comtois versus uk heavy breeds

[marlyclay]

Just been looking on horsemart and have noticed an increase in the trading of the comtois breed as a heavy riding horse,which as stated in the advert is now being introduced into the uk.The dealer has 3 more yearlings for sale.
I am sad that we are allowing our own heavy UK breeds to slowly die out.The suffolk punch is so rare,as is the Shire and the clydesdale .All of these breds can be ridden .Other weight carriers include the Cleveland bay,also on the endangered list.
Please ,please consider a british breed first if you are looking for a heavy.I just don't understand the british mentality of looking for a cheaper option abroad when we desperately need to preserve our own heritage breeds from extinction .

 

[Battyoldbint]

ditto above

 

[SirenaXVI]

Worse news - many of these comtois are bred for meat therefore conformation is not the first priority sadly.

I do agree, it is very sad that our native heavies are slowly declining in numbers.

 

[Zebedee]

Couldn't agree more.

 

[ellamanamou]

yes i agree our cold blooded breeds would make the placid riding plods that a lot of people are looking for . hopefully one day they will come back into fashion when people realise that most warmbloods need more stimulous than the average hobby rider can give. these breeds are normally very good doers as well and the cost of feeding is around the same. and they have a unique beauty.

 

[LauraWheeler]

Suffork Punches rule.

The suffork punch is my favorate horse breed and one day when i can afford to own one i will. I just hope it's not to late.

Why do people buy horses from abroud so much? we nearly lost many of our native pony breeds

but they are improving in numbers now.

I just hope more people wake up to the heavy horses plite before it's to late.

 

[TheresaW]

I have a Suffolk cross. He is more Suffolk than anything else, I would say at least 3/4. One day, I would love to own a full Suffolk. When he isn't getting into trouble, he is a fantastic character and never fails to put a smile on your face.

 

[dozzie]

Perhaps if the heavy breeds were given ridden classes at big shows people would begin to consider them as riding horses?

It comes back to marketing I think. Look at the popularity of vanners/traditionals and similar nowadays. 20 years ago no-one wanted a coloured horse. Now there are classes for coloureds/traditionals and suddenly they have become popular. They have become acceptable.

But the heavy horses such as shires and suffolk punches are only shown in hand or pulling a dray. Maybe it should be made acceptable to see shires etc ridden and shown to be ridden.

 

[DunRoamin]

I'm in manchetser at the moment and have seen more clydies since tuesday here than i have in my home town in the last few years so i'm hoping thats a goos sign

if i could afford it i'd have a clydie or shire for my dad but i must Admit clydie's are my favorite heavies

 

[dozzie]

If county shows held classes for ridden heavies of different breeds it would be fab. With a HOYS championship!

 

[Happytohack]

These comtois are being advertised by Reflex Rescue Rehoming. There have been many threads on here about the rights or wrongs of buying horses bred for meat, from French farmers.
Luckily, our own heavy breeds are increasing in popularity.

 

[Ellies_mum2]

I agree with dozzie. If the larger breeds were shown being ridden it would change peoples perception of them. I was watching last years Royal Show on telly and the heavies were only shown in hand.

Maybe any/all show organisers adding ridden heavy classes is the way forward?

 

[hellybelly6]

I have a clydey x highland and have to admit that clydeys are great. They are not the slow plodders people seem to think they are.

They are spirited and sensitive and boy are they fast! My friend has 4 clydes 2 of which she has bred herself.

My clydey has a thing for show jumping.

I hope to have a suffok punch too one day.

I am not a horse show type of person, but saying that, up here in scotland, there are classes for ridden clydes and I think there should be more classes for ridden heavies. Its the only way to save these magnificant breeds and to show off that they are not just for pulling carts and that they have hidden talents!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Happytohack]

Have a look at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YD_wRVGDo
to see what Clydesdales can do

At last years Royal Norfolk Show there were classes for ridden heavies. Sadly there was only one entrant, but it was a start.

 

[blackcob]

[ QUOTE ]
Have a look at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23YD_wRVGDo
to see what Clydesdales can do

At last years Royal Norfolk Show there were classes for ridden heavies. Sadly there was only one entrant, but it was a start.

[/ QUOTE ]

I love that video - if you think you get a buzz out of riding a normal horse at that pace, imagine what being on one of those feels like! They are just pure power and it must be such a thrill.

One of these days when I win the lottery and have my own land

I'll buy a big old shire for my ample-sized dad to plod around on. They are beautiful creatures and deserve our every effort to preserve them.

French heavy horses can be equally stunning; I've met a gorgeous driving team of Percherons in the past and I couldn't fault them for their conformation or temperament, but these horses were bred specifically for driving and not for the continental meat trade like so many entering this country.

 

[Happytohack]

[quote
I've met a gorgeous driving team of Percherons in the past and I couldn't fault them for their conformation or temperament, but these horses were bred specifically for driving and not for the continental meat trade like so many entering this country.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly - the horses the OP saw advertised were "rescued" from the French meat trade. Our heavies are bred for temperament, substance, conformation etc., which is why they are so fantastic

 

[ucmeicu]

It is a shame uk heavy breeds are so hard to come across as I personally would have loved a suffolk punch cross, they seem rarer than hens teeth. Whilst it would be great if more people bred UK heavies this will take time. The heavy horse society welcomes the comtois and appreciates all the qualities this breed of horse has. They compete in the UK and have good results. Regardless of whether they are bred for meat some of these horses have very good breeding and are (or are eligible to be) registered in France. The argument reguarding whether horses bred for meat being imported is seperate from the issue of this breed verses Uk breeds. Dont forget Percherons and Ardennes which all compete against uk breeds aswell. So either this is another chance to have a dig at French horses that have been rescued, as posts above mention, or a genuine post about foreign horses taking the place of the UK heavies which are in short supply. How many of you have looked up the breed characteristics of the comtois? They are lovely horses, very willing,friendly and versatile .. as well as tasty to the French and Italiens.
http://www.heavyhorseworld.co.uk/index.p...9&Itemid=91

http://www.heavyhorsedrivingtrials.co.uk/heavyhorsedrivingtrialsevents.html

 

[Cuffey]

There is a class for ridden Clydesdales at the Royal Highland Show

 

[traceyjoanne]

i have seen the said advert and i have to admit they look like nice safe heavy horses
not everything is about showing and there are people that want a nice safe horse just to plod around on or enjoy looking after especially if the horse has been mistreated in the past and been rescued

 

[dozzie]

But to promote our native heavies and stop the breeds from dying out it is essential to show people that they can be ridden and indeed make safe riding horses as well as driving horses. Of course not all people want to show a horse but that is not the point. The point is to demonstrate that they can be used as riding horses and have a value as such, therefore promoting the breeds. Clearly a few county shows have already started to hold classes but they will disappear if not supported. So come on all you heavy horse owners, get to the shows!

Maybe there could be a demo at Olympia or HOYS to show the different breeds being ridden?

 

[ucmeicu]

[ QUOTE ]
[quote
I've met a gorgeous driving team of Percherons in the past and I couldn't fault them for their conformation or temperament, but these horses were bred specifically for driving and not for the continental meat trade like so many entering this country.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly - the horses the OP saw advertised were "rescued" from the French meat trade. Our heavies are bred for temperament, substance, conformation etc., which is why they are so fantastic

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly percherons are also readily bred and eaten abroad.

 

[Gorgeous George]

George is a shire cross, he can be a bit funny if anything around him changes (he notices if people have cut their grass, painted their house etc.!) but he is very loving and gentle.

 

[DollyDolls]

Here's our 3/4 shire at a local RC show.
I'd love to have specific heavy breed ridden class, but am aiming for ridden hunter instead.

 

[PaintboxEDT]

maggie is the 1st pic in my siggy,she is a full clydesdale,if you look at my post in the pic gallery you can see her in action,we are members of the british heavy horse driving trials club and we go all over the place,they did the route du passion last year,we have a comtois pair in our club,they are solid muscle,very fit and win everything,she also does ridden classes on them and dressage,they are fab horses.

as you can see from the video on youtube the clydie is very athletic and the dont half cover the ground !!! they are very quick and turn on a sixpence,we also have a ridden class in our driving comps,its like a handy pony class,they jump,walk over tarp,go under a arch covered in flags,pop balloons,etc,when we have our comps and showing classes there is an abundance of suffolks,shires and also clydies

 

[Fairynuff]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[quote
I've met a gorgeous driving team of Percherons in the past and I couldn't fault them for their conformation or temperament, but these horses were bred specifically for driving and not for the continental meat trade like so many entering this country.

[/ QUOTE ]
why dont you and your side kick Joanne or whatever she calls herself come clean and admit to being part of the dealer scene importing French meathorses and health rejects?? Or are you going to have the thread pulled? Like garlic to Dracula-one whiff and hes gone

Exactly - the horses the OP saw advertised were "rescued" from the French meat trade. Our heavies are bred for temperament, substance, conformation etc., which is why they are so fantastic

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly percherons are also readily bred and eaten abroad.

[/ QUOTE ]

 

[muddy boots]

Thank you for the lovely Clydes and Shire pics paintbox and Dolly , they are lovely. I would love one. When my TBX retires it is exactly what I would like for me and the OH as we're not exactly petite.

I have nothing against Comtois, and there are some nice examples about. Unfortunately I think that a lot of people who buy them now as cheap, or "cute rescued" animals will find they have trouble. The confo on a lot is poor as they have been bred for meat and not to last beyond a couple of years. I hope I am proved wrong. I also hope that this poor confo isn't bred into heavies in this country.

 

[Gonetofrance]

The French breeds are not in danger, but the UK breeds are.

Anyone importing and profiteering from French horses is doing it at the expense of the UK heavy horses.

Why not put the capital expended on at best average specimens on French breeds into supporting the UK breeds?

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I personally would have loved a suffolk punch cross, they seem rarer than hens teeth.

[/ QUOTE ]

And the pure bred will become rarer still if people import from abroad - thereby further reducing the demand for our own heavy breeds.

 

[maxB]

Thought you might like to see the Comtois and French cob that Reflex have rehomed They are both fantastic horses kind friendly, brilliant to handle, both were backed in a couple of days their temperament is amazing they just take everything in their stride, They were both snapped up within 24hrs of being advertised ,the response to their adverts was huge . They are lovely cobs will ride or drive and are not too big, approx 14.2 to 15.2 is normal. These cobs are not a threat to our Heavy horses as they are nothing like them they are much smaller, lighter more compact and do not have loads of feather.
There is an old saying do not knock it till you have tried it and I defy anyone who genuinely loves heavier/cob types to not warm to the Comtois.

 

[SirenaXVI]

[ QUOTE ]
Thought you might like to see the Comtois and French cob that Reflex have rehomed They are both fantastic horses kind friendly, brilliant to handle, both were backed in a couple of days their temperament is amazing they just take everything in their stride, They were both snapped up within 24hrs of being advertised ,the response to their adverts was huge . They are lovely cobs will ride or drive and are not too big, approx 14.2 to 15.2 is normal. These cobs are not a threat to our Heavy horses as they are nothing like them they are much smaller, lighter more compact and do not have loads of feather.
There is an old saying do not knock it till you have tried it and I defy anyone who genuinely loves heavier/cob types to not warm to the Comtois.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmmm I recognise that bottom one, he was advertised for sale was he not? I believe the asking price was £3k? Hardly rescue! But I will admit he is a pretty colour! I'll bet you wish they were all that colour.