Wow! they are SOOOO beautiful. I have ridden one once. He was 18.2 hh. his owner showed me a photo of him jumping a small pickkup truck; right over the truck bed. it was amazing to see a ton of horseflesh in orbit over a car!
I am looking to buy my first horse and am dead set on a percheron gelding 5-10 years old broken to ride. I'm in VA if anyone has any suggestions as to where I could find one advice is welcome!! Thank you!
Jake, thanks! Yes, he is growing up to be quite the nice looking horse. When he was a yearling, I never would have guessed that he'd look so good...I always figured he'd be one of those horses with looks that "only momma could love" LOL.
They're all so lovely! Thanks for the photos. It's a good thing that some people still run draught horses and that they didn't get extinct with the tractor, truck etc taking over. Such majestic animals and usually such gentle giants too!
That depends entirely on you and if you are willing/able to tolerate a horse that can be very unhandy on a trail (not speaking only of drafts, but any tall/heavy horse).
If you have trails that are not very manicured and have trees with low hanging branches or steep/difficult terrain, a draft will have more trouble navigating than other horses. If the branches are hanging low, you'll have to lean down really far or even get off and lead them underneath branches that other riders ride under easily.
Drafts don't have as much endurance as smaller breeds so if you want to do a lot of trotting/loping, you'll need to really take a lot of time working up to it and getting them in shape. If you have to get off, sometimes it can be difficult to mount from the ground unless there is something nearby you can climb on like a rock or a tree stump.
Now, all that being said, I have ridden my Perch successfully on the trails several times. If you're more content to just plod along at a walk, then a draft can do that all day. If you teach them to walk on out with long strides that are faster, they can easily walk fast enough to keep up with a standard horse that is jogging. They do tend to be more mellow/laid back than average standard horses.
If you would be content with a cross, that might suit your needs better. I've got a Belgian x QH that I ride all the time and use for ranch work. He's not quite as big/heavy as his full draft mother but he's got her super mellow temperament. From his QH daddy, he got a slightly more refined body, more athleticism, and better endurance. Just yesterday I roped 2 cows with him and we probably loped for 2-3 miles without stopping.
I have a question, I'm 15 and love percherons i'm now 5'5 do you think I should buy a percheron I really really want one and I don't jump, show im just a country girl who loves horses and trail riding and mabey barrel racing some day and love drafts.. well do you think there for me please answer my question.
A full percheron is not going to make a stellar trail mount. They will also come with a higher maintenance cost. I love my drafts and will have them the rest of my life but I don't see that where you are right now that they are the right horse for you. What I would suggest for now is to seek out someone around you with a 4-6 up who is looking for some help for the upcoming show season. Typically they do not pay but they will pay your expenses to travel with them to the larger shows during the summer. In exchange you will be thrown into the deep end and get one of the best hands on educations out there. You will be eligible to show in youth driving classes (you typically must be under 17) as well as youth riding and showmanship classes when they offer them. There are also some great scholarship programs the different breed registries and state draft horse clubs offer that are always attractive to pursue.
We have a handful of these beauties! We do used to do a lot of showing with them. Now they mostly work around the farm and have fun! The riding one is of my mare Lily. It's also her with me in my prom dress. The team is Lily and Bunny. Half sisters. I drove them myself in our prom parade! They are so much fun, and just a joy to work with!
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