| It actually tends to go the other way. Drafts develop slower than most other breeds and although they look sturdy, it can cause a lot of problems later on if you work them too early. My vet said that I could get on and walk around at two and then trot, canter and do tighter circles at three or so (when the knees close). It works out alright to get them at two and spend a year or so doing ground work and riding them at the walk teaching them to adjust their stride and steer and go out on the trail until their knees close. I've worked with a number of draft crosses and so I have spoken with several trainers and vets who all said the same thing. They tend to grow slowly and their joints and bones may not be fully developed until their fourth or fifth year. It is a good idea not to jump them until they have completely developed (which can be as late as their fifth or sixth year). On the bright side, they tend to live longer than most hot-blood breeds. Many belgian and percherons can be a bit stubborn and lazy the first year, so it is particularly useful to get that year of groundwork in before they get so big that teaching them the basics can become a huge challenge. I got a percheron/belgian cross who hadn't been handled much by two and teaching a 16.1 hand, 1200lbs baby to pick up her hooves and hold them for a farrier was a time consuming task. Good luck finding the right horse! Thanks!I do believe I will now look at three+ colts, and maybe a mature two year old here and there.We will be working occasionally with an extremely talented western trainer (the husband of the owner of the stable where I lease and plan to board, of course) for the beginning just to make sure I don't do anything incredibly idiotic. After that, unless an English trainer suddenly decides to move to my itsy western town (Enid, OK) we'll probably trailer to Stillwater or OKC. prob two or three years. My mom breeds perch/throughbred crossess I'll ask her for sure. But we started her perchreon colt with imprint training when he was two weeks, and he could go well under saddle by his second birthday. |
[**mood** |
chipper]Does anyone know how old a draft colt (e.g. Percheron) should be before he is ridden?I had heard that they could be started earlier than other body types because of their massive bone structure.Is it true?I am interested in purchasing and traing a draft or draft-cross colt from the beggining to the [grand prix jumping and dressage ;)] end.But I don't know whether to check out yearlings or just two-year-olds.Thankies!