Big Draft 16.3hh -- should I go look?

At my tack store, they just have a standard sized saddle with "draft tree" but I have been looking around the internet and there are some places that offer different sizes of draft saddles. How to measure, I have no idea. Most other tack labelled draft should fit him fine though you should probably measure for a bit.


I would venture a guess here and say that polo wraps are designed to fit any horse..........right? As for bell boots, yeah. You may have a really hard time finding draft sized boots as I have never seen any for sale anywhere.


Really just any flat enclosed area where he is by himself should work fine. If they have a paddock or pasture with a flat area in it, that would work as well as an arena so long as you are comfortable doing it.

Drafts have different ideal conformation than standard sized horses but yeah, he has got nice solid conformation for a draft (at least it looks that way). Many of them have straighter shoulders and short pasterns (which makes for the rougher ride) and also, an ideal draft should be slightly cow-hocked as it is better for pulling heavy loads. Most of them are shorter coupled than your regular riding horse (short backed). I like his confo but I see where the choppy gaits come from. His shoulder is pretty steep and his pasterns are short. Pretty standard.

Good luck and I hope everything works out well.

He looks to have pretty good draft confo, as smrobs said, but you may find that you dislike riding him due to the aforementioned reasons - steep shoulder and short pasterns make for choppy gait usually.

Drafts are really built to pull, that is what they were bred for. They obviously can be ridden, many people do it and love riding their drafts. A friend of mine has a Suffolk Punch and when I ride her, I just can't seem to find the right rhythm.

I say definitely go check him out. Don't just ride him - handle him on the ground, lunge him, led him, etc. Make sure you're comfortable with him.

Is he registered? I don't know, in this market $1100 for an unpapered horse is a lot. Just think about it. Get a vet check done if you decide you like him.

Also think about your budget. Drafts eat more, farrier work is more (and many won't do drafts), and require special tack - which gets expensive.

Thanks guys :) For all the info. and the links! I will go to them right now :)
I am only 13, and my mom doesnt like to order stuff via internet.

I will check in with our old farrier, to see what he charges, and I will have to ask the people I will be boarding with if thats okay if theres a draft :P

About how many lbs does a draft eat a day?

I am hoping to go try him out this weekend or next week sometime, but first I need to ask the owners.
Drafts sound awesome!! I am soo excited to go see him!

thanks again!

leahkathleen -- actually, up here $1100 for ANY horse is amazing! A unbroke unregistered horse wouldnt even sell for that low. If he is broke.. and a draft, he would sell for at least $2500 normally.
Up here, prices are still very high.

Ah - lucky. Our horse market is non-sense. Perfectly usable, ridable, registered animals going for $500, $300, free... people can't afford to feed them anymore.

In any case, always be wary of anything that seems "too good to be true" - find out why they're selling him so low, and accept only a truthful answer. ;]

Herewith a bucket load of generalities about heavy horses.

A draught horse is just a big horse usually from one of several historic breeds ie clydesdale, shire, belgian etc.
16h3 is not especially big and once you are up there you won't notice the difference, except your legs will be farther apart. Shire horses cross well with other breed including Tbs.

They were bred to pull - either a cart or a plough. Some of them have a higher croup than a wither. Don't expect lightness or agility but they can be quite fast in a straight line. And surprisingly when they appear to be going slow they can be going quite fast. When they are going fast, then remember you have to stop so leave plenty of room - no sliding stops with these guys.

Saddle - best to get a fitter to fit one properly - width is expectially important. Western saddles will fit practically anything if you put a saddle blanket underneath but get the biggest that you can. An English saddle should be fitted correctly first, then bought.

You'll need a big sized bridle and a big sized bit - 5.5 inch or more - but measure the mouth. The bit is your key communication aid, make sure it fits properly.

What you have to realize with a big horse is that they are incredibly strong. So you don't ever fight them - always reason - get them to want to do, what you want them to do, in cooperation with you. Reread that several times. It is a must. The horse will know you are weaker than him - just make sure he nevers wants to prove the point. If he weighs, as well he might, over 650 kilos then you have to be able to ask him, so that he understands what you want him to do.

You should never buy a heavy breed unless they have a calm temperament - which, unless they have been mishandled in the past - they mostly do. They are described as "cold blooded" in other words they are by nature calm. But a heavy horse which wasn't calm could be a nightmare. This temperament issue is what you should judge the horse for. Remember to watch him carefully in the spring when the mares are in season.

But from the very beginning your attitude is important. Calm, quiet, self confidence and a firm voice and hand. A little crop might help, not to beat the horse with but to reinforce the aid/cue. A little tap is all that is necessary - no more.

The biggest risk to you is a broken foot - wear sturdy boots at all times. Every one of those big feet weighs over 400 lbs. You'll also need a training halter that works on the poll as well as the nose.

Your first few weeks are the most important. Establish a routine and stick to it. The horse has an inbuilt clock and will expect you to be there at the same time every day. The horse will eat you out of house and home. But all it really needs is good quality grass or hay and a few supplements.

If this is your first horse, then you have elected to take on a challenge but if the horse has the right temperament, then it is a question of your learning how to handle him.

In Britain there are lots of shire crosses being ridden under saddle every day. I nearly bought one myself.
Just make sure you get a good one.

Barry G

this is what the owners said back to me:
Major is very well schooled... he long lines, lunges is extremely quiet and easy to ride. I do not have a bridle that fits him, or any tack for that matter... His feet are hard as nails, so he has not required shoes, but I don't use him all that much. Unless your legs are 6 feet long, you wouldn't be able to really give proper leg aids. He moves off pressure from long lines...he is honestly more of a harness horse than a saddle horse and I don't know that you would be a good fit with him.
Why so interested in a Draft? They are adorable and quiet yes... but very slow, and not much athleticism. You sound like you have had some formal riding... I am guessing lessons... Why not go for a breed where you are not limited? You are young yet and don't know where you will end up with horses, I would choose a nice Arab or Morab if I were you! That is what I grew up on, and now I am a coach, trainer and endurance rider... yet I can still enter a western pleasure, or a show jumping arena... all on the same horse! Not many breeds offer that, I just think that you would get bored with Major and he would just become a pet... Which would be a waste of your money and his potential. Do you live on a farm? Are there other horses? Where bouts do you live?
I am not trying to change your mind about a Draft, just want you to think about your future with horses... then decide if a Draft would be the best breed.

Drafts cost a lot more then regular sized horses. So just keep that in mind

This is what I sent back:

The reason I am so interested in drafts, is because I have heard they are very gentle natured, and quiet. Also, I am about 5'8 feet tall, and still growing. I like bigger horses with big bodies. There was a draft cross at our stables, he was wonderful! He was used for beginner lessons, he was awesome. I have also heard of pure drafts show jumping, cross country, english pleasure etc.
Yes, I have been taking lessons for about 4 yrs.. but, once I get my own horse I won't really be taking lessons anymore. I just want a fun horse to pleasure ride on... mostly trails, and bareback. Does he have a tough time cantering at all? How often is he being ridden?
What size girth would he need?
No, I do not live on a farm. I would board my horse down the road, where there is about a 5-10 acre field, 6 stall barn, and arena. The owners do not have horses, but the previous owners did, they say that my friend and I would be able to keep our horses there. Also, another girl is keeping her horse there. So a total of 3-4 horses there, including my horse. So plenty of company! ;D

What breed is he crossed with? Does he have long or short legs? I have thought it over lots, and I believe a draft, cross, or big bodied qh/paint, would be the best choice for me. Does Major enjoy being ridden?


Jillyann -- of course! lol. About how much more do they charge for farrier service? any guesses?

The pictures weren't great for conformation critique, but from what I can see, I think he's pretty good-looking. He does appear to be overweight, however. And that's especially worrying in drafts because they're more at risk for a life-threatening founder episode, and even more so if they're on grass pasture. I think he's worth a look, and if you get him, I'd put him on a hay-only diet until you get his weight under control. But definitely worth a look. ;)