is cobby he doesnt have the cob legs that cant bend, hes just a bit lazy He was only backed as a 6 year old so its all pretty new to him anyway. When he gets it right in the school he feels like nothing i've even ridden, just beautiful self carriage, so athletic and lots of power but not exposive with it.
He was a lovely brain and loves the challenge of new things to learn so i'm hopefully he'll be a lovely riding horse over his life time.
The plan eventually is do some some endurance on him (pleasure rides and 30km max) and see how he likes that although i've recently discovered he's riggy so pony parties are on hold for now as his behaviour is too stressful. so until thats sorted out he's a home horse, which suits as at the moment anyway.
I've had alot of horses over the years and despite his breeding (which i thought must have been a field accident!) he shoots straight into my top 3 horses of my life, just due to his lovely nature (when no in company he wants to shag!) his versatility, his attitude to ridden work and how gentle and lovely he is with my small kids. He so easy to do too - loves a stable, runs on fresh air, etc. Love him!

 

[FireCracker238]

Wasn’t really sure how to word the title. I window shop horses a lot and have seen a few adverts recently for full bred Shire horses as all rounders/riding club types which I’m sure some are probably capable of this, but my question would be about long term soundness of heavier horses doing such work? Do heavier breeds such as this stand up to all round tasks including jumping/ xc etc? Just a musing really!

An example of the types I have seen -

https://www.donedeal.ie/horses-for-sale/stunning-shire-horse-for-new-home/26294254

The ad is now up as sold ?

 

[Surbie]

That is a weird looking horse - like one of those German Shepherds with the awful slopey back.

Mine is unknown parentage but we suspect he has some Shire in him. He's 15.1-ish but has a Shire-size head... He can and does jump happily (sometimes to get into the resting field ), but I only ask him occasionally, not high and never many in one session. He's just not built for it.

 

[ImmyS]

The ad is now up as sold ?

?? I wonder if he went for the full asking price

 

[FireCracker238]

?? I wonder if he went for the full asking price

It wouldn't surprise me ?‍. Totally irrelevant but theres a wind sucking school master on the same website going for 8k, he's been advertised longer than sporty shire but no price drop yet.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Ted the Twit better watch his step.

 

[planete]

Coblet is only 13.2 but is sporting quite a moustache now he is growing his winter coat. Does it meam he might have some shire blood in his non sporting veins?

 

[jumbyjack]

Oh dear poor horse, I don't know whose back end he has but it's not his for sure.

 

[Adoni123]

No but I dream of a big shire/clydesdale type crossed with a tb to do low level eventing on! There is one local and it's lovely and does well in the 80/90cm.

 

[millikins]

Years ago I believe there was an Aussie SJ took a Clyde x round Hickstead Derby. Bill somebody? I recall they had a lot of faults but the horse was young and I think they got all the way round.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Years ago I believe there was an Aussie SJ took a Clyde x round Hickstead Derby. Bill somebody? I recall they had a lot of faults but the horse was young and I think they got all the way round.

Didn't Ryans Son have a dose of Clyde in him.

 

[Equi]

I saw that ad and my first thought was oh dear. He might be a lovely horse, and he is the type im looking at, but i could not get past that back end.

 

[shamrock2021]

He got massed up confirmation. I actually feel sorry for the person who bought this horse.

 

[millikins]

Didn't Ryans Son have a dose of Clyde in him.

He certainly looked like it. I can't find the one I'm thinking of but turned up Wiston Bridget, half Clyde who jumped round the Derby with Tim Stockdale.

 

[Flicker]

I used to ride a friend’s shire / warmblood who was competing advanced medium at 22. His coffin joints did for him at the end. She was very conscientious with him though - he was always fit, had muscle in the right place, had a physio visit every quarter, plenty of turnout, good tack. Really, no expense spared. I think that definitely helped with the mileage.

 

[SBJT]

I have an 8 year old clysdale x QH, He's 16.1hh and pretty chunky. I dont jump him as its not my thing but he doesn enjoy the odd small log out on a hack and i've done small sets of bounce grids with him for fun during lock down with him when our activities elsewhere were limited and he was quite good at it, remarkably athletic!
We do low level dressage (prelim just now). He gets constant comments of needs "more hind leg travel", "needs to step through more" etc but my instrustor says its not that he cant do it as although he is cobby he doesnt have the cob legs that cant bend, hes just a bit lazy He was only backed as a 6 year old so its all pretty new to him anyway. When he gets it right in the school he feels like nothing i've even ridden, just beautiful self carriage, so athletic and lots of power but not exposive with it.
He was a lovely brain and loves the challenge of new things to learn so i'm hopefully he'll be a lovely riding horse over his life time.
The plan eventually is do some some endurance on him (pleasure rides and 30km max) and see how he likes that although i've recently discovered he's riggy so pony parties are on hold for now as his behaviour is too stressful. so until thats sorted out he's a home horse, which suits as at the moment anyway.
I've had alot of horses over the years and despite his breeding (which i thought must have been a field accident!) he shoots straight into my top 3 horses of my life, just due to his lovely nature (when no in company he wants to shag!) his versatility, his attitude to ridden work and how gentle and lovely he is with my small kids. He so easy to do too - loves a stable, runs on fresh air, etc. Love him!

Lol I feel ya. They’re so long that’s why it’s so difficult. I’ve had to start dressage just to stop him being so strung out. But I have to admit a Clyde x QH is an amazing combination when it’s right. That power is amazing and they’re so floaty but they have a good brain too.

 

[Melody Grey]

The ad is now up as sold ?

...give it 6 months and await the ‘why has my Expensive yet poorly bred sports shire horse broken down?’ thread.
I hope for everyone’s sake he’s going to be getting a less athletic life.

 

[FireCracker238]

Ted the Twit better watch his step.

I'm a little bit in love with Ted ?