Celebrating Draft Horses! Part 2

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Submitted by Leigh M. - Juvenile Delinquent - JD - is my 8 year old Perch x TB homebred gelding showing 2nd and schooling 3rd. He has a heart of gold and is my partner of a lifetime!

Draft power!!  This month on YourDressage, we are celebrating the mighty Draft Horse and Draft Crosses of all kinds.  Dressage riders who choose Drafts as their mounts are eligible for many Adequan®/USDF All-Breeds Awards as there are several Draft organizations on our Participating Organization list.

We recently asked our social media followers to share photos of their Drafts, and let us know what makes them so special. Below, you can see some of their photos and stories.  If you missed Part 1 of our gallery, you can check it out here.  

Do you want to share a photo of your Draft or Draft Cross? E-mail us at yourdressage@gmail.com for your chance to be featured! Stay tuned to YourDressage all month long as we celebrate #DraftPower, with photo galleries and exclusive stories from Draft enthusiasts across the country!

Submitted by Christine W. – my 19 year old 18.2h Percheron x QH. He’s such a love
Submitted by Katie D. – Molly Go Lightly – Perch x TB mare
Submitted by Kerry M. – My trainer, Gayle Paquin‘s, FEI Perch/shire/TB “Valor” I was blessed to show him at the Region 8 AA 3rd level championships 2020. We won the AA Equitation championships too! He is a true gentleman and unicorn. 
Submitted by Linda P. – Joy is a Clydesdale Thoroughbred that has an injury but was working on being shown level 2. She will be back showing next summer!
Submitted by Sharon O. – Bella is my Percheron cross
Submitted by Sharon O. – Reserve Champion. East coast dressage breed show
Submitted by Brianna Z. – Velvet Illusions owned by Jennie Boschert, ridden by Brianna Zwilling. Friesian x Percheron mare
Submitted by Tanya R. – My 17.3h purebred Shire Echo Valley Nash shows dressage and Pinto! He consistently gets lighter and more collected and is getting stronger at canter every day.
Submitted by Tanya R. – Echo also competes in trail classes!
Submitted by Tanya R. – He’s qualified for Region 6 regionals this year at training level with scores up to 65% and he’s won highpoint draft multiple times at Pinto couldn’t be more proud!
Submitted by Claudia M. – My 8 yr old, 17 hand Belgian x Dutch Harness cross Winchester who like others here, started life as a harness horse bred by the Amish….thankfully, that didn’t work out! He is coming very slowly into the dressage world as we work on stretch and relaxation to overcome lingering anxiety issues from his past life.
Submitted by BethAnn M.
Submitted by BethAnn M.
Submitted by Maggie Z. – My Irish Sport Horse (Draft X Thoroughbred x Warmblood) Leviticus, Levi for short. Breeding and being ridden dressage.
Submitted by Charlotte S. – Firecracker won every Region 2 title Training – Grand Prix, and every Freestyle title Fourth – Grand Prix. Best of the best that one.
Submitted by Robin M. – Amanda Jarose and Fenwick – Gypsy Vanner The King Maker – GVHS Stallion
Submitted by BigHoovesBiggerHeart on Instagram – My Shire, Bella Noche, was a livestock auction rescue!
Submitted by Melinda L. – 17hh Canadian, Coldingham Gilligan NaviGator. My heart horse.
Submitted by Patty G. – This is Ash! She’s half Shire and half Swedish Warmblood. I just started riding 2 months ago and is the best partner I could ever ask for! We already competed in our first show in July and are training hard for our next show in September  I had always wanted to ride as a little girl and now as an adult she is truly a dream come true!
#firsthorse #dreamsdocometrue
Submitted by Rochelle S.J. – My Percheron x Paint mare, Trilogy! 💕 Photo by Moonfyre Photography.
Submitted by Jennifer D. – Ellie (Nonsuch Etta’s Elianor) had a long career as a commercial trail horse, and is now my dressage-in-training/vaulting/liberty horse! She’s by far the smartest animal I’ve ever worked with- she’s learned tons of vocal and hand cues, and now I struggle to keep up with her!
Submitted by Jen H. – My 16 year old registered black Clydesdale mare loves dressage! We love the work ethic of the Clydesdale and Shire breeds. They are not just driving horses anymore. These horses are extremely athletic and true to the saying “gentle giants”
Submitted by Ruth H.S. – Allegro – The biggest heart. Competed through Grand Prix.

Submitted by Jillian B. – My Belgian draft x Dutch harness horse mare. She’s the ultimate all around horse.
Jillian B. – I’ve fox hunted, trail rides, and shown her in hunters at split rock at KHP now we are doing dressage. Best horse of a lifetime.
Submitted by Stacy S. – Evarado, a lovely Spanish Norman (Percheron x Andalusian)
Submitted by Stacy S. – I am training him from ranch horse to Dressage show horse. Owned by Donna Schiffer.
Submitted by Sylwia S. – Davey, a Belgian draft gelding owned and trained by Amy Kozlowski to Prix St Georges. I had the pleasure of riding him when he was semi-retired, he loved doing canter pirouettes and would often try to do them on his own. He has quite the work ethic, which his breed is known for, and is now enjoying well deserved retirement! 
Submitted by Shania P. – For many years draft horses have taken my heart by storm. It all started when I was about ten and was given the opportunity to show registered Percherons, I then decided to go to college for equine and my focus was draft horse training. A few years later I ended up being an assistant manager at a dressage barn and Atticus landed at my feet. He was my dream horse a handsome, 17 hand Belgian TB cross who is sassy, elegant and charming. He’s helping me through the lower levels of dressage as I am new to it. The journey is a big one but I’m honored to be going through it with him.
Submitted by Stephanie B. – My Perch x TB mare Brina Misstwinkletoes shown thru PSG & her baby Bocella by Gaudi at SSF. Can’t wait to show her & rep the draft X
Submitted by Stephanie B. – Bocella and Brina Misstwinkletoes
Submitted by Shannon K. – My Clydesdale/Hackney X gelding named Molson! (Was schooling 1st level at this time) When looking for my first dressage horse, I never thought I’d end up with a draft! Now I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Molson is always a barn favorite for not only his size but his inquisitive personality, always wanting to be the center of attention! They have such a gentle demeanor and can be just as fancy as the FEI horses. After all, they are part of the foundation that created our “modern” warmblood!
Submitted by Shannon K. – he also knows how to smile on command for jelly beans!
Submitted by Victoria B. – Oliver, 5yo American Warmblood .25 Percheron, .5 TB, .25 Welsh. Sire is Brentwood oo GP Corronwood Flame. KML Beez Kneez
Submitted by Tracy C. – Romeo is a Blegian x QH. We are showing training 3 and first level. He’s quite the dude – always thinks its his job to drive!
Submitted by Sylwia S. – Gilligan, a Percheron gelding owned by Amy Kozlowski. Gilligan is quite a mover and is currently schooling half-steps in-hand, on the long-lines, and under saddle in preparation for piaffe and passage work. 
Submitted by Megan R. – Lady Elise 22yo Haflinger
Submitted by Laurel W. – Percheron x Standardbred Rescue Me, barn name Kyllar. Cross country machine, show jumping enthusiast, dressage participant…
Submitted by Rachael E. – Rio a 10 year old spotted Draft who enjoys dressage and trails
Submitted by Pam K. – This is All Jazz’Dup, my Warmblood x Draft and I love him beyond measure.
Submitted by Pam K.
Submitted by Lindsey M. – This is my TB x Percheron

Submitted by Sarah E. – This is the draft cross I lease. She was a PMU rescue. I broke 3 vertebrae in my lower back 6 years ago requiring major surgery. If I fall again it could be serious for my body but not riding would be serious for my soul.
Submitted by Sarah E. – So in walks this Mare. Her calm manner and big brain are the reason I ride today. I owe her everything.
Submitted by Sabrina R – Just My Dream.. 7 year old Percheron Quarter Horse Cross Mare owned and ridden by Sabrina Reed, riding training level. She started in Amish country pulling a vegetable cart. then was broke to ride at Windy Hill Farm in Ohio by amazing horsemen….such an amazing willing horse..so excited to see where she goes in dressage…she is my heart horse!
Submitted by Schawn C. – Phoebe, my Shire!
Schawn and Phoebe
Submitted by Rebecca J. – Miss Mazy. Belgian x Paint x Percheron x QH x Appaloosa. Registered earlier this year with the American Warmblood Registry
Submitted by Susan M. – This is my 8 year old Belgian x QH, Anton, who is now showing at second level. He is being shown by my trainer Keegan O’Brien.
Submitted by Susan M. – I love this breed for their great minds, versatility and willingness to learn. They make great Adult Amateurs horses.
Submitted by Erica C. – Wind N Hills Lilly, my Suffolk Punch mare who just turned 5 this summer! We have been showing intro and doing some light training level schooling as she develops and I’m hoping to train her through the levels!
Submitted by Ann S. – Questionable Intentions, shire x thoroughbred, 17.3 –the most natural athletic horse I’ve ever owned I learned a great deal from him.
Submitted by Ann Scheuer – I had him from a yearling until he was 26. I felt privileged to own him his whole life
Submitted by Ashley K. – Not the fanciest pic but wanted the opportunity to share…I absolutely loved this mare! My favorite horse of all time. Clydesdale thoroughbred cross❤️❤️
Submitted by Audrey N. – Hawk is my 14 year old Percheron Friesian cross, about to compete at Third level
Submitted by Deborah B. – I lease, Nicotina, Andulsian Percheron Cross. Gentle giant!

Submitted by Rachael H.C. – I had the best! Unfortunately he left the world WAY too early. He helped me achieve so many of my lifetime goals. Manny was a Shire QH X

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