Arzada
Well-Known Member
How much is a set of shoes (fitted) nowadays for a draft horse? And if you're barefoot and need boots can you get boots?
Dressage with a draft/Heavy?
- Thread starter TheSubwayDino
- Start date
How much is a set of shoes (fitted) nowadays for a draft horse? And if you're barefoot and need boots can you get boots?
abbijay
Well-Known Member
I honestly thought the horse world had got more inclusive and open minded in the last 13 years but it seems I have just surrounded myself with more open minded people…
Dino, I got an 18.1, 6yo Clydesdale as my first “pony” age 25, height 5’6” weighing 8 1/2stone. I did not need that much horse, on paper it was a ridiculous decision but I do not regret a second of it. They have been fractionally more expensive than some light horses, they do require a little extra attention but with your love and enthusiasm you will be happy to do that and more, they may never have the elegant floaty paces of the warmbloods and a natural affinity to the spindly legged extensions but those bred to do a job will enjoy learning any job and in return you will stand out from the crowd and bask in the glory of your majestic, one of a kind horse.
Blooming heck, even Lee Pearson is now riding a shire at the Para Winter Champs! Heavy horses can do dressage, end of story!
Dino, I got an 18.1, 6yo Clydesdale as my first “pony” age 25, height 5’6” weighing 8 1/2stone. I did not need that much horse, on paper it was a ridiculous decision but I do not regret a second of it. They have been fractionally more expensive than some light horses, they do require a little extra attention but with your love and enthusiasm you will be happy to do that and more, they may never have the elegant floaty paces of the warmbloods and a natural affinity to the spindly legged extensions but those bred to do a job will enjoy learning any job and in return you will stand out from the crowd and bask in the glory of your majestic, one of a kind horse.
Blooming heck, even Lee Pearson is now riding a shire at the Para Winter Champs! Heavy horses can do dressage, end of story!
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
I’ve had a 17.2 shire and a 18.3 Clyde, I’ve also worked with a few European drafts. I’m still in the county heavy horse group and help with their events on occasion.
They don’t eat as much as a big TB - the Clyde in particular was a very good doer. They rarely need hard feed.
Farriers are an issue but lots of them are ok to go barefoot.
Except for the Clyde, I was able to kit everything else out in off the peg tack. Bathe Big Horse Shop, Blue Horse Equine and a few specialist heavy horse tack makers are good sources, and I know the county group can often find tack second hand if it’s needed. The Clyde, I had a bridle made to measure for him and why not, he was my pride and joy. It cost me £140 and lasted his lifetime. He had a normal saddle and girth but I did have a bit made as well by Flyde. That cost £75 and again outlived him; I sold it for the same as it cost me 15 years later.
Transport - he went in the local guy’s 7.5 ton lorry just fine, whenever we went to a show. A friend travels her shire in a 3.5 ton, and he’s fine.
Wormers are more expensive because they’re done on weight.
Teeth was the same, vets bills were the same (the Clyde had squamous cell carcinoma which is common in clydes but that wasn’t size related) until it came to PTS which was more because of the weight again.
I’ve always kept mine at home but I know several yards that keep them without issues.
If someone brought a 17 hand warmblood, there wouldn’t be half as much fuss! Stick some feathers on and suddenly people are afraid of dealing with them. .
TheSubwayDino
Well-Known Member
Believe I'm looking at 150 for full set but even so, I am definitely going to be planning everything and anything ?
TheSubwayDino
Well-Known Member
Thank you! If I'm not able to get a belgian and I am definitely looking at clydesdales. I'm so fixated on these heavy horses for some reason and hoping to be do a little more here and there with them thank you again ? gave you a follow on Facebook too!! ?
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
Buy a shire without a lot of white, clip legs out, tell farrier it’s a heavy weight hunter, watch price fall!
(A friend did this by accident, she had a not great type shire that she kept clipped and hogged and the farrier had been shoeing him a couple of years before discovering he was a shire and not a big mongrel!)
Arzada
Well-Known Member
In what way are farriers an issue? Barefoot still requires hoof care.
I know what a set of shoes cost about 25 years ago. What does a set cost now?
TheSubwayDino
Well-Known Member
For sure! And true on feathers making people afraid! Here at the yard we have a.. get this a 18.3 6 year old Irish sports horse! He's a little sh*t lol
planete
Well-Known Member
Just a point nobody seems to be making. Not all heavy horses are made the same. You cannot compare a Clydesdale or a Shire with their long legs and huge stride to an Ardennes or a Belgian with their short backs and legs but enormously deep and wide bodies.
Snowfilly
Well-Known Member
Not all farriers want to trim or shoe heavies. Some just struggle with the physical side of it, others admit they’re uncomfortable shoeing outside their comfort zone especially if you want show plates or shoes done for ploughing.
Ive come across several who won’t shoe but will trim, hence the barefoot comment.
I don’t know on the cost tbf. My lad’s been gone 5 years; I was paying £60 for a trim and he never had shoes as his feet were like iron. Trimming was done alongside shoeing two others so it wasn’t a single visit.
tulla100
Member
A few years ago shoes for a Comtois £140 every 6 weeks
The Irish Draft 2022
Well-Known Member
I wouldn’t buy big draft if you want to do dressage. I would be thinking more issues you have most yards aren’t keen on having a massive draft especially if you want to do full livery. Farrier aren’t keen on shoeing or treating massive drafts .
SEL
Well-Known Member
My farrier builds up a real sweat trimming my Ardennes and he's under 15h!! He's retired so barefoot but I think it was about £140 for the Shire.
You'll need an extra large stable for a big Belgian. They really aren't comparable with a warmblood of the same height.
Have a look on the FB page OP. People in this country doing all kinds of stuff with their Belgians and you'll get a feel for what the breed can do.
You'll need an extra large stable for a big Belgian. They really aren't comparable with a warmblood of the same height.
Have a look on the FB page OP. People in this country doing all kinds of stuff with their Belgians and you'll get a feel for what the breed can do.
mariew
Well-Known Member
Have a look at a north Swedish heavy, similar to the Belgian but breeding is quite controlled to reduce genetic problems and there are lighter versions that would take to dressage easier. You would have to import though I think.
Bear in mind the huge barrelled short legged heavies sometimes will struggle with canter. I can see the more long legged ones like Clydesdale's and shires finding this easier. A lot of the draught type breeds are bred to work steadily for long periods and can be hard to keep weight off with just 1 hour every so often.
Bear in mind the huge barrelled short legged heavies sometimes will struggle with canter. I can see the more long legged ones like Clydesdale's and shires finding this easier. A lot of the draught type breeds are bred to work steadily for long periods and can be hard to keep weight off with just 1 hour every so often.