Full Shires as riding horses

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

Question for you ladies and gents.
Whats your view on pure bred shire horses as riding horses?
Obviously Hovis is a Clydie X and is athletic, bl**dy fast when he wants to be, a good jumper (although not going to set the world on fire), will SJ and XC, would hunt all day if I let him etc etc - i.e. he's a great all rounder.
How do shires compare? I know each horse is an individual but whats the general view?
Answers on a postcard please
Half a twix and some cough sweets on offer - it's all I've got to hand!!

 

[ferrador]

very capable animals , would need the right size jock though to perform to its max
chris

 

[BuzzLightyear]

Have a look at the Cumbrian Heavy Horse site - they use full Shires and Clydies (as well as the odd Ardennes) as riding horses for their rides. Looks like fun, and they certainly dont appear to be plods

 

[Hovis_and_SidsMum]

very capable animals , would need the right size jock though to perform to its max
chris

What size did you have in mind?

 

[photo_jo]

heavy horse on location last summer

 

[Feathered]

Oh wow, amazing pics! The black is my total dream horse
Will have one one day when I can afford it, I hear for shoes you're looking at £120 a time!

 

[photo_jo]

IIRC the black horse was a four-year-old and only broken a couple of months-real quality horse though and a very light mover. the clydesdale in the last photo does endurance rides-they are from the Cumbrian Heavy Horse guys that Buzzlightyear mentioned on the beach between Millom and Seascale