Show Horses???

[Rod44]

Nice Haflinger Billy.

[Billy Foster]

Thanks rod44
He is a good size ~1300 and a very good natured horse, a pleasure to work with. 🙂
He is a keeper

[jac]

The saying “show horses can work ” is mabey a bit off the mark in the UK… there are so many weakness’s bred into the Clyde and Shire now.. an 18.2 and 19 hand horse is ok for shows.. there feet are hopeless now.. the feather is a pain in the butt in muddy conditions and only a victorian idea anyway.. CPL is rife because of lax breeding standards.. I read somewhere that the Percheron has a windpipe now that is too small for the size of horse.. the Suffolk is so in bred now they are in real danger of losing the breed.. this is all on the back of the show ring. I can see how a market for the show ring drives people to breed but over here the societies dont give a rats ass for work types and anyone with a Clyde of 16.2 always finds themselves at the bottom of the line… taking a show horse to work is totaly possible , but the height might bring its own problems.. good luck and I will be keen to see the fotos… John

[Big Horses]

I totally agree, John. I wasn’t going to say much more, to keep from starting an argument…but I wasn’t referencing a “local” type show in my posts. Heck, our horses clean up at the local level…but we own over half of the barn here… haha There’s a “world” between the “high end” hitch horses and a horse that works…sadly. We long for the day that they both combine, but that’s not what the current trend is. Yes, they can cross over, and I’d say that what the original poster will be interested in is more along the lines of what you and I like to see as well… more of an “old style” horse. The cheaper “hitch” horses that we buy aren’t top of the line by any means according to the show people, and their price reflects that. I think for the most part, everyone here is on about the same page, just saying it a bit differently. True, a well trained horse is a well trained horse, but trained for what? A “show hitch” horse doesn’t necessarily know anything about working…but will figure it out very quickly, given the chance. I just don’t want anyone to expect a perfect working horse when it’s pulled right from the show ring. There is a bit of difference in what they already know how to do…and what they’re used to being expected to do, but most likely, they’re going to pick up what we want them to do quickly. I totally support exposing them to everything you can…we ride and drive ours, and like an old mentor of mine told me, just the fact that you spent the time to expose them to something else is going to benefit both you and the horse by strengthening that trust as well as giving that horse a more expanded “world” to draw from. It’s all good. I like them like Carl does, so that we’re not “undoing” what someone else has done… Lord knows I get enough of that. I think there has been great advice given in this thread, and it sounds like the original poster (John #1? ) is on the right track to me in all ways… I’m like the other John (#3?)… eager to see pictures and hear progress!!
John (#2? )

[reb]

Dang. I thought a horse was a horse of course …

[Anonymous]

Carl, I have definately been weighing the additional work needed to introduce another horse into the mix, and realize that I would need to spend time with any new horse to make sure it works into my program. I guess the other aspect of this is, one of my guys I feel is ready to be hooked in a team and one is not quite ready yet. I would like to keep progressing with the one that is ready and was thinking that by getting a new teammate I could continue progressing with all. I have also thought about “borrowing” a local more experienced horse but wasn’t quite sure how I could get that to work. I appreciate your offer for support Carl and have been thinking it would be good to get a seasoned perspective, I would like to take you up on your offer in the future.

Johns (#2 & #3), all good information thank you for your ideas and opinions. I think the direction I would take would be very similar to John (#2). I would be looking for the something on the smaller size (16.3 max) and that was comfortable being driven single or in a team. I to was thinking on the thrifty side, and thought I would likely be able to find something meeting these criterion that was reasonably priced.

While I don’t know that I am any further along in making a decision, I now have more good information which is always helpful. Thanks again to everyone, John (#1?)

[Carl Russell]

@Hopewell Farm 31181 wrote:

….. I guess the other aspect of this is, one of my guys I feel is ready to be hooked in a team and one is not quite ready yet. I would like to keep progressing with the one that is ready and was thinking that by getting a new teammate I could continue progressing with all. …..

There is a lot of progress that can be made without having to hitch in a team. There is nothing about being hitched as a team that will advance that horse any more than you working him single…. truthfully.

If you want to get another horse to move things along, I can see your point of view, but by no means feel that your horse will be missing out by not hitching him in a team until the other is ready.

Just my opinion.

Have a good x-mas, Carl

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