FAYEFUDGE
Well-Known Member
Has anyone on here a ridden Ardennes horse?
Just curious as to what they are like.
Thank you
Just curious as to what they are like.
Thank you
Ridden Ardennes?
- Thread starter FAYEFUDGE
- Start date
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
Yes i have he was absolutely brilliant for hacking although too opinionated for novices
Solid in traffic very rarely spooked
He didnt enjoy schooling and made it quite well known, he was 18hh though so finding a school big enough for him to balance in was an issue!
Solid in traffic very rarely spooked
He didnt enjoy schooling and made it quite well known, he was 18hh though so finding a school big enough for him to balance in was an issue!
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
His shoes had to be custom made as his feet were absolutely ginormous, it was around £150 a set
Bobthecob15
Well-Known Member
Was just about to say re shoes, went to a heavy horse place at the weekend and they said £160 a set of shoes, they didn't last full 6 weeks either!
SEL
Well-Known Member
Yup - he's in my avatar although sadly he was put down last Autumn due to his arthritis getting too advanced for me to want to put him through another winter. Hadn't ridden him in a number of years but he was great fun, although steering and brakes were optional.
Mine was only 14.3h (old fashioned breeding - they were supposed to be short and wide). He performed for Giffords Circus back in his heyday.
Very wide, but short back so in a 16" saddle which looked ridiculous on him. When he wanted to go somewhere he tended to forget the rider was on board and with a neck designed to pull tree trunks turning him was all but impossible. I did end up in a hay barn once which was a wee bit embarrassing. Due to his ringbone I didn't really trot because it was that action that put pressure on his joints but if we reached a grass stretch where he thought canter was a good idea then we cantered. I actually popped a pelham on him not long after I got him when I realised I needed something in his mouth to remind him I was there.
They are not novice horses neither on the ground nor under saddle. On the lead mine was amazing and he spent a couple of years working with disabled children, but they are an opinionated breed with that independent streak that many old native breeds have. I've seen him pull grown men along at a walk when he saw a nice bit of grass he fancied eating. Nothing nasty, just forgot the human was there.
Mine was only 14.3h (old fashioned breeding - they were supposed to be short and wide). He performed for Giffords Circus back in his heyday.
Very wide, but short back so in a 16" saddle which looked ridiculous on him. When he wanted to go somewhere he tended to forget the rider was on board and with a neck designed to pull tree trunks turning him was all but impossible. I did end up in a hay barn once which was a wee bit embarrassing. Due to his ringbone I didn't really trot because it was that action that put pressure on his joints but if we reached a grass stretch where he thought canter was a good idea then we cantered. I actually popped a pelham on him not long after I got him when I realised I needed something in his mouth to remind him I was there.
They are not novice horses neither on the ground nor under saddle. On the lead mine was amazing and he spent a couple of years working with disabled children, but they are an opinionated breed with that independent streak that many old native breeds have. I've seen him pull grown men along at a walk when he saw a nice bit of grass he fancied eating. Nothing nasty, just forgot the human was there.
SEL
Well-Known Member
Most farriers charge extra to trim as well - that's if they'll even do a heavy horse
If importing from Belgium then OP you may find they struggle with the farrier because many are shod in stocks overseas.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Similar type but 16 hh Westphalian Kaltblut. She was absolutely fabulous but as above not the easiest to deal with. I got her because she had run away with her novice owner but she had done RDA prior to that, always on a lead rein. She had very firm ideas about what she wanted to do - jumping was on the 'no!' list and she strongly disliked rain. She needed extra large in every thing which gets expensive. But if I saw another suitable one, I would find it difficult to resist.
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
Very interesting thread. I've no experience of them but my local trekking centre has just bought a youngster with the idea that she'll be "Dad's horse" when they get a family of beginners.
Sounds like they may need to re-think that!
(They do RDA as well, so there would be a plan B for her.)
Sounds like they may need to re-think that!
(They do RDA as well, so there would be a plan B for her.)
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
I did see a 3 Yr old for sale 'because she is too quiet'. I did think just wait a bit. Mine was totally bombproof in traffic and most other situations so she was suitable for a novice in that respect but she was determined to have her own way, which a novice couldn't cope with.
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
On DD :-
"3 year old reg Swedish Ardennes mare, 15.2hh still growing. Only for sale because she is too quiet to ride and would suit a nervous rider, complete beginner, heavier rider, riding school, trekking centre, etc"
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
Ours was supposed to be just that for a riding school, beginner large mans horse, only staff could manage him so he went back home (he was loaned to the rs as owner couldnt manage him)
He was brilliant if you knew what you were doing
Widgeon
Well-Known Member
Brilliant. This gave me a good chuckle.
SEL
Well-Known Member
Hmmm
Mine was as quiet as a lamb most of the time. He adored children and they'd all have their photos taken next to him. Incredible with the disabled kids.
But when he wanted to go somewhere off he went. I came back from more than one ride plastered in mud after an unexpected gallop!
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Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Oh and she was very protective of her people. If she thought anyone was threatening us, she made it very clear that she wasn't having it. A neighbour came into our field to help our lodger get a stuck sheep out of a fence, the mare came cantering up the field and appeared to being charging towards the neighbour until lodger intercepted her and told her all was well. The mare then dropped her head to eat but kept a close eye on the proceedings. Then there was the time when a Cabriolet driver very nearly hit the Appaloosa while we were hacking. He pulled into the farmyard and came back to ask what we had shouted at him. She arched her neck and started piaffe (front legs only 
), striking sparks from her shoes, he certainly got the "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" message and decided that he wasn't!
She knew her rights on the road, too, although she also was prepared to make concessions for neighbours.
), striking sparks from her shoes, he certainly got the "come and have a go if you think you're hard enough" message and decided that he wasn't!She knew her rights on the road, too, although she also was prepared to make concessions for neighbours.
planete
Well-Known Member
Ours was a doddle to break to ride after she understood that reaching for my ankle and trying to pull me off her back (gently) was not on the agenda. She was unflappable but had to be led in a bridle in her youth, had fierce seasons as a two year old when she turned into a fire breathing dragon, but learnt to cope with them in a civilised manner as she got older. She had the mind of a native pony and could definitely think for herself. She was also very affectionate and careful not to hurt her people. She liked to hold me against her side by bringing her head round to her flank. Shoeing her was okeyish in front but it took months before she was confident enough in her balance to let us hold a hind foot up for more than a few seconds and there was nothing the strongest farrier could do if she meant to put it down. She was light and responsive to ride but it took a lot of time and effort to get her fit enough to willingly go up a gear. I would not really describe them as riding horses as I believe it is not in their best interest to subject their heavy frames to faster work if you want to preserve the soundness of their joints.
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
I'm trying to remember where I saw the very honest advert from a logging company. On the lines of "...she's decided draught work is not for her, & since she is as strong as a bull..."
planete
Well-Known Member
I get that. Ours was very amenable until the training turned into work. Then she pulled every trick a horse can think of, even trying to go down and roll in harness with a load attached. She was fine once she ran out of ideas but I had some sleepless nights trying to figure out how to outwit her. Once we had got over that she was brilliant. Heavy they may be, but dull they are not!
SEL
Well-Known Member
That's made me laugh. I tried long reining M out on the bridleway. He wanted to go home. He went home. I was left a mile behind panicking until I came across the guys at the little storage place having a fag break with one naughty horse. They'd been feeding him their extra strong mints so he'd decided to stay put.
They really are working horses and need a job.
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
It was on DD. She was very near to our relatives, I could have stayed with them to go to a viewing, I was very tempted!
SEL
Well-Known Member
The heavy horse place in Dorset had some footage last year where their Ardennes took a wrong turn on the way to the field and got separated from his herd. So he rejoined them by walking straight through the fence.
Ardennes - not a scratch.
Post & rail fence - destroyed
Ardennes - not a scratch.
Post & rail fence - destroyed
SEL
Well-Known Member
OP - are you thinking of buying? There's some nasty genetic conditions it's worth checking for if you are
FAYEFUDGE
Well-Known Member
I had seen a nice mare advertised and just wondered what their temperament is like. Have now been somewhat put off lol!
What are the conditions please?
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
If you mean Martha, I'd be wary, she sounds to have done a lot for a 3 Yr old, they are late maturing and *very* heavy, a slow start is preferable imho.
SEL
Well-Known Member
Type 1 PSSM is very common in the breed. Not all are affected by it but you need to watch sugar / starch intake.
CPL is also rife. If you view then get stuck in and check the legs for lumps and bumps. You definitely don't want to be finding any on a 3yo.
Is Martha the Swedish one advertised?
FAYEFUDGE
Well-Known Member
No not Martha, this one was unbroken
FAYEFUDGE
Well-Known Member
Thank you.
No, this one is unbroken and in UK
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
The one we had used to walk through post and rail and stable doors. He costed alot of money in repair jobs
Pearlsacarolsinger
Up in the clouds
Mine kicked the back wall out of a stable arguing with her neighbour
Glitter's fun
Well-Known Member
The one we had used to walk through post and rail and stable doors. He costed alot of money in repair jobs
I think I begin to see why people eat them.
Zoeypxo
Well-Known Member
I think I begin to see why people eat them.
i guess we arent picturing them in the best light..
Ive always said if i ever win the lottery one of the first things ill do is go and buy the ardennes (i know the owner) and keep him with me. Unfortunately no lottery win yet