Pro's and con's of drafts

One thing you also need to take into consideration, is the heat you have there. Draft horses do not do well in high heat and humidity. You work them in that heat, it will take them a lot longer to cool down than does a light horse, their core temperature takes the longest.

Hay wise...I have two 16H Quarter Horses who eat just as much as my two Percherons (PLEASE they are Percheron, NOT Perch, that you find in the ocean), their oats is the same as them as well, the only thing more expensive is the shoes and trim. Make sure your farrier will do a draft horse, many will not, nor do they know how.

They are fun, they are willing, and each draft has it's own unique history and story behind them.

HI Everybody
Thanks so much for all your replies. You've all really been great at giving me a balanced view of Drafts. Several of you mentioned Half-drafts, that is also definitely something I'll look into. Might be my best option, draft horse wise. There is a stud here is SA who regularly cross their Percherons and Clydesdales with QH's and other breeds. Unfortunately they are very far from me, and most of the horses they sell are youngsters. I'm iedally looking for at least a started horse, if not trained, so much more if it were a full draft. I've yet to train a horse from scratch. I've always sent them off to someone else for fininshing. I will however be attempting to finish a young saddler x I've raised since birth for a cow pony. I have sworn never to send a horse to the only trainer in our vicinity again! Ever!
I am looking into other breeds too, just to try and not be like a blinkered horse, and several of you have raised the issue of heat, that's the price you pay practically living in the desert. Normally humidity is not a problem, but this past summer we have had humidity like never seen before. You go out to feed the horses at 7am and by the time you're finished you look like you've had a shower, you're so sweaty. Must be the reason drafts are a scarcity in my vicinity. Arabs, Saddlers, pinto's and off course a lot of "mutts". Most of all You've opened my eyes to all of the things I need to consider before getting a draft.