do draft crosses show qualities that might make them good dressage horses?

I am a taller rider at 6'5 but im not really heavy for my height (185)... I was wondering if drafts often make talented dressage horses and if so which types in particular?

Maybe not for higher level dressage, due to their conformation (would be harder for them to carry themselves off the forehand) but perhaps Percheron X TB or maybe a heavy Friesian type?
I think it would be gorgeous to see! Or even a Gypsy Vanner floating through the ring with feathers and mane flying hehe :)

Drafts can do dressage, but it's not as common as warmbloods. 'dressage breeds' like warmbloods will be bred for action whereas heavies are bred for many different reasons and dressage is not something that people breed heavies specifically to do. They are capable of it though.











This Percheron is at Prix St George level:

Forrest Hill Farm dressage breeders Goals & History

Check out the blog below. The percheron there is used for eventing. She's an AMAZING jumper and does good at dressage as well. I think it depends on the rider and trainer and how serious you are about bringing them on. If conditioned properly, then they can do anything. Most people think they're suppose to be fat pokie trail horses or plow horses.

www.jumping-pecheron.blogspot.com

Yes! My trainer trains tons of Irish draught crosses, one right now is a huge guy! 17.2 huge bone and muscle

She doesn't start them till they are four to help them finish growing through the big growth spurts but yeah, they make for an amazing dressage mount!

I love them! Just cause they are half draft doesn't mean the are built like them, depends on the oth cross it's with!

Love them!

Draft horses are bred to pull carts, so, 99.9% are going to be completely unsuitable for Dressage at the upper levels. The same way that 99.9% of cats meow, sure with the wonders of the world wide web you can find one that barks, but that does not mean that all cats bark.
At the lower levels, sure. Mid levels, maybe. Upper levels, maybe a nice Dressage bred fresian if you are lucky. However, they are heavy in the hand and pull like the Dickens, because that is what they are bred to do!!! They are not an easy ride and you would be far better off finding a large WB...

Good luck!
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I like the Gypsy Vanier great show presence

There are many Gypsies doing very nicely in dressage. They've been competing with them in Germany for many years now. Some have been exported to the US. We also have a lot in the US competing now. Also a few Drum Horses.

Lizzie

Irish Draughts and Drafts are completely different... Irish Draughts were bred as foxhunters and eventing horses not pulling horses

All the warmbloods have a draft horse somewhere in their pedigree - that is how the term Warmblood came about - the cross between a draft (Coldblood) and a TB or Arabian (Hotblood)

I breed first cross Clydesdale x TB and get a fantastic looking horse with action. My Clydesdale has an extended trot to die for - unfortunately convincing her to expend energy is a different matter!