Which draft horse breed?

[carolinagirl]

I had a Clydesdale once. I really really wanted a draft and he was for sale, so I got him. That horse was MASSIVE!! He was easily 18 hands tall and ate an ungodly amount of groceries. The first night I bought him home he finished off an entire bale of hay. I am tall, but I needed a fence to get on him. He was really just too big to be practical. And it was also nearly impossible to find a farrier who was willing to work on his feet. At the same time I had a Percheron/TW cross mare that was a dream. I agree with what the others have said...look for a smaller type draft horse. Clydesdales are much bigger than you need. They really don't have a typical draft horse temperament either. They can be somewhat high strung.

 

[PotterWatch]

We are looking at getting horses to help with our farm work and have narrowed our search to Haflingers. We want something that won't eat all our pasture in 3 months and something that won't make harnessing an ordeal, height-wise. Farrier work is also a big consideration.

 

[RamblingCowgirl]

I plan to use my thick mini stud, and mini/shetland mix colt when he is older. Both will be gelded. But I'll only have 1/4 - 1/2 acre. If I was going to start from scratch I think I'd just get some dairy steers as bottle babys my self. They could be got cheeper, and used sooner then a horse or mule colt or train adult. But thats just me.

A nice heavy pony mite due depending on how much land you have. Mules are hard to beat. And I don't see how you could go wrong with a pair of oxen. I really don't think you could go wrong att all unless you get more horse then you can use. If you want an animal that rides as well as it pulls I think a mule would be best.
I'd love to have barbrants at some point, or sullfulk punch. I'm sure I didn't spell that all quite right.

I've grown up with a mustang/belgian who is now 23, she has just been a big pet. But we don't trim her much...maybe twice a year max. She just does not need it. If your animal only needs trimed a few times a year that $25-$80 trim isn't too bad. If it's more often then that you mite just do it your self. It's really just a simple as triming your nails...only bigger. I dated a very good farrier for years, and he always said when in doubt cut it off. Just don't buy cheep nippers. We also go with out shoes 95% of the time...or maybe less as I've only had one mare shod three times and thats all.

Anyways I'm sure any of the animals you are thinking about will work. And if at some point you diside you want some other draft critter, you could trade of sell with worring about loseing money. People want a well used work animal.

 

[77Herford]

Ramblings is pretty much right. I have lots of land so and a heavy work load in the warmer months. My Shires fit just right on my place and trained Draft horses are alot easier to come by in the midwest than I imagine in S. Cal. I use my Shire's for mainly logging work and other places my tractor can't reach safely.
I've heard of people using their own milking cows to plow their fields to save money, instead of getting steer oxen. I haven't had or heard of anyone in my area or friend using Mules but from reading they sound like a good option.

A stout pony could certainly do the job on a small place, depending on the soil quality.

 

[popsicle]

Thank you all for the response. We are currently on only a few acres, however, we are trying to start a You-Pick farm. This small farm will pay for a larger farm, which will in turn allow us to purchase a large amount of land in the warmer areas of the Alaska Wilderness. We plan on being far from civilization. So the breed we choose would have to be able to pull a plow and a wagon. We will also need to go to town a few times a year, so an animal that we could ride will be a necessity as well. Due to that, horses will be a must. The problem is that I just dont know if we should get cattle that work, give milk, and are good for meat as well, with a normal sized horse. Or if we should get milk/meat cows and a draft horse that will work and easily broke to ride. As far as the size goes, I do agree, I will have to be able to physically manage the horse. Thanks for the great info!

Look at a book called Riding the Wild Side of Denali. The Collins twins live off the grid in interior Alaska with sled dogs and Icelandic Ponies.