Guidance required, considering buying my next horse, Shire X TB?

B

BeBopTalulah

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 July 2011
Messages
141
Location
Ayrshire, Scotland
Visit site
Hello people. I lost my young mare to grass sickness over a year ago, and now I'm thinking about investing in another horse. I have been brought up with Welsh Cobs and Welsh Cob types (mare was ID x Welsh cob), but I have just fallen in love with a Shire X TB that I saw a few weeks ago (pictures only). I would like a hunter type, an all-rounder that could hack out or go a round of xcountry. I'm not a novice rider, but I know that Shire horses tend to have very amiable temperaments. Height and weight is an issue for me, it's something I'm paranoid about, probably more than I need to be, but nonetheless I'm conscious of it. I'm 5'8" and a well-build lady at 13st, so I love the idea of having a horse that would be relatively oblivious to me being on-board, probably 16hh+. I suppose the only way I can describe the horse I want is - something you'd happily ride into battle on!

However, I know that some people have issues with certain breeding. Does anyone know of any conformation issues with a Shire X TB? Any guidance is much appreciated thank you.
 
I have one, and he's fab. Couple of things though. Shire/Shire crosses can be very sensitive and a bit hot - mine certainly is, and he's not the only one I've come across who is that way inclined.
He has problems with his joints and suspensory ligaments, mainly due to his long hard dressage career, but I also suspect that his sheer size and weight contributed as well.
Lovely mix, but not always as easy as you might think!
 
Thank you, duly noted. I have extensive experience with huffy and hot! The horse I saw had this beautiful big roman head, heavy bone but bouncy at the same time. Very handsome boy and I'm head over heels! Are there any breeders of shire/Clydesdale crosses? I don't know where to start.
 
My friend had one on loan and kept it with me, she was a right little gem, she was only 15'3 but she was a perfect confidence giver but also really fun to ride, she'd jump anything! she was lovely to handle, I used to clip her and she was as good as gold, she literally loaded herself into the trailer, lead rope over the neck and on she walked! her owner hunts her too! but she'd have done anything! really lovely mare
 
I looked after one at hunt kennels for 2 seasons and she was one of my favorite horses, she was forward going, opinionated, strong and bold but she was a good ride and I could lead anything of her. She was a cracking hunter, could whip in all day or hunt hounds, had endless stamina, jumped anything, practically opened gates on her own and was as hard as nails. She was registered to do BE at some point but don't think she ever competed though I could imagine she could have done well if she had.
 
A neighbour of mine keeps Shires, he rides out in his farmer wellies and no hat. Quite the celebrity! Beautiful, well-kept horses though. I may have a wander down and ask him if he has a nice mare.....
 
I used to ride a Shire x TB - fabulous movement but pretty hot. I've known a few doing medium plus level dressage and the main problems seem to be Spavins or hind suspensory problems but that could be said of a fair few dressage horses.
 
I have had a Shire-TBX for 14 years. She turned 20 in May. Never any soundness problems *knocks on wood* but I have never pushed her to a particularly high level of anything. I would say she tends towards the lazy end of things but she will be forward if the task you give her is interesting enough, which can be anything from trotting and cantering on hacks, jumping, or dressage where you use your brain enough to think up interesting patterns. She's very smart and gets bored if you drill things. I mostly do sort of elementary-medium-ish dressage but we hack out regularly and play around over the odd jump. I am too chicken to event, but she would have made someone else a great eventer.

Here we are playing about over weensie fences: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnHR7dAYCdo

Cantering in the woods: http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv30/uilleannpiper/P1010135_zpsef9a3fd8.jpg

Grazing: http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv30/uilleannpiper/IMAG0379_zps041c7966.jpg

Dressage: http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv30/uilleannpiper/photo.jpg

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv30/uilleannpiper/Photo214.jpg
 
Last edited:
eggs said:
I used to ride a Shire x TB - fabulous movement but pretty hot. I've known a few doing medium plus level dressage and the main problems seem to be Spavins or hind suspensory problems but that could be said of a fair few dressage horses.
Click to expand...

Exactly the situ with mine! He competed up to PSG/Inter1, then broke. Shirey type weren't meant weren't designed to bounce up and down!
 
I kept my pony at a stud that bred these. They were smashing horses and good jumpers. Make sure the Shire is the mother though.
 
BeBopTalulah said:
Are there any breeders of shire/Clydesdale crosses? I don't know where to start.
Click to expand...


I have just bought a stunning Clydesdale x WB/TB foal from a breeder in Devon and my friend has just today bought his half sister by the same Clydesdale stallion and out of an ID/TB mare.

Only thing is she hasn't had the stallion long so all the offspring are only foals at the moment.

This is my colt.
attachment.php
 
I have a 3/4 TB 1/4 Shire, and he's brilliant, the most sane horse on the ground 100% to clip, shoe, lead, vet, dentist and could be handled by anyone. He can be hot or lazy it depends on what kind of day he's having, but in general he has a good enough jump, is fairly bold, has good enough paces for at least elementary dressage and certainly has the right brain for learning. I'd never come across this cross breed before and I wouldn't hesitate to buy again. Go for it. Elvis was bred by Quob Stables, but I know their ShireX mare died a while ago, as did my boys TB stallion.
 
Elvis said:
I have a 3/4 TB 1/4 Shire, and he's brilliant, the most sane horse on the ground 100% to clip, shoe, lead, vet, dentist and could be handled by anyone. He can be hot or lazy it depends on what kind of day he's having, but in general he has a good enough jump, is fairly bold, has good enough paces for at least elementary dressage and certainly has the right brain for learning. I'd never come across this cross breed before and I wouldn't hesitate to buy again. Go for it. Elvis was bred by Quob Stables, but I know their ShireX mare died a while ago, as did my boys TB stallion.
Click to expand...

OH has the same mix. Came from Brechfa in Wales. Brilliant horse, done a bit of everything and couldn't fault him. 18 and no soundness issues in the 9 years we've had him, carrying a 12.5 stone man
 
My sister has a shire x warmblood and he is a fab horse, excellent on the hunt field fab to hack, loves to jump and his schooling is coming on a treat. His last owner was a larger lady at 15 stone and he never noticed she was on him, carried her all day hunting no problem.

he is a big impressive horse but is a gentle giant and a real confidence giver.

Truly a lovely horse :)
 
The ones I have known have been lovely .
I have a welsh section D / cross Clydesdale that would suit your requirements to with the advantage of being 16.1 he's up to wieght and great fun and smart looking .so I would definatly consider clydie crosses too.
 
As an addendum to what Auslander said, if I ever decided I wanted to do upper level dressage work, I would look at Iberians ('cause I like them better than WBs) and not buy another Shire cross. I won't push a horse to a level that it's not comfortable at nor built to withstand. Rereading your original post, it looks like you want a nice all-rounder, in which case a good one would be perfect.

I see you're in Ayrshire. If you are ever passing through South Lanarkshire, you can meet mine and see what you think. Send me a PM if you fancy.
 
Caol Ila said:
As an addendum to what Auslander said, if I ever decided I wanted to do upper level dressage work, I would look at Iberians ('cause I like them better than WBs) and not buy another Shire cross. .
Click to expand...

I am sadly, forced to agree. Alf did amazing things for his type, and was always a favourite with the judges because he was a real trier, and super accurate. He didn't have the flashy movement of the warmbloods, but he'd try his little heart out and give it his all. Still does...
557517_506352876045179_1924645017_n.jpg
 
Mine lacks that kind of try. LOL. She will respond to most requests so long as they are reasonable, but if you ask for something hard, something really pushing the collection beyond what she finds doable (she maxed out, at least for me, around elem-medium level), she says, "Do I look like Valegro? You're funny." And calmly and quietly ignores you. An ex trainer of mine called her stubborn, but I think she just knows her own body and won't let humans push her into doing things she's not easily able to do. Like every other type of horse, they are all different!
 
Fab horses my friend has one that was home bred. Definitely agreeing with the fact they tend to be a bit hot. But friends horse despite being a bit sharp is a fab jumper, many bsj wins and is the most loving friendly mare around.
 
We bought a 5 year old Shire x TB for my daughter's first horse. He was absolutely wonderful. Hacked anywhere, massive jump and a complete sweetheart to handle. Thoroughly recommended.
 
They are lovely. Auslander's always springs to mind as a particularly lovely example (even if he's crocked!).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top