Irish Draught cross Haflinger?

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snowcat79

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I’m considering putting my Irish Draught in foal, I was planning to use a TB stallion, but just recently I think I might like a slightly smaller horse that’s robust, I’m not looking to compete just a good all rounder to mainly hack and school maybe pop the odd small jump, and wondered if anyone has bred an ID cross Haflinger and if so is it a nice combination?
 
snowcat79 said:
I’m considering putting my Irish Draught in foal, I was planning to use a TB stallion, but just recently I think I might like a slightly smaller horse that’s robust, I’m not looking to compete just a good all rounder to mainly hack and school maybe pop the odd small jump, and wondered if anyone has bred an ID cross Haflinger and if so is it a nice combination?
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Would potentially be very chunky. Only Haffys I’ve known have been very like natives. Escape artists and all about self preservation! I’d use a lighter horse I think. Probably not a TB. Arab or Connie?
 
snowcat79 said:
I’m considering putting my Irish Draught in foal, I was planning to use a TB stallion, but just recently I think I might like a slightly smaller horse that’s robust, I’m not looking to compete just a good all rounder to mainly hack and school maybe pop the odd small jump, and wondered if anyone has bred an ID cross Haflinger and if so is it a nice combination?
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ID x TB (with the blood ‘on top’) has been an excellent cross, time honoured, for a good workmanlike ride - hunters, show jumpers, RC stuff. There are smaller TB stallions.
I’ve seen a couple of ID x Haflinger, admittedly the mare was Haflinger, but they were rather plain and stuffy. Hadn’t added to either, merely detracted.
If you want ‘robust native’ with rather more grace, Welsh D has bone, substance, and plenty of presence.
 
I have a Haflinger x unknown. Apart from being smaller, he is 100% haflinger temperament. I imagine your cross (I know nothing about breeding) would get you an opinionated, clever, somewhat oblivious pony character in a big, strong body. They are good fun though. And live off fresh air.
 
Another who'd suggest a small TB, it's a popular cross for a reason. IDs can be opinionated and clever enough without adding something like Haflinger to the mix! Or take the gamble out of things and buy a smaller horse instead of breeding your own and hoping you get what you want.
 
Why ever would you want a haflinger cross? Best to keep to pure bred haffies? TB or Arabs make good crosses if that the type you’re after.
 
Imagine if what came out was a Haflinger on steroids and a hand or two taller. That would be a challenge! Maybe share what you are looking for and why you thought Haflinger? If it's the palomino type colour maybe go find a palomino stallion who is tb/Connie/ID? Nowadays my first choice would be temperament and health/conformation for anything I would want to keep.
 
Horseysheepy said:
I know of a couple of nice ID X Connemaras that have made nice horses around the 15-15.2hh height.
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I would second this because it could end up a competition ride, or if you like showing pb native, shp, whp. I have a connie x traditional coloured cob, and he would fit in to the workers slot. I also had an 16ands ID x traditional cob, and he could have done show cob, but he had a huge jump.
 
Smaller TB would be my vote also, I’ve been sharing that exact cross for the past year and it’s a lovely blend of the temperament and bone of the ID, together with the athleticism and brain of the TB of you choose a good one.
 
mariew said:
Imagine if what came out was a Haflinger on steroids and a hand or two taller. That would be a challenge! Maybe share what you are looking for and why you thought Haflinger? If it's the palomino type colour maybe go find a palomino stallion who is tb/Connie/ID? Nowadays my first choice would be temperament and health/conformation for anything I would want to keep.
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Haflingers are actually all chestnut - they have pangare which makes them a lighter shade similar to palomino, but as the breed doesn’t have the cream gene you would never produce a palomino from one.

ETA I quite like haflingers and share my yard with a livery that breeds them, but would never consider this cross 😬
 
Gloi said:
I'm afraid I've only come across pig headed Haflingers and wouldn't fancy one crossed with an Irish Draught
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I have to say that was my first thought .
But imagine the metabolism it might survive on half a piece of seaweed a week .

The ID / Tb is less popular than it was .
The best examples where the best all round horses ever bred but sometimes you get for example an ID body on a Tbs legs but if you are breeding for your self you learn to accept what’s sent to you by the fates.
 
ihatework said:
Possibly the worst breeding idea I’ve heard in quite a while!
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certainly the strangest. :D

I had a haffie, not the easiest horse although I would have another tomorrow. I loved him dearly. He was interesting to ride and not for the faint hearted. However 14.3 was enough of him. :D:D

Having had several arabs I cannot see why one would want to lose what an arab has by adding ID.

If you cross your mare with any other breed you don't know what you will get and will have to live with it. Wouldn't it be better to buy a youngster so you have a good idea of how it will turn out.
 
Gloi said:
I'm afraid I've only come across pig headed Haflingers and wouldn't fancy one crossed with an Irish Draught
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I’ve had 2 haffie mares now and they have both been clever, inquisitive, fun willing horses. They certainly haven’t got the negative traits that you so often hear associated with the breed but they were both from the continent so maybe they are bred with better personalities in Europe.
No idea about the cross breeding though as I’m not breeding anything any time soon.
 
Peglo said:
I’ve had 2 haffie mares now and they have both been clever, inquisitive, fun willing horses. They certainly haven’t got the negative traits that you so often hear associated with the breed but they were both from the continent so maybe they are bred with better personalities in Europe.
No idea about the cross breeding though as I’m not breeding anything any time soon.
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Similar, the few haflingers I’ve known have been really willing workers, great in harness.
They are usually very attractive, too, and in contrast, those IDx youngsters were plain-limbed jugheads, don’t know about their temperaments, but seemed a shame to have ‘wasted’ the mares on a rather pointless cross.
A Haflinger mare came for Welsh D stallion, years ago, which did make a lovely riding horse, they used to send photos.
 
I rode one as used to exercise and school horses for people - I bloody hated it. It also had serious saddle fit issues as had shoulders like a prize bull. In fact it was probably the closest experience to riding a cow i have had. I turned around to my friend who worked on same yard and said why would some moron breed this?
 
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