Belgian Ardennes

[Carmen6]

Long term lurker here looking for opinions and experiences of this teddy bear of a horse breed.

For those that own them, what are they like to ride? I've always imagined that they might be a bit uncomfortable, but interested to hear from those that ride them.

Being a very heavy breed, how much more would they eat compared to the average Welsh Section D for example? I gather they're very good doers and keep weight on well; are they particularly at risk of laminitis?

And finally, with regards to colour, (I know this is a superficial subject, I'm just curious) I had a quick look at the breed standards and I read that black is rare and not eligible for registration. Is black generally frowned upon and avoided? I think they're stunning!

I think you can probably guess where I've found my recent inspiration (think opinions on this video thread).

Breed information is easy to come by, but the practical stuff and owner experience seems less accessible.

Any help, information, experiences or general musings much appreciated. If you know of any useful Ardennes websites or blogs, preferably in English, that would be useful too.

So, what do Horse & Hound forum members think of the Belgian Ardennes?

 

[Mongoose11]

I think they are beautiful and I did try an Ardennes x when I was looking. She happened to be the second most awful ride I have ever had but I don't think that was her breed - more her education. She put her whole weight through her mouth!

Nothing more to add except I could see one being fairly expensive to keep - possibility of specialist tack being needed is quite high, if stabled during the winter you are probably looking at the best part of a bale a day!

I am sure someone will be along soon, I know there is a user that has a giant Ardennes mare but can't for the life of me remember who it is... Sorry!

 

[tallyho!]

Oh how interesting! I've just come back from Belgium and saw quite a few Belgian Draught types... I would have thought they were kept in huge areas but no, tiny little paddocks by the sides of roads. Barest of patches and some had a tub of hay. They're huge aren't they? I was asking my belgian friend about them over there and they are not as popular as riding horses as you think. Mainly specialist yards breed them for showing or plough work.

You need FanyDuChamp. She has a beautiful example of a heavy breed and hopefully she will be along soon to give you the lowdown on feed ect.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

My mare isn't an Ardennes - she is a Westphalian Draft horse but is very similar to the Ardennes (I think that they have common ancestors). She is very comfortable to ride, a friend likens her to a sofa, but can be strong. I ride her in a NS Universal for hacking, although she is fine in a Tranz for schooling. I was told that she had run away with her previous owner - a novice man. She is an excellent weight carrier, and enjoys teaching an 18stone beginner (I only allow 20 min sessions). She is almost completely bombproof, very affectionate, loyal and quite cheeky.
She is a very good doer and was massively overweight when she came to me. We have got her weight down to a normal weight over 2 yrs. She doesn't eat much more than our Appaloosa. She does need much larger shoes than normal and has an unfortunate habit of folding the farrier up by leaning on him, luckily she only has fronts. Her bridle is the biggest I have ever had, even though I've had Clydesdales before. She is dominant in the herd and can need firm handling on the ground. She is definitely worth her not inconsiderable weight in gold and will never be sold on. Please pm me if you are considering buying from a dealer.
I hope this helps.

 

[Nicnac]

I spent many years in Belgium and, for me, they are for farming and meat!

However there is a great stud book in Belgium

http://www.chevaldetraitardennais.be/index.php?lg=fpdb/chev_fr&page1=a-historique.htm

and if you really are interested you should go to the Country Fair in Libramont (Ardennes) at the end of July. You will see the most amazing horses there and it's a beautiful part of Belgium and a great weekend!

 

[Carmen6]

Lovely, thanks for your input.

I took it as a given that tack would be a challenge, along with shoes. I don't think they would be the easiest breed to live with due to their size. What about veterinary care with medicine dosage based on weight? Hah!

You could look at ownership of an Ardennes as being like having 2 good sized horses rolled into one.

 

[tallyho!]

I spent many years in Belgium and, for me, they are for farming and meat!

I wasn't going to say...

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Lovely, thanks for your input.

I took it as a given that tack would be a challenge, along with shoes. I don't think they would be the easiest breed to live with due to their size. What about veterinary care with medicine dosage based on weight? Hah!

You could look at ownership of an Ardennes as being like having 2 good sized horses rolled into one.

Mine lives in the same stable that has housed 2x Clydies and a Shire. She is the only one who has needed to have it rebuilt, although at 16hh, she is shorter - she just leans on things and squashes them!

 

[Carmen6]

Teehee, I can't reply fast enough before somebody else replies with more lovely information. So thank you all for replying. All very interesting.

Thanks for the comprehensive reply, Pearlsasinger. It sounds as if you understand what you're taking on that they can be worth the extra effort.

I think I'm a little bit in love.

 

[Oberon]

My Tank is Ardennes x ID - so he is a 'sports model' .

He is gentle, sensible and safe BUT he is sensitive, agile and powerful. Boy can he jump

He loves to work!
I took him in the indoor school the other night and put some grids up. I just stood back and said, "Go on" and away he went, cantered round and jumped them all, then trotted over to me for a congratulation each time .

He has great hooves, lives on fresh air and is pretty indestructible (touch wood). He doesn't need fancy boots or any rugs.....He takes about 20% effort to look after (compared to the 80% my beloved Arab needed).

I broke him in bitless and prefer to ride him that way, although he has been ridden bitted too. I use a treeless saddle as that is my preference.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10151651112478242&set=vb.691458241&type=3&theater

I like this info
http://www.thejoyofhorses.com/oct98/ardenneshistory.htm

 

[HudsonsDad]

I have a Belgium Draft which I use as my everyday hack, we also show and do dressage. (and we place )
He eats me out of house and home and thinks fences are for using as tooth picks.
Most of his tack is XXF and although his are not the most comfortable of gaits I prefer him to my wife's Warmblood.

 

[tallyho!]

Obe's, I didn't realise The Tank was Ardennes x!!

 

[Oberon]

Lovely, thanks for your input.

I took it as a given that tack would be a challenge, along with shoes. I don't think they would be the easiest breed to live with due to their size. What about veterinary care with medicine dosage based on weight? Hah!

You could look at ownership of an Ardennes as being like having 2 good sized horses rolled into one.

They have good feet. With the appropriate care and diet - shoes shouldn't be needed. The Tank did 280 competitive miles in his first endurance season - all barefoot.

Tack - I buy Xfull or WB sized bridles off eBay.

The Tank is 16.1hh (taller than the average Ardennes due to his other blood) but he weighed only 625kg when he went on a weighbridge . I just buy two wormers or ones that go up to 700kg.

Although pure Ardennes are as wide and powerful as rhinos - they are usually only 15hh - so not too bad.

PS - Despite having a bladder the size of a space hopper.....The Tank is less messy in the stable than his 14.3, Arabian stable mate was

 

[Oberon]

Obe's, I didn't realise The Tank was Ardennes x!!

He is by Pink Panthar (Ardennes X ID) out of an ID x WB x TB mare.

So, only really a quarter Ardennes to be fair - but he looks and acts much like one .

 

[Irishcobs]

I own a Brabant (the Ardennes big brother) cross.
She is not a normal big horse to ride, she is very forward going and throws some shapes. She has an amazing jump on her, everyone is shocked that something her size can jump how she does. She is very comfortable to ride.
Food wise with mine depends on the work load. When she had the winter off after a hock op she was fed nothing but hay and was a really good doer. This winter being in light/medium work she had been feed ab lib hay, plus 2kgs of pony nuts and 3 kgs of alfa a lite a day. She has maintained her weight on this. I think any horse can get laminitis but definitely watch the spring grass with them.
My girl is a blue roan but changes colour with the seasons, atm she is almost a bay roan, but in a couple of months time she will be dark again.

Oh and she was rescued from the slaughter house in Belgium!

ETA: she is 17hh, weighs 636 on a weigh tape so about 700 on a bridge at a guess, wears an extra full headcoller and bridle, only a wide saddle though and is on the biggest bought size of shoe, any bigger and she will need special made ones.

 

[wyrdsister]

I have an Ardennes X TB mare. She broke down at 8 (KS, EMS), but before that she was an utter superstar of a horse, talented little dressage mare, lovely shape over fences, wonderfully easy to train. She's retired now and has been for a couple of years, but I still missing riding her every day. None of my others, however lovely, quite match up.

 

[KarlyHT]

I had a Belgian Ardennes for 3 years and she was fabulous!

Amazing temperament, always tried her hardest and we ended up doing ODE's, hunter trials and xc upto 2ft6.

Great feet - definitely suit barefoot.

Tack was all extra full but no problems.

Don't really think she cost me any more to keep. Good doer in every way.

Let me know if you want any specific info. I don't have a photo bucket account but happy to send you photos if you send me your e mail.

 

[Happytohack]

If you do decide to get one, make sure you don't get one that was recently imported and bred for meat. There was an unscrupulous dealer some years ago that did exactly that. Buying them for meat money & then selling them on over here as heavyweight hacks for 5 times what he paid for them. The meat breeders are not note rested in confirmation & temperament. I prefer Comtois. There is lady in Hampshire who has some stunning ones.

 

[Carmen6]

Thanks again for the replies and info everybody. If I decide the breed is a definite option, I shall pester furthur.

From hearing what those with experience of similar breeds have had to say, these types of horses don't sound too impractical or particularly out of reach. And imagine the help they could provide with the gardening? A bit of landscaping here, the removal of a tree there... What's that; you need help moving that sofa? *straps up teddy ned to said furniture*

I did get the impression that they were perhaps being imported for buttons and sold on for thousands to unsuspecting buyers, especially given that these dealers hype them up to be perfect for the novice.

What is it that makes some examples substandard, such as those intended for the meat market? Is it just the usual confirmation, temperament and genetic defect issues that can happen with any indiscriminate breeding? Or is there anything typically bad / specific to the Ardennes?

My idea would be to source a youngster from a decent breeder, even if that means going abroad, hence my question about the black coat colour. I don't imagine any decent breeder would produce black with it being outside the breed standard? Pah, I'm just being fussy, but I'm still curious.

I love the idea that they can be around 15hh. It's one of the attributes that attracted me to them. I have a chance of not looking like a pea on an elephant.

 

[Carmen6]

Oh, and one of my thoughts was to perhaps go along to the heavy horse trekking centre where they have an Ardennes available for hacking. It would give me an idea of what they feel like to ride. The comments here on that have been quite encouraging.

The only thing this thread is missing is piccies! Feel free to post pics of Ardennes or similar breeds you guys have been mentioning.

 

[sandy3924]

My horse was bred on a meat farm in Belgium and we think he is Ardennes x. He's now 15.1hh and weighs about 500kgs but is constantly on a strict diet as he piles weight on by simply looking at grass. He has a wonderful temperament.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

There is Swedish Ardennes too, 1873 C G Wrangel imported Belgian Ardennes and began crossing them with Swedish Coldblooded horses, and occasionally they still import a new Belgian Ardennes stallion, to improve the Swedish Ardennes breed. I don't have an Ardennes, and I know they're not Belgian Ardennes, but I couldn't resist posting a few videos from YouTube with Swedish Ardennes.

Kadrilj with Samarin, Susanna, Sepide och Sibel (four Swedish Ardennes):
[youtube]DDrxm_bNnK8[/youtube]

I've only ridden a North Swedish horse bareback, but an Ardennes looks just as comfortable to ride bareback:
[youtube]d9K-d-gh7uE[/youtube]

Best example I could find of that some really can jump too (Warning, there is photos of young children without riding hat on the horse while nobody is even holding the horse in the video, obviously she thinks her horse is great and super safe, I still don't understand it, and to then include such photos in a youtube video *sigh* , anyhow if anyone doesn't want to see it, don't watch from 0:45 and 9 seconds forward):
[youtube]GchUxek6gDA[/youtube]

North Swedish Horses and a Swedish Ardennes pulling a sleigh (just because I enjoy seeing it):
[youtube]rPqR6ENt6HQ[/youtube]

And last, what do you do when one of the cars is stuck in the car park after a Swedish Ardennes club meating...
[youtube]VSwlI2qINM0[/youtube]

 

[KarlyHT]

 

[KarlyHT]

 

[KarlyHT]

 

[Kikke]

You want picies?? We have plenty. Meet turnip van der schaakhoeve. Our 5 year old 17.1 Belgian draft
First heavy horse show henley show

Came third in a big group. Very proud of his and my hubby

Does a lovely canter

We have 3 of them at the yard ( two Belgian drafts and one Ardennes, they are different breeds, the strawberry roan in this pic is the Ardennes, the other two are Belgian drafts, and there are the some as the Brabant just different breed registrar )

Our doesn't take extra full we do have special draft tack (except for his saddle)
We own a welsh cob as well and there are as differ as day and night both in character and way of going. But I must say turnip is as comfy as they come and I could canter him all day!!
We keep him barefoot and lives out because that is what he prefers. But he is such a good boy and will live in when needed.
In general not the best breed to keep barefoot but ours does great.
If you do get one make sure he is mud fever free and keep his feathers on!!

We love him to death the best horse we have ever bought ( please don't tell that to our welshie muffin )

 

[Pearlsasinger]

If you do decide to get one, make sure you don't get one that was recently imported and bred for meat. There was an unscrupulous dealer some years ago that did exactly that. Buying them for meat money & then selling them on over here as heavyweight hacks for 5 times what he paid for them. The meat breeders are not note rested in confirmation & temperament. I prefer Comtois. There is lady in Hampshire who has some stunning ones.

I think he might be doing something similar again

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I did get the impression that they were perhaps being imported for buttons and sold on for thousands to unsuspecting buyers, especially given that these dealers hype them up to be perfect for the novice.

Mine had worked in a RS previously and had then been sold to a family for the novice husband but she's not really a novice ride, although she is absolutely bombproof - she is too strong and quite opinionated, although she is great for a complete beginner under close supervison.



My idea would be to source a youngster from a decent breeder, even if that means going abroad, hence my question about the black coat colour. I don't imagine any decent breeder would produce black with it being outside the breed standard? Pah, I'm just being fussy, but I'm still curious.


D

I have the passport from the stud where she was bred in Germany, she was imported aged 12 - I think she was in foal at the time.


ETA YorksG might be along soon with a photo

 

[Kikke]

Eventhough there are few around black is totally acceptable. There are 3 main colours, black-chestnut-bay and 4 sub colours from that dapple grey- blue roan- bay roan- strawberry roan. Those are the official colourings of a Belgian draft and a Ardennes and therefore acceptable. Anything else isn't

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

I worked at a RS where there was an Ardennes. She had originally been bred for meat and then 'rescued'.

She was a PITA I'm sorry to say, built like a tank with no respect for personal space. It took months even to get her to pick her feet up as she knew exactly how big and strong she was and would just say NO. To ride she was very comfortable but it was all her way. If she decided to plant, that was the end of it. To be fair, the RS were trying to train her using parellie (!!!) which she just laughed at. I remember she also had to be ridden in a headcollar for the first 2 months as they couldn't get a bridle to fit, had to order a specially made one in the end.

They sold her eventually to a chap who used her for plowing. She loved it. Hard work was much more her thing.

I think the ones bred for meat have not had the ground manners installed which is a major problem at that size and strength.