Anyone raise draft horses?

Our local TV station just showed "Dave", the draft horse, being showered with warm water, at the Pa. Farm Show, and then he gets a drink at the end!!! So cute!!! I don't know if we'll be going to the farm show, but I love watching our PCN channel, when they televise the draft horse pulling contest. Since DH grew up on an Amish farm, he's been sharing horse stories, I want to record. One of his horses was killed when he was still Amish; Strangely, it was his Cousin, also Amish, who ran into him, with a car!!!! Amish kids are allowed to do such things BEFORE joining the Church. And just recently, DH told me he had come close to dying, when he was trying to hitch up a team, and one horse kicked both hind feet up, just barely missing his head!!! And, then, there was a time DH, at a young age, was guiding horses in the field, and they decided to run. DH's Dad caught them, DH was not hurt, but Dh's Dad, then purposefully ran the horses, so they wouldn't bolt like that again. Mary

Re: Anyone raise draft horses?

I have 3 horses (soon to be more when we move to our farm next month). None of them are draft horses, but one is a Standardbred. Standardbreds are harness racers and often later sold to the Amish to pull carts and do farm work. All of my horses are riding horses, though, not driving horses. I was a professional trainer for years before going to law school and will be returning to training professionally in a couple of months. I train riding horses, though, not driving horses. I've always wanted to learn how to drive, though! I adore Clydesdales and dream of having one to drive one day.

A good family friend raises Clydesdales - absolutely STUNNING Clydes that show in competive driving.

Not all of the Amish cart horses actually are draft breeds, though certainly some are. They do buy and use many STBs and some other lighter breeds as well.

As an aside, my DH's grandfather was raised Amish and left the family farm for a more traditional life as a teen.

Message edited 1/10/2011 7:17:29 PM.

Re: Anyone raise draft horses?

Posted by Kara

I have 3 horses (soon to be more when we move to our farm next month). None of them are draft horses, but one is a Standardbred. Standardbreds are harness racers and often later sold to the Amish to pull carts and do farm work. All of my horses are riding horses, though, not driving horses. I was a professional trainer for years before going to law school and will be returning to training professionally in a couple of months. I train riding horses, though, not driving horses. I've always wanted to learn how to drive, though! I adore Clydesdales and dream of having one to drive one day.

A good family friend raises Clydesdales - absolutely STUNNING Clydes that show in competive driving.

Not all of the Amish cart horses actually are draft breeds, though certainly some are. They do buy and use many STBs and some other lighter breeds as well.

As an aside, my DH's grandfather was raised Amish and left the family farm for a more traditional life as a teen.

Re: Anyone raise draft horses?

Hi, Kara!!! Watched the draft horse pulling last night on PCN ch., from the farm show. The winning team pulled 9000 lbs.!!! Mary