Following on from heavy husband horse question

[AdorableAlice]

I saw one I liked (although one of the photos won't show for me) that's a Shire/TB/ID mix. The bad points are that she's only three and she's in Anglesey.

https://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/120084167/3yo-shire-x-idxtb-mare.html?link=/classifieds/horses-livestock/horses-ponies/all/uk/shire

I've always liked having youngsters and have enjoyed all the training that needs to go into them before they are ridden. I don't know if this would suit your OH though? He's been great with Mim though, so maybe not my daftest idea?

The breeding claims for this advert is a bit wide of the mark, no coloured in TB, ID or Shire blood lines. There will be a coloured cob somewhere in the mix.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I'm sure you're right that there's a bit of something else in there too. I just thought she looked nice enough to share the ad, but was possibly too young and definitely in the wrong place.

Of course technically TB's do have coloured genes, just not the tobiano displayed by this filly, but dominant white W5 and dominant white W22.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Not being prepared to compromise on temperament is how I ended up with a Suffolk.

I used a trainer to help me learn how to lead and manage better on the ground and he described mine as a 17hh shetland! (because of the intelligence and concentration; we did a 3 or 4 hour training session and the horse was still engaged and enjoying it while his human was starting to tire) On a photoshoot we used a bottle with gravel in to get his attention, the first time he saw /heard it he was terrified and hid behind me. 30mins later and he has stolen the bottle and is running around with it in his mouth so pleased with himself.

Last night I went out to the garage fridge and brought back two boxes of six eggs. Tabitha was following me around like a second shadow. I shook the boxes, making the bottles rattle a little... it was as if I'd started clog dancing too close to her tail! She almost jumped out of her skin to put a couple of metres of distance between her and the egg boxes.

 

[ester]

Depends if the TB a high enough % that you don't bother calling it anything else?

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Depends if the TB a high enough % that you don't bother calling it anything else?

IIRC, Angrove (a former member on here) had tobiano TB's that were really high % TB blood that they raced. I don't think they won anything but it was fun. Better suited to other disciplines maybe?

 

[ester]

yup!

 

[gingergreg]

https://www.facebook.com/714679691979154/posts/3244621325651632

No confo pics but might be suitable?

 

[Laurac13]

I thought there were 3 Suffolk’s for sake at the Suffolk punch trust but can’t see them in their site now

 

[Laurac13]

I’ll keep looking ! ?

 

[Laurac13]

There’s a huge 17.2 ridden shire on horse mart looks fun over budget though Reference HM03248D2

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

I thought there were 3 Suffolk’s for sake at the Suffolk punch trust but can’t see them in their site now

The trust is a breeder so tend to only sell colts or young stock. Look for the 'SHS Buy and Sell' group or search the names below. The group will have all Suffolks for sale from all breeders and owners.

Holbeache Nimrod
Broomfield Samson

Are the only two geldings I'm aware of still on the market. Both adverts have been up for at least a week. Both are sensibly priced. I'd prefer Nimrod to Samson.

The Suffolk Horse Hub on Facebook has a guide for anyone buying a Suffolk.

 

[DabDab]

https://www.suffolkhorsesociety.org...-and-wanted--1/suffolks-for-sale-individuals/

Nimrod is the first one on this link

 

[PapaverFollis]

https://www.facebook.com/566547536797878/posts/3100347320084541

Scotland though.

 

[Cloball]

He had wanted to hack out with Mim and I so we’d hoped to find something established and ridden but ultimately, if it is the right horse, then young would be ok - what is a few years of walking in hand, if we have the time on the other side of that to ride together.

I did find two friesian x percherons which looked like the sort of thing that we’d be looking for - and for sale in the South East. Unfortunately, I hadn’t realized that the FB page was for the South East of the USA, not UK!

A pal has a delightful friesan X id not sure where he was bred though. He's a total dude and rather handsome ? could give Mim a run for her money not that my friend would sell.

 

[LadyGascoyne]

https://www.facebook.com/566547536797878/posts/3100347320084541

Scotland though.

As lovely as they are to look at, I just don’t think I want a big hunter type.

 

[cauda equina]

This boy looks sweet
dragondriving.co.uk/horseforsale-157199.html

 

[gingergreg]

This boy looks sweet
dragondriving.co.uk/horseforsale-157199.html

He’s not my type at all but omg, I love him!

 

[Dexter]

if you keep scrolling down theres a palomino that will be a big weight carrier once its mature, just in case you wanted a sort of matching pair

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Cumbrian Heavy Horses are having to downsize and will be selling some of their horses.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

if you keep scrolling down theres a palomino that will be a big weight carrier once its mature, just in case you wanted a sort of matching pair

Young and hopefully unspoilt.

 

[Cortez]

https://www.facebook.com/566547536797878/posts/3100347320084541

Scotland though.

I know the horse is probably fit and hunting in these pics, but blimey - where's the muscle?

 

[PapaverFollis]

I know the horse is probably fit and hunting in these pics, but blimey - where's the muscle?

I just thought he looked like a big, kind sort of chap who might do the job. But perhaps somewhat overpriced even with Covid. He just looks sweet.

 

[Nudibranch]

I would definitely stay at the lower height wise, having had a terrible experience with a very big hunter type (Shire x WB x TB). Really good confo. Backed very lightly at 4, turned away, hacked lightly as a 5yo, never set foot on a surface. I was 13% of his weight with all his tack. Pts at 7. My vet and farrier both say big horses struggle with soundness. They just aren't meant to be that big.
I would look for something 16.2 or under but with a lot of bone.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Sorry you were unlucky Nudibranch.

I wouldn't generalise and say all big horses struggle with soundness. They need exactly the same care as other horses. You still need to school and consider building the right core muscle. Heavies move a little differently so you need a good team who understand that and don't try to correct them to a normal horse frame and way of going (that will cause soundness issues). When riding you've got a lot more horse to control so you need to work particularly hard to school well and get the right muscle. (Some days I really do feel like I can only ride one half of him)

Good breeding, good care with instructors / physio / osteo / farrier / vet etc just like any other horse and they will be as sound as any other horse. You can still be unlucky with a big horse, just as you can with a light horse.

 

[mossycup]

This one?

https://www.facebook.com/193670120664661/posts/3459420780756229

 

[AdorableAlice]

Why stand on its back.

 

[mossycup]

Who knows!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would definitely stay at the lower height wise, having had a terrible experience with a very big hunter type (Shire x WB x TB). Really good confo. Backed very lightly at 4, turned away, hacked lightly as a 5yo, never set foot on a surface. I was 13% of his weight with all his tack. Pts at 7. My vet and farrier both say big horses struggle with soundness. They just aren't meant to be that big.
I would look for something 16.2 or under but with a lot of bone.

I had that said to me too, although my biggest was 'only' 17hh. I am wary of buying pure Shire or Clydesdale these days, as I think the gene pool is so small that problems are being passed on. But then I had to have a IDx pts aged 11, too. I must admit that I have my eye on a couple of Clydies currently but that depends on the Lottery numbers coming up

 

[Cortez]

Draught horses are bred to pull, not carry, and yes, very big horses do tend to have more problems than smaller ones.

*As for people standing on horses backs; why not? Doesn't do any harm and some people find it amusing, it's not any weirder than sitting on them as far as the horse is concerned. In my younger years I have had a go at Roman riding and enjoyed it immensely, although was never very good at it.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Draught horses are bred to pull, not carry, and yes, very big horses do tend to have more problems than smaller ones.

Without meaning to sound argumentative and apologies in advance if it sounds it but, do you know if there are any studies to back this up. I'd be interested if there is anything which may help me protect the long term health of my big lad.

I wonder if its different from Shire / Clydesdale to Suffolk where the former has been through a lot of change and development to the breed making them much leggier with a higher centre of gravity, and therefore less suitable for driving work...while the latter has maintained a stockier build and low centre of gravity to push (surely they push rather than pull; the collar is in front if the shoulder?) carts, machinery and carriages.