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New to drafts and just purchased one.

3K views 11 replies 5 participants last post by  azarni 
#1 ·
If anyone has any advice please let me know. I am around 5 ft 4in and I weigh around 95 lbs. I am fourteen and I have owned two horses before my draft. My first horse I still own and he will do anything for me! He is soo small and fuzzy, he is only 12.1hh. I will keep him forever =). My second horse was a 16hh half blind appy gelding that likes to buck EVERYTIME I would go into a canter. Sadly we sold him because my parents found him dangerous. He is a very sweet horse and he is enjoying his life as an all trail horse.

Now on to my new guy. His name is Dozer, he is 6 and he is 18hh. His old owner was very bad. Not abusive just training him A LOT of bad habits! He use to run down hills(we fixed that for the most part), he use to walk all over people(he still does that to people with no experience, doesn't do it to me), he likes to establish dominance everywhere(through fences, on trail, etc.) and more. We are taking weekly lessons and he is getting better for sure. Yesterday was the first time anyone has ever rode him with out a bareback pad or saddle. He was a little weary then after being reassured by me for a while he was fine with it.

If anyone has training ideas or secrets, grooming ideas, good places to find equipment, and anything else. Oh, and I don't need a saddle or bridle already have those but I want a rope halter that isnt confusing and tha doesn't slip down his nose. I am putting up some pics, can you guys tell me about his conformation and weight?

Please keep in mind that these pictures are only possible after a lot of work. I will not post a picture of him before because he looked so poorly taken care of.

Thanks in advance!
 

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#3 ·
Thanks! Its a pretty funny story how I got him. Both my parents knew I wanted him since the day we met on accident. The onwer rode him once every three months or so and they asked if I would ride him(I told them about my bucking horse I said YES! They told me he was for sale and I am almost positive they were kidding but I was like give me a month to sell my horse then I will buy him from you. The day I found a buyer for my horse I called the lady and told her I would be over there to show my mom and aunt my new horse(my dad was camping and totally unaware of my plan) They fell in love with him and later that day his old owner dropped him off(we would have but we didn't have a big enough trailer) The next day my dad came home and saw Dozer in our backyard. =)
 
#4 ·
Yikes! If your parents sold your previous horse for being too dangerous then this horse doesn't look any better. On the bright side drafts are usually calm and gentle. But to buy a horse that is 18hh and has many bad habits is probably not any better.

Make sure you work with him daily, horses are too big of animals to let them walk all over you. ESP a draft horse. Try lots of lunging work, in a roung pen. It does wonders on establishing dominance. If I were you I would do more ground work before you get on his back.

Keep us updated.
 
#9 ·
The only dangerous thing about this horse is... hold on I have to think... well I don't know. He is lazy but he goes when I ask and stops on a dime. when we first got him in april brakes were nonexistent and there was no speed over a walk. He has gotten so much better with me riding him everyday and using Parelli's Natural horsemanship.
 
#5 ·
I have a lovely draft Mare. He is very pretty, I don't know much about conformation but his weight looks fine. Our mare was very similar when we bought her, very pushy and rude, especially to novices. My advice would be to start from scratch with his ground manners. When a horse is that large it is critical he behaves himself on the ground. A regular riding/working routine will probably be great for him, so juts work with him as much as you can. An employed horse is a happy, healthy horse. Good luck!
 
#7 ·
My dad is a sucker for horses! He tried to be mad but the minute he met Dozer he was in love. The funny thing is when I was selling my horse I was looking for a new one and every horse he picked out was a draft or draft cross, so he got what he wanted.
 
#8 ·
I have a lovely draft Mare. He is very pretty, I don't know much about conformation but his weight looks fine. Our mare was very similar when we bought her, very pushy and rude, especially to novices. My advice would be to start from scratch with his ground manners. When a horse is that large it is critical he behaves himself on the ground. A regular riding/working routine will probably be great for him, so juts work with him as much as you can. An employed horse is a happy, healthy horse. Good luck!
 
#11 ·
Ya I hope so. I have taken him to two gymkhanas and just had him tied to the trailer(good for teaching him to stand and just to let him get use to all the horses0 The second time my trainers husband rode him around for a while( I was riding my pony) I got on and we did a simple course at a slow canter. All in all I think next one he will be calmer and we can do more events.
 
#12 ·
Wow, he's so beautiful! It sounds like you're doing a great job with him. My Percheron mare was just the same, that is, pushy on the ground and not being very respectful. Once she respected me (I'm not sure if she does completely yet!) she was almost like a different horse.
 
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