Posts Tagged ‘great horse’

There are four heavy draft horse breeds recognized in Great Britain: The Shire Horse, the Clydesdale, the Suffolk Punch and the Percheron.

In former times heavy horses had been used for pulling loads and as the “heart”of transportation. Tractors and lorries haven’t been invented yet, only after the Second World War, when the diesel engine was introduced into the world of farming and transportation their importance decreased suddenly and they almost disappeared.

Nowadays those horses are becoming popular again: due to their docile temperament, stamina and versatility they can be used for all sorts of equestrian activities: showing, driving, pulling logs or agricultural machinery, riding and even dressage and show jumping.

The Shire Horse

This is the tallest of the modern heavy horse breeds, their height reaches 18 hh and they can grow even taller. Their weight is about a ton. The world’s tallest horse “Sampson”, born in 1846 in Bedfordshire in England, was 21.2 hh (2.20m) at the whither and his weight was estimated for 1.5 tonnes.

The Shire horse was developed out of the medieval Great Horse, which William the Conqueror brought 1066 to the British Islands. By planned improvement of a breed called the Black horse or later the Bake well Black, the Shire horse breed was formed. The number of Shire Horses decreased considerably after the Second World War, because of a more and more motorized agriculture and haulage business. Nowadays numbers are slowly rising again, because they are used for crossbreeding and showing.

In former times it was used for pulling heavy loads and for heavy farm work. It was originally used to pull ale-delivery carts. Nowadays it is still used as a brewery horse, e.g. the grey Shires of Samuel Smith Brewery in Tadcaster and the Tetley brewery in Leeds.
The Shire horse is also seen in Draft horse competitions and shows. They are used for crossbreeding with Thoroughbreds to produce a heavy hunter horse type.

The Clydesdale

This breed originates in the Clydesdale in Scotland, where it was bred and developed over the last 300 years.

It was used for heavy farm work, pulling carts and in the timber industry for pulling logs. These heavy draft horses have been exported all over the world.

The Clydesdale became like the Shire horse a victim of the motorization and would almost disappear, but it has regained popularity and its biggest population is now in the United States with yearly 600 new foal registrations.

Two stallions are recognized as the founders of the breed (“Lord Darney” and “The Prince of Wales”) and all Clydesdales nowadays originate from these two bloodlines. Clydesdales have been used for heavy farm work and today they are still used for farming and pulling logs, where machines are not suitable to be used.

They are a symbol for the Anheuser-Busch brewery (Budweiser).
And they are performing in shows in halter and performance classes. In performance classes the horse is judged on how it is behaving in harness, on how it is moving in the ring and its capability to work in a team, its responsiveness to the driver and on the quality of the horse and the equipment.

The Suffolk Punch

It is like the Shire horse a descendant of the medieval Great Horse. The Suffolk Punch was developed in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in England and is one of the oldest heavy horse breeds. This heavy horse has got stamina and is very powerful. Its temperament is docile and it is well known for easy handling.

It reaches in average16.1 hh. It has got a very muscular, arched neck, a short strong back and strong, upright shoulders. The hips are broad and the tail high in onset. The legs appear short and have no feathering. The usual hair coat color is chestnut in various shades. White markings occur.
It was used for heavy farm work and pulling heavy loads in the past.

Today it still performs in draft horse competitions and is used for driving and showing.

The Percheron

The Percheron is a very popular heavy horse breed and in the UK amongst the four recognized heavy draft horse breeds.

This breed is named after the Perche valley in the North of France. Its exact origin is unknown, but it is believed that Moores brought them to Europe and their ancestors are Arabian horses.
in the middle age it was used as a heavy warhorse. Then it was used for heavy work, like pulling stagecoaches etc. The forehead is square with a straight profile. The neck is muscular and strong, some individuals have a long and heavy neck.

The chest is broad, the back short and they have a deep girth. The hindquarters are very muscular and powerful. They should have a round hip and a long croup. The mane is thick; the hair coat color is gray or black. They can reach heights of 15 – 19 hh and weigh up to a ton and above and lives 27 – 39 years. A modern variation of the Percheron is longer and slender in appearance. This type is used for showing competitions.

This is a very gentle and intelligent horse and ideal for driving. It can pull heavy loads as well as perform in front of a fine carriage.
It is also suitable for riding and competes even as a show jumper.

Dr.med.vet. Ellen Schmidt
I am a veterinary surgeon living and working in Scotland, United Kingdom. My passion are horses and horse driving for pleasure and recreation. In my spare time I am creating and writing on my website http://www.discover-horse-carriage-driving.com

This is an “Infoport” for hobby drivers and horse lovers who would like to get expert information about most aspects of equine driving.

Author: Dr Ellen Schmidt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Buying a horse can be a very complex task. For those people that may think a horse is horse could find themselves facing big problems. Each horse is different and needs to be looked at in such a way. All horses will have some problems, it is a matter of do you have the skills to properly deal with them.

Let me say up front one big secret I think there is to having a great horse, it’s all in the relationship. If you want to have a successful and fulfilling relationship with your horse you have to get along. The famous Will Rogers quote, “The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man.” That is true quote but you must remember that the opposite can be true also, you could begin to dislike and even hate a horse you are not having fun with. The remarkable thing about a horse, is that over time they will begin to represent a mirror image of you. If you don’t know how to handle a horse then your horse’s problems can grow. A horse has a wonderful knack to exploit your imperfections. That why it is imperative to have the horsemanship skills and tools to be able to “train” a horse. From the selection, training, management and to horseman, I have defined four sections to examine in order for you to take the steps to excel as a horseperson.

Selection: The horse you choose, is the horse you must live with and deal with on a daily basis. If you select a horse with many “challenges” then you must embrace ways to develop and learn to possess the skills to correct those “problems”. There is no horse that is challenge free or problem free. Some horses just have less challenges then others. Your first horse should not have challenges that can in injure you. Challenges can be in many forms:

Age – Breed – Health – Abuse – Attitude – Neglect – Never Trained – Poorly Trained – Time to devote to the horse – Facilities not available

It is best if you shop around and educate yourself on what you really want in your horse. Love at first sight is not a good buying strategy for a horse. Inexperience in horse selection can be anything from unpleasant to very painful, including death. The wrong horse in the wrong hands can be a deadly combination. The average horse is ten times more powerful than you. Horse ownership should be an absolute joy and not filled with fear and anxiety. Selection of your first horse is paramount to having a good horse experience. The old saying of a green horse and a green rider soon turns to black and blue was founded on truth.

Psychological Selection: We may unknowingly be psychological mirrors to the horses we gravitate towards, or the horses may be psychological mirrors of us. Either way it is very common for the person buying a horse for personal use, to select a horse for subconscious reasons. I only address this here so you are aware of it. It is too complex an issue to discuss in its entirety here.

Cost: Good horses are expensive to purchase. But the initial price of the horse may be shortly eclipsed by the constant cost of the routine expenses it may take to properly care for a horse. Veterinarian bills, feed bills, farrier bills, continuing education fees, tack, stable fees, etc.

Time: The time you spend with your horse is important. The horse’s favorite companion is routine and habit. For a horse to develop well, he should also be mentally and emotionally stimulated. It takes time to teach a horse something new or to refine prior learned tasks. It takes lots of time to build exceptional communication between you and the horse. Again learning in horsemanship is a two way street, you must also develop your horsemanship skills. My personal goal as a horsemen is having people to try to figure out how you got the horse to do that maneuver, with no obvious signs of a cue. When people always ask you how it is you have the best mannered and such a well trained horse, that is when you are becoming a horseman. In my opinion there is no more noble quest than to be a superb horseman. Pat Parelli considers a horse green with less than 1,000 hours of training. If you work/train/ride your horse one hour each day, it will take about 3 years to reach 1,000 hours.

Breed selection: There is no perfect breed. Each breed always have pluses and minuses. Each breed has it’s limitations and attributes. Some breed organizations are large, others are small. You should select your horse based on your intended use and individual flare. Arabian horses will make poor roping horses, but they make superb endurance racers. Quarter Horses were originally bred to produce an all around ranch horse that was extremely fast running a quarter mile. Walking horses make excellent trail horses, their gait and endurance allows for a long pleasant trail ride. Each breed may have their temperaments, some may be “hot” or “cold”. Horse shows, fairs, television programs and the internet are just a few places to learn about different breeds. Most people will be more than happy to embellish enthusiastically about “their” breed of horse if asked.

Age: Young horses can be very enjoyable, most of the time they are “baggage free”. They can also become nightmares in the wrong hands. Raising a young horse from weanling to riding age can be the best thing ever, to both you and the horse, if handled properly. It is not wise to have your first horse be a horse younger than six years old, that has been properly trained. Your first horse should never be a green horse. A ten year old well seasoned horse is worth its weight in gold. They are usually very mature and commonly have only a few veterinary problems. Your first horse should be your buddy. A horse that will help you learn at your pace. A green or young horse will learn at their pace. If you are unprepared to teach the horse, let someone else start and train your horse. But you must be in on the process. If you don’t know how to train or ride a horse you really need some professional guidance.

Place of Purchase: Buyer beware was a phrase born by dealing with horse traders in the old days. Auction barns can be a place to get a very good deal or a perpetual problem. The best place to purchase a horse is from a well respected breeder or private owner. The first question you should ask is: Why are you selling this horse? A breeder makes a living selling horses. His or her response should be, “That’s what I do.” A private owner may have numerous different responses. Hopefully they will be frank and honest with you. It is possible to pay an experienced horseman or horsewoman to help you select the horse that is right for you. The phrase many people use today in selecting a horse is called “matching personalities”. Don’t feel you have to be coerced into buying the first horse you see. There are millions of horses out there, buy the one you think will suit you best. For your own protection ask for a 30 day trial period. If the horse turns out not to be the horse for you, a honorable person should take the horse back. A person that is truly interested in the welfare of the horse will want what’s best for the horse. The seller should want what’s best for the horse, if not, you are a buying a horse from the wrong person. The horse should be in the same condition it was when you bought it, if you expect to return it.

Normal wear and tear: The only time a horse is usually perfect is the minute he is born. Horses will get cuts, scars, bumps, bruises and other sundry of problems. Chronic medical conditions that cost large sums of money to treat or that will impede the normal use that you expect with your horse is entirely different. HYPP, laminitis, club foot, heaves, and other serious diseases/syndromes can become a horrendous ordeal. It may be beneficial to have a veterinarian conduct a “vet check”. The veterinarian can point out any physical pitfalls. That of course will require a fee, but may in the long run be a lot cheaper.

Horse Home: A horse needs space and/or daily exercise. Horses in the wild average 20 miles of travel a day. The smaller the confinement, the more potential problems you will have with your horse’s emotional state. Horses do much better emotionally with a buddy of some type. Horses feel more comfortable in groups, as in the wild they bond together in bands for safety. The point being that horses are plains animals, and rely on other horses in the herd/band to spot potential enemies/threats. When there is no one else to help look out, a horse can become emotionally over concerned and may not rest well. The area in which the horse is confined should be free of hazards.

Horses, as the joke goes, could injure themselves in a padded room. Another truism, the more expensive the horse the greater chance they will hurt themselves. The area in which a horse is housed needs to be inspected for various hazards a horse may find during their free time.

Horses are one of the greatest gift you can buy for yourself. A lot of thought and research should go into this very important purchase. Educate yourself so that you will have a fulfilling experience and know the joy of horse ownership.

Author: Matthew Brendal
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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