Submitted by Maureen H. - They are popular in Canada too - here is my homebred, trained by me up to PSG.
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. Check out Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here for more Dressage Drafts!
The month of September will feature Dressage Saddlebreds! Do you have a dressage Saddlebred you’d like to share with the YourDressage community? E-mail us at yourdressage@gmail.com for your chance to be featured! Stay tuned to YourDressage as we celebrate #DancingSaddlebreds, with photo galleries and exclusive stories from Saddlebred enthusiasts across the country!
Submitted by Alex B. – Art Collector (Artie) is registered Canadian Warmblood who is half Percheron! He’s 4 years old and is my new dressage partner. He’s learning the basics and taking it all in like a pro! Submitted by Carol S. – Dressage Today ran our story “Transitions” in the FEB 2001 issue about this freshly gelded Percheron I purchased from a kill pen in Sugarcreek Ohio Submitted by Carol S. – He went on to many wins in the dressage arena! Submitted by Erin G. – I’d like to introduce my 7yo Irish Draught x TB cross, Dublin. I was first introduced to the Irish breed while on externship as a 4th year veterinary student and was instantly hooked! Submitted by Erin G. – Dublin has proven to be quite talented at dressage, but also loves a spin around the jump course. He’s personable, loves people, but can be cheeky at times to keep things interesting. Submitted by Erin G. – I am excited and look forward to our future and growing our partnership.Submitted by Brittany N. – Love my draft crossSubmitted by Leah R. – Kiona, my QH x Percheron cross. I just got her a couple of weeks agoSubmitted by Margie K. – My Tana! Clyde x QH PMU babySubmitted by Emily L. – She passed at the age of 27 in January, but my Belgian/TB draft cross mare, Mandy, was one incredible horse. We competed at First Level and even placed in classes with professionals on fancy warmbloods. I really miss her and as I’m searching for a new horse I keep on wishing that I could’ve cloned her.Submitted by Terry T. – My TB x Gypsy Vanner cross QuincySubmitted by Leslie G. – My sweet boy, Brevard and I showing 3rd Level. He’s an 18 year old Clydesdale x Dutch Warmblood crossSubmitted by Danielle B. – My Clydesdale Arabian crossSubmitted by Danielle H. – My Friesian x Shire. She’s awesome! I love draft crossesSubmitted by Patty K. – This is Java Joe who is half Percheron and half Thoroughbred, and has been my dressage partner for the last 12 years. He has such a big heart and tries as hard as he can for me and has taken me all the way to intermediate I. Love my draft cross!Submitted by Olivia K. – I have a percheron x holsteiner named Bailey! He and I are competing at 2nd level ❤️Submitted by Morning Glory Farm – My Bright Beyvin… my very own unicorn!Submitted by Ali W. – Briggy! Dutch x Percheron cross – love him. 12yo, Third Level…sky’s the limit!Submitted by Angela M. – I adore my faithful, loyal, wise, kind, great work ethic Percheron cross school master mare! She’s fabulousSubmitted by Tonhya F. – FreyaSubmitted by Dawn B. – Our first dressage show! Clydesdale x Quarter Horse crossSubmitted by Linda S. – This is Wyatt, the love of my life draft crossSubmitted by Heidi L. – My girl Gypsy – draft crossSubmitted by Erin W. – Draft cross – because everyone should be lucky enough to ride their FEI horse bareback for funSubmitted by HilarySubmitted by HilarySubmitted by Susan C. – She’s twenty – a half ShireSubmitted by Brenda T. – Here is a photo of Cash, a Shire, at his first show last fall. He was a saint since it also happened to be a costume, Halloween dressage show! He was one very large “cat in the hat”Submitted by Erin H. – Draft crosses are the best! This is Brigandell he is a KWPN x Percheron cross. Our first year out he took me all the way to the USDF nationals, this year he’s showing 3rd level with my trainerSubmitted by Anna C. – Here’s my draft cross nurse mare baby! Classic City aka Waylon! He was found in a huge field in Nicholasville, KY and now is learning the Third Level stuff!Submitted By Lou D. – Drum Mare, MFF Echo of the War Horse Submitted By Lou D. – Drum Mare, MFF Echo of the War Horse Submitted by Maggie M. – Piper!! Our 8 y/o Clydesdale/QH cross is the best eventer and dressage mare we have ever trained!She was a rescue from Canada. Totally untouched until about 2 years old. Now, she’s here in NH being not only a babysitter to a few lucky lesson kids, but helping me move up in Dressage and learn more about eventing! 🥰Right now we are enjoying schooling 1st Level, and cant wait to get back out into the show ring and show her off. She also is schooling Novice level eventing!Piper and her favorite lesson kid!She means the world to me! – Maggie M.Submitted by Maggie M. – Piper’s ‘little sister’: Duchess! From the same farm and rescue. She is only 4, and we see the same bright future for her!! Submitted by Maggie M. – She is a Clydesdale/Dutch Harness Horse cross. We love her to pieces and can’t wait to see the talent she brings to the dressage ring. 🙂Submitted by Jenee D. – Echo Valley Sally Sue loves her dressage!Submitted by Sherry D. – My Friesian Sport HorseSubmitted by Ciera F. – My thoroughbred Clydesdale cross is a one in a million! He turned me into a draft cross believer. They are so smart and willing, they make fantastic dressage horsesSubmitted by Tae E.Submitted by Tae E.Submitted by Deanna H. – my boo is a one in a million! earned my bronze medal on him, he just helped someone earn their next pony club rating and is off to teach another rider the ropes. truly a gentle giant!!Submitted by Brietta R. – #dejavupremfoalSubmitted by Brietta R. – Doris the Clyde Submitted by Brietta R. – Doris the Clyde Submitted by Brietta R. – Doris the Clyde Submitted by Brietta R. – Doris the Clyde Submitted by Katie O. – This is VSH Devine Force (aka Finnegan) my 7 year old Spotted Draft/Connemara cross. I got him as a coming 5 year old and my trainer has helped me bring him along. We’re just working through first level now but he’s got so much heart I know he can go far!