I know that sca10010 has posted a few things about Oxen, and I wondered if anyone on here has Draft Horses or use to? I would like to know a little bit about them. I always thought it would be neat to have one someday? Probably a Belgian or a Percheron.
Draft Horses
- Thread starter CopeMan
- Start date
Rustler9
Well-known member
My grand pa was a black smith and a horse trader. He raised Belgains and also used some of the mares to raise some real good mules. Those old mares seemed like they were two stories high when I was a kid and I would ride them back in the hills to the fields. He put out and worked all of his crops-mostly corn and tobacco with them. We always picked corn in the fall and hauled it in a horse drawn wagon. He would always put a young green horse or mule with one of those old mares to pull that wagon. They would try to raise all kinds of hell when hooked up but that old mare would just plod on. Those Belgains sure were some good horses. 
Muratic
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 11, 2004
- Messages
- 470
Cope,
Some of the local Amish folk in PA buy their yearling draft from me. These are Suffolk. They are smaller framed, chestnut colored. Very even tempered and they love to work. They have more endurance for a full day's work than say the Belgins or the Percheron's. The suffolk will pace himself in the morning to be able to work thru the heat of the day where the bigger horse will need more breaks.
Being smaller framed, they do not require as much feed to keep them either. Another reason the amish in this area like to use them. The amish are cheap. Even cheaper than me.
Some of the local Amish folk in PA buy their yearling draft from me. These are Suffolk. They are smaller framed, chestnut colored. Very even tempered and they love to work. They have more endurance for a full day's work than say the Belgins or the Percheron's. The suffolk will pace himself in the morning to be able to work thru the heat of the day where the bigger horse will need more breaks.
Being smaller framed, they do not require as much feed to keep them either. Another reason the amish in this area like to use them. The amish are cheap. Even cheaper than me.
Muratic":3hpz8kg5 said:Cope,
Some of the local Amish folk in PA buy their yearling draft from me. These are Suffolk. They are smaller framed, chestnut colored. Very even tempered and they love to work. They have more endurance for a full day's work than say the Belgins or the Percheron's. The suffolk will pace himself in the morning to be able to work thru the heat of the day where the bigger horse will need more breaks.
Being smaller framed, they do not require as much feed to keep them either. Another reason the amish in this area like to use them. The amish are cheap. Even cheaper than me.
I had no idea you raised Suffolks. How many do you have Muratic. Maybe in the future, when I am able to buy one you and I can do some business together.
Rustler9
Well-known member
CopeMan,
I don't remember him breaking those big mares or geldings to ride. I guess as long as they were broke to plow or to pull that it was ok to get on their backs. Then again I probably weighed so little they probably hardly even noticed that I was on their backs. This was when I was six to 12 years old and I was always skinny.
I don't remember him breaking those big mares or geldings to ride. I guess as long as they were broke to plow or to pull that it was ok to get on their backs. Then again I probably weighed so little they probably hardly even noticed that I was on their backs. This was when I was six to 12 years old and I was always skinny.
