Irish Draught advice for spring

[Ant123]

I have a wonderful 9 year old ex met police horse who is a full Irish Draught. He has lived out all winter and come out of it with a good weight. This will be my first Spring with him and I was wondering whether the new grass has a particular effect on the breed. He is the first horse I have owned, Im still learning and gathering opinion. I am enamoured by the breed, and can't imagine myself ever having anything else!!! Any advice on the Breed in general will be gratefully received.
Many thanks

 

[AdorableAlice]

ID's are lovely horses to have in your life. I am a huge fan of them and had several. Your ex met horse will have had manners and boundaries put into his training and I would advise you keep manners and boundaries consistent. All horses like routine and consistency, it gives them confidence and security.

Sadly most ID's are very efficient calorie converters and are on a diet, few need good grazing. I manage mine by strip grazing and keeping them short of grazing with soaked hay and a small bucket feed. Plenty of hacking with hills helps too. Tricky whilst we are locked down I know. My ID's have never liked working in hot weather. Most are brave and make great hunters with their sensible outlook of 'look and go' rather than 'crash and burn'

Foot balance is key for all horses and ID's are big types so do watch your foot balance. Rug brands are tricky for the big fronted horses, I use Shires and Fal.

 

[Red-1]

I would echo re boundaries being reinforced. I would also bring back into work slowly. A 9 year old Police Horse would not normally be retired unless lame or mentally not suitable for the role. Was he turned away by you or them, or an intermediary dealer?

I am aware of several horses who were sold by dealers as ex-police horses, when in truth they were horses who never passed the trial or training, be that through physical or mental issues.

 

[PapaverFollis]

I use a grass track for my Irish Draught ish thing (no breeding big horse from Ireland!)... keeps her moving but less grass available. The track goes in when the grass starts to come through She needs next to no grass and is constantly hungry while still being a bit fat! I feed hay as well. I try to manage the grass at a level that means she is hungry for hay and will come to get it at a canter! So quite hungry. My usual tactic is to work her everyday too. Not sure how this year will pan out with lockdown etc work wise but hoping to start some longlining again at least before the grass kicks in.

Rug wise... just because AA mentions it... Ruggles Heavy Horse rugs are a great fit for mine.

 

[Ant123]

Thank you so much for replying- such helpful info. They retired him as he has very flat feet and suffered from persistent laminitis- I have had him since June 2019 and he has been sound- he’s loving life and is very relaxed but always ‘busy’ when he isn’t eating.

 

[AdorableAlice]

Thank you so much for replying- such helpful info. They retired him as he has very flat feet and suffered from persistent laminitis- I have had him since June 2019 and he has been sound- he’s loving life and is very relaxed but always ‘busy’ when he isn’t eating.

You will need to manage his problem. My Embla George horse had flat feet, not great at 18h and heavyweight. A brilliant farrier, very strict (5 weeks) shoeing intervals and no hammering on the road or rough ground kept him sound. Broad webb flat iron with heel support. i would have thought the Met farrier would have shod him like that when he was in service. Good luck with him.

 

[Ant123]

I’m doing exactly that- 5 weeks and he’s hardly ever goes on the road now. It’s a fascinating project as I’m watching him learn to be a horse. He was so regimented. Do you think a muzzle is required for the next couple of weeks?

 

[Ant123]

He has also grown since I’ve had him- from 17h - 18h

 

[AdorableAlice]

I’m doing exactly that- 5 weeks and he’s hardly ever goes on the road now. It’s a fascinating project as I’m watching him learn to be a horse. He was so regimented. Do you think a muzzle is required for the next couple of weeks?

I have never used muzzles with success, tried one on a cob and it rubbed him raw in seconds and I fear anything on heads whilst they are turned out. I would use the bare paddock and soaked hay system in preference to a muzzle, but that is just me.

 

[Ant123]

You will need to manage his problem. My Embla George horse had flat feet, not great at 18h and heavyweight. A brilliant farrier, very strict (5 weeks) shoeing intervals and no hammering on the road or rough ground kept him sound. Broad webb flat iron with heel support. i would have thought the Met farrier would have shod him like that when he was in service. Good luck with him.

I have never used muzzles with success, tried one on a cob and it rubbed him raw in seconds and I fear anything on heads whilst they are turned out. I would use the bare paddock and soaked hay system in preference to a muzzle, but that is just me.

 

[Ant123]

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That was my instinct too. I don’t think he would work well with a muzzle. Are you rigging yours at the moment. Mine is very fluffy with a neck and girth area clipped a while ago now but I am in Kent and the evenings are really cold. I have him in a rain sheet tonight but he was trying to buck it off when I put him back in the field- or so it seemed- I feel so honoured to have him. I’m not a police woman so it’s all new to me.

 

[AdorableAlice]

He is lovely and hopefully when the unprecedented times we are living through subside, you will be able to having a lot of fun with him.

No rugs on my horses at present, most are half clipped and fat so they can get a tad chilly, it won't hurt them. There is a person on the forum who was or is connected to police horses and their care/working life. Hopefully they will see this thread and contact you.

 

[SarahM]

Hi, I have a rising 7 year old RID. He is a handful all year around to be honest with no issues re grass. One suggestion about your horses feet, is he shod? Each to their own and I'm not saying shoeing doesn't have it's plus points but from personal experience analysing diet and having a good podiatrist can make a huge difference to heel and feet issues. Just a suggestion, happy to pass any further info.

 

[Nicnac]

I'm also in Kent OP and have an ID (well 3/4 ID but no idea where the thoroughbred in him is!) I am not rugging as yes it's a bit colder at night for the next few days but I checked him at 11pm last night and early this morning before work and he was toasty). He was fully clipped over the winter but it's grown out quite quickly and summer coat is coming through.

I do muzzle and do so 24/7 when he's in a new field. If I didn't he'd explode as doesn't have an 'off' button when it comes to food! He's on a very bare field at the moment as I'm not riding but still hasn't visibly lost weight but not put it on. Usually he's eventing so is very fit by this time of year and I don't have an issue keeping him looking good.

 

[Tiddlypom]

There is a person on the forum who was or is connected to police horses and their care/working life. Hopefully they will see this thread and contact you.

That person is indeed very knowlegable about police horses. She has already posted on this thread.