The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Jumping a draft, what's it like?

6K views 12 replies 12 participants last post by  BolderDash 
#1 ·
I'm curious who here has jumped a draft before. I've never really riding drafts, only a few clydies on trail rides, but those are the kind of trail rides where you walk nose to butt with other horses, and only get one or two trots or canters. All i remeber is they are bouncy.

So im curious, I'm sure you can jump drafts, i see no reason why not. Obviously they cant jump as well as lighter breeds, but I'm sure they can go over some smaller jumps. So whats it like to jump one? How are they different to light breeds? Is there anything thats easier or harder to do with them when jumping compared to lighter breeds?
 
#2 ·
I have jumped a belgian/thoroughbred cross that is more on the belgian side. Like a LOT more on the belgian side. He is one of my favorite to jump, he is pretty calm in between jumps though loves doing it. I know he is a fox hunter so he could probably do over 3ft easily! Also he will jump anything like he will pick himself up and jump a 18" jump where as his bro(more thoroughbredy) will just trot or take a big canter stride over it.
I think he is easier to jump then lighter breeds as he is a very honest horse and can get excited but is not high strung.
 
#3 ·
I love percheron/tb crosses, they seem to be the whole package. I have rode a full perch and they do have BIG movement. But they have an amazing rocking horse canter and are usually pretty brave. It almost seems like they jump effortlessly, maybe because they're really tall, but I really enjoyed it! Hope that helped and good luc.:)
Posted via Mobile Device
 
#5 ·
It really just depends on the horse. My sister has a cob, imported from Scotland. He's a big boy, very drafty but only about 15.2 hands. This horse won't jump. He's naturally very bargy and if you point him at an obstacle he knows will collapse, he just plows right through it.

My mom's gypsy vanner gelding is lighter than my sister's horse. He can be a bit bargy as well, but he's much more energetic and really enjoys jumping. He's a cute little jumper, not built for going over larger fences, but he's comparable to jumping my dad's appaloosa mare as far as feel goes.

Here's me and my mom's horse messing over a little cross rail:


My own horse is a Shire/TB cross. She looks more Shire than TB but I'm pretty sure she inherited her athleticism from her TB side of the family. She's big, but jumps even larger fences effortlessly, despite the fact that she's still green over fences. She's just a natural at it, and it's very easy to ride her over a fence.

Here's me and my mare at the end of last season, just testing ourselves over fences. Not great but she looks pretty good for green, and toting a rider who hasn't jumped consistently in more than 8 years.
 
#6 · (Edited)
Most of the horses at my barn are drafts and drafts cross . We mostly do jumping and dressage.

I start really jumping on TB/Percheron cross was a brat for anything else but jumping and was the best jumper there(over 5 feet with one of the trainers but only showed 4feet at schooling shows) Sadly was kicked in the head last summer (some brain Damage but we got the go a head form the vet to retrain) and has yet to be retrained ( I hoping to be the one that does the retraining)

Now I ride a canadain horse mare (not sure if that counts) but she loves to jumps and is getting better but still learn.

I have ridden a few other as well and some love to jump and do well in jumping. Some hate jumping. Some aren't good at jumping
 
#10 ·
I would say IMO when you have a draft that loves to jump and does so when you do it is an EXPERIENCE. One of my mares loves to jump and the only way to describe it is BIG. You better be prepared for it.
 
#12 ·
I jump my Belgian cross every once in a while- nothing too big yet, and mostly it's on the trail so the size has varied quite a bit.

He tries hard but the poor soul just isn't built for it- I bet we could compete at 2', and be absolutely done with it haha
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top