How sure footed is your Draft?

smrobs-my gelding was pretty clutzy his first year of riding. You wouldn't think a rider would unbalance him, as big as he is but it sure seemed to. I remember once he did what John did, tripped and then caught the toe of the foot he was trying to catch himself with, went down on his nose. I wasn't paying attention and ended up halfway up his neck! Good thing he has such a big, long neck. Embarrasing 'cause my hubby and neighbor were riding behind us and there I was with my big butt sticking up in the air! He's much better now. I do have to remember to collect and balance him before I ask for an increase in gait and have to watch the length of his feet, roll his toes. He's 5 now and we're just getting into more serious riding.

Haha, I know that feeling. Only I got a saddle horn to the gut instead of the long neck slide. LOL.

I think a part of John's problem is that he is still pretty young (4 years old) and getting used to those gangly legs of his. Plus, he doesn't have much finesse. He just kinda flops his big ol' feet out there like a kid walking in flippers.

I guess the other point I have to consider is that a horse that is bred on this hard country will be far more clever than a horse brought up on flat land.

I must admit I have been spoiled with the other horses I have ridden previous to getting Phoenix. The last horse I had was a QH x TB that I bred myself. He was raised on the hills. Comet was extraordinarily sure footed, mainly I think because he was very athletic. I remember getting into a situation that required him to pivot on his hind legs and leap up a bank at the same time which he did effortlessly. The problem was we were only in that tricky situation in the first place because he was such a pig and wouldn't listen and we had had a big fight. Anyway Comet is a whole other post.

My neighbour has QH's that are used for cattle work and also he has a trekking business. For years I have been the trekking guide and his little QH's just float over anything. But again they are all bred on that country and it is what they are used to . Phoenix does well given that she is young and inexperienced although I have not taken her out in the hills since the winter rain started. We have fallen over twice but it seems to shake me up more than it does her.

A girl friend of mine lost her young horse about four months ago. They had got to a particularly slippery piece of track, she got off to lead Dude but Dudes front legs slipped out from under him. He did the splitz with his front legs. He died in his paddock the next day and an autopsy showed he had torn his diaphragm. It gets a bit scary when that sort of thing happens. I guess it doesn't matter the breed because accidents can happen to anyone.

My Shire-TBX was very sure footed in the sort of terrain found in Colorado mountains, where she was bred and spent the first 14 years (give or take a few years out of state) of her life. Could go up and down steep and rocky slopes effortlessly. She's not so sure of this bog thing they do here in Scotland and gets a bit scrambly and uncertain when she has to slog through one. Is getting better, though.

If you want a horse good on certain terrain, get one who has grown up on that terrain, regardless of breed. I see horses who have spent their formative years in arenas or on nice flat fields taken on trail rides and those are the one who trip on blades of grass and non-existant rocks.

my 2 year old is a clutz. hehe

My 5 year old is still has his moments of clutziness.

My big guy is a little clumsy, but he's only five so I can give him some slack. It really depends on the type of terrain the horse is used to. Drafts can learn to be as sure-footed as any horse. :)