Cumbrian Heavy Horses...

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Sarah1

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...we've just booked a hack for when we go up there on holiday in August & I'm so giddy!
My hubby (non-horsey) loves Shires so I thought it'd be nice for us to go for a hack together! I can't wait!
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Never ridden a heavy horse!
Anyone been? Who's ridden a heavy? What can I expect?
 
You will have a lovely time.

Shires - nice to ride but feel a little heavy - they are normally very solid and feel not as flexible as clydesdale.

Suffolks - the tank of the heavy world and sorry, not as agile or intelligent as shires and clydes - or maybe I have not meet the right ones. They are very placid and lovely though.

Have not ridden Percherons but have been told they are very good to ride - not to big and agile.

Clydesdale (I am very biased) the nicest of the heavies I have ridden. Built lighter and leggier than the shires, more flexible.

Cairo in the past has done everything apart from what he was bred to - pull and drive.

Now get one with a western to hack ..... ultimate sofa

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He's not that big - Maddie was 14 at the time and tiny

You should expect something that is nice natured, sensible, not built for speed, but can give a good gallop and jump if asked.
 
Oh wow! I really can't wait now! We're going on a farm ride rather than a beach ride - hubby not ridden so thouht 1.5 hrs would be enough for him!
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How big is he?
They have Shires & Clydesdales & 1 Belgian Ardennes (sp?) who is reportedly huge!
I'm really very excited!
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Heavy horses are great to ride very comfey and if they've been treated propperly great rides. oUR 3/4 Shire is very agile (too agile if you ask me! Got our coachman off the other week!) There are just as many varieties in heavys as there are other horses, someyou practically neck rein, some are... well a little heavy in the mouth. Ooo to fillyou in on percherons, ours are turning into fantastic rides!
 
Not that big, perfect working size of 16.3 on tip toes. I am only 5' and adore riding him - he is not too wide either.

As old boy once said to me when looking at him "proper size horse and not like that un over there which is far too near to god to be any use to man"
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He was talking about a 19 hand show horse that made Cairo look like a mini.
 
I love that saying!
Your horse is lovely - you're all getting me really excited now!
Will I be able to stop them if we have a good gallop? I'm assuming they'll be as well schooled as any horse so yes but the shear size does make you wonder...!
 
Well Cairo normally screeches to a halt on the word whoa - one of his fav sayings. I have never had any problems with him.

I can honestly say he is less strong than TBs I have ridden and being a big heavy old boy, they don't tend to gallop that far before starting to puff and slow down - even at his fittest he could do about half a mile flat out at most.

My tiny cousin used to love having a gallop on him - only horse she felt totally safe as he stopped every time when asked. Hopefully ones you are on will be the same.

Most Cairo has ever done when he was not allowed to gallop round the XC course with the others was to piaffe on the spot - people were amazed at the sight of him - flashing feather, frothing mouth - very impressive to see, but held on a squeeze of the hand. He is always ridden in a snaffle or his western bit.
 
I have an 18.2hh mainly Shire x who is only 6 and still growing. He is a very comfortable ride, his canter would rock a baby to sleep and he is rather forward going, not heavy on the hands or legs at all.

I am going to prove so many people wrong and take him as far as I can doing dressage - I love to make the doubters eat their words
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Go and enjoy!
 
The heavies we have had have tended to be a bit heavy on the forehand, until they have had a lot of work done with them. Stopping has never been a problem either, they have tended to 'run out of steam', they were bred to walk all day not to run a sprint
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Thanks everyone - I'm looking forward to it even more now! Please keep telling me about your heavies!!!!!!
 
Nooo he is a bad horse - aka Houdini
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Only half suffolk - far to clever to be full and unable to stay where he should.

Very lovely though and Andy wants to come visit him with Stinky to swop.
 
That's not me, its my sharer, and he's only 16.1, although she is tall too. Theresa_F is right though, he is too clever for his own good and so naughty.

Andy can have him for nothing! One of the poor kids at the yard spent 5 hours hiding in the bushes to see where he escaped from. All she learnt was, he liked eating grass and rubbing his bum on trees.
 
This is my other horse. No idea what her breeding is, but she is a heavy too. She will jump absolutely anything in front of her and loves a good gallop across the plains. She is also ridden in a snaffle, and is completely stoppable.

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Oh I am so jealous!! Lucky you. Hope you are going to take some piccies to show us.

Heavies are brilliant. Clydes (I have a half clydey and had ridden a full clydey) are brilliant. They are surprisingly agile and flexible and fast and fast thinking. Do not be fooled thinking they are slow plods. I havent met a ploddy one yet! They are intelligent too.

A friend rode my half clydey and was so impressed she bought a full clydey (it was at the time when riding heavies wasnt popular and she wasnt sure despite being a huge clydey fan) and has now bred 2 more from her mare.

Be careful, they can become addictive!!

Have a wonderful time.
 
I've only ridden two heavies, both shires. Rode a friends Shire while she was pregnant and he was a big lazy armchair, although when he decided to go nicely he was quite lovely, very light in the mouth (posibly lightest i've riden?) and could go on the bit lovely (which i got told off for?!?! riding a shire on the bit?)
The other was my friends share horse he was nearly 18hh, fairly young and an absolute nightmare, a bit dangerous really. He's always bucking people off. His owner doesn't do much with him though.

I think the first one is more typical of shires, he was such a big cuddly softie
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The other was my friends share horse he was nearly 18hh, fairly young and an absolute nightmare, a bit dangerous really. He's always bucking people off. His owner doesn't do much with him though.


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I think thats a big problem with heavys, people don't treat them like "real" horses. Their designed to be very fit working 6days a week + but some people chuck em in the field and drag them out once a week thinking they'll be angels and quiet plods. Especially these stupid leggy heavies that are bred for height in the show ring. (rant coming up) something over 18hh would be rubbish in a real work situation, to high a centre of gravity, eats too much and often leg conformation is poor and temperament sacrificed. (rant over) I know there are exceptions to every rule are there are alot of quiet plods out there but even our quietest boy you get on the wrong side of him and he'd have you.
 
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The other was my friends share horse he was nearly 18hh, fairly young and an absolute nightmare, a bit dangerous really. He's always bucking people off. His owner doesn't do much with him though.


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I think thats a big problem with heavys, people don't treat them like "real" horses. Their designed to be very fit working 6days a week + but some people chuck em in the field and drag them out once a week thinking they'll be angels and quiet plods. Especially these stupid leggy heavies that are bred for height in the show ring. (rant coming up) something over 18hh would be rubbish in a real work situation, to high a centre of gravity, eats too much and often leg conformation is poor and temperament sacrificed. (rant over) I know there are exceptions to every rule are there are alot of quiet plods out there but even our quietest boy you get on the wrong side of him and he'd have you.

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Yeah myself and my friend both know this, but his owner doesn't, i mean with any young horse you wouldn't get on his after a month and decide its time to do jumping but with a massive shire she thinks its ok.
What's your opinion on a shire being on the bit (i have read lots of ur posts n know u work with heavies a lot) out of interest? i thought i had seen them on the bit at county shows when ridden, but had trouble since YO's daughter thought i shouldnt be doing it and i thought she should keep her beak out. lol
Thanks
 
I have no problem with "on the bit" i mean all that really means is working correctly, preventing (or not exacerbating) ewe necks and buliding up muscle correctly. I mean a heavy is unlkey to be every truly "through" (although i have seen it) but a heavy plowing or any other agricultuaral work will have its head down, its back rounded and will be stepping under. Scrooge does everything (when he's sound! grr), pulls the carriage, does dressage and showjumps as well as hacking. Some people have problem riding anything "On the bit" while hacking, they say it should be a time to relax but short periods of schooling while hacking are really usful. Ignore the daughter, probs thing heavies are only for hacking, they should be schooled like any other horse
 
My friend Rhona works there. She's in love with them all, she said she couldn't get over how fast and agile they are for the size of them! Apparently the owners are really lovely, you'll have a great time
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We currently have a half shire, and previously had a full shire. They are both fantastic to ride, both very light to both leg and hand, very comfy. Both can be plods or both have the greatest turn of speed and agility.
 
XSuperStarX - tell your friend to look out for us & ask her to sort out a super safe heavy for my hubby!
Thanks so much everyone for your replies - I'm so excited about going, roll on August!!!!!!!!
 
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