Submitted by Elizabeth Vander Ploeg: Sydney, a 16 year old Belgian/Appaloosa cross! She is my best girl who is always game for whatever I want to try.
Heavy Hitters! Throughout the month of December, we are featuring heavy horses and heavy breed crosses! We recently asked our social media followers to share a photo of their favorite heavy breed or heavy breed cross partner, and tell us a little about them for a chance to be featured in an upcoming gallery highlighting these gentle giants. Check out some of the superstars they love to dance with.
Mischief Managed 622 better known as Magnum is my 12 year old heart horse (PaintxTBxBelgian Draft) whom I just finished getting the scores for our Bronze medal on! Victoria Morano photo – Bree J.Perfect Penny, the little Clydesdale that has made dreams come true from New Jersey to Florida and everywhere in between – Holly N.High Meadows Mando “Badger” is an Irish Draught/Cob cross, I was having a very difficult time with my riding because my best horse just retired due to age and his replacement was having issues. I had been hurt a few times and was ready to give up. My friend had Badger and i had ridden him a few times and asked if i would like to take him home and lease him, March of 2024. I did, a year later i lost my replacement horse due to illness. Badger has taken me from scared to canter to doing cross country and we will be competing in first level in 2026.At our last show we received the comment “Impressive Pair”, that was certainly a confidence booster. He is my rock, the barn jester and best friend to me and my husband. Can’t imagine life without him. My husband told me for years in needed a draft and well he was right. – Laurel B.(It’s a long one, but he deserves it) My Percheron–Friesian cross, Alexzander, has absolutely stolen my heart. After a 20-year break from riding and dressage, he was the horse who took me down my first centerline again — and it moved me to tears (I literally cried after my final salute!) I found him in January 2024, in the backyard of a loving home where he’d been a trail horse, who was a bit on the backburner (as long as he had food, he didn’t mind!). I never imagined what the next year would hold. Despite some financial hurdles and zero expectations, we ended up showing — more than once much to my surprise— and even won the All-Breeds Award at Training Level for the Friesian Sporthorse Association. I spent years battling severe show anxiety after competing in the early 2000s. I truly believed I’d never ride again, let alone compete. But Alexzander changed everything. He brought me back to the sport I love and reminded me who I am in the saddle. I didn’t set a single goal for us… and somehow, we’ve been crushing every goal I never made. I’ve never been happier. HEAVY BREEDS RULE! (Ps. Never once rode or looked at one in early 00’s, now I can’t look away!) – Kara M.My 18.2 h, 18 yo, orlov trotter, hunter converted me to dressage after a 20 year hiatus from showing. – JillAna H.18 year old percheron – Dustin V.When the opportunity to purchase a trail horse presented itself, I was 65 years old and hadn’t ridden in over two decades – and never dressage. From the sales video, the five-year-old Dutch Harness Cross, seemed to be just the horse: he calmly carried a two-year-old child over a cross rail. He stood stock still as a firecracker exploded above his head. He willingly walked onto the back of a flatbed and most reassuringly, he trotted merrily under harness as a pair to a McDonalds drive-by somewhere in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. No papers, no PPE, I bought him. Unfortunately, the horse I purchased was as green as they come and hotter than they come and younger than five – or even four – and was growing taller by the hour. “He’s got to go! You’re too petite and too old for a green 17.2 hand horse. You will NEVER be able to handle him,” the chorus proclaimed. “You’re 5’4”. His head weighs more than you do.” “Umm. Ok. Thank you.” As far as I’m concerned “Never” is just another way of saying, “When?” Over the past four years, “Ma Bete Noire,” a horse who came to me with a nasty gash in his right foreleg, cracked hooves and a skin disease has qualified for Regional Championships every year he’s competed, ridden by my extraordinary trainer, placing 2nd in Training 3 and 3rd in First 1 in 2022, 5th at 1st Level Freestyle and 4th at 2nd Level Freestyle in 2024, and 5th at 4th Level Freestyle, 7th at 3rd Level Freestyle in 2025. Next year, they’ll continue at 4th Level and move on to PSG. And this year, I, too, qualified for 2026 Regionals, my first time out with a 1st level freestyle. The thrill, pride, joy, not to mention – relief – I’ve had watching my eight-year-old (?) “cart” horse fly up the levels faster than you can say FEI is beyond words. His huge ears, larger than life personality and best canter ever have stolen my heart. Yes, he gets a little carried away at times. Yes, he scoffs at my request for a 7.0 leg yield. Who cares? He’s a good, really good boy, a tryer and hands down, the best “mistake” I ever made. – Pamela P.Sir Winston was a PMU rescue who helped me get back to competing after many years raising a family. He’s retired now. 🦄💖 – Janice B.Do Friesians count? – Katie H.Casper – Suffolk Punch/Appaloosa. Very old, poor pic, but I usually rode alone and had nobody to take pictures. I got Casper in 7th grade as a foal, and he’s currently 28 y.o. He has a ‘tude, but he was ride or die. – Katie H.My 5 yr old Gypsy/Paint mare was my first horse that I’ve done all of the training on and shown. She has an awesome brain and was the easiest horse I’ve ever started under saddle. I just sold her 2 weeks ago and miss her so much 😩🦄 – Sally P.16h Percheron/Hackney Pony. The most supple and light horse. An honor to train and compete him for his owner. Best comment from a judge “Impressive horse” – Aviva N.Chestnut Oak’s Luka! Registered Drum Horse (shire/gypsy)
I bought my boy when he was 6.5 months old and love him so much. Now 11 years old. Showing First Level, starting to school Second after a summer out of the ring. My favorite photo at the Devon showgrounds from our musical freestyle! – Deanne H.-H.Hanoverian x Clyde x TB – Elena F.My up and coming mount, Raven, currently at Forrest Hill Farm. Photo courtesy of Jennifer Kaiser. Raven is a registered Percheron – Jennifer W.I’ve had my 11 year old Belgian/TB since he was 4 and in those years we’ve gone from into A to working on our last PSG score and completing our Silver. He’s the best guy and tries his heart out. We’re headed down centerline this weekend and hoping to finish out our Silver after having a baby 4 months ago! – Callie K.Mahalia 16.3 Draftx imported 17 yrs ago from Canadian Usef lifetime members Lower level Aa eventing and dressage Best trail partner now 21 years young – Colleen W.This is Emerson my Friesian Appaloosa auction horse that I took a chance on a year ago. He was an angry hungry boy with no use for humans, and is now 5 and started under saddle and is on his way to being the best boy. We are looking forward to showing dressage in the spring! – Tanya R.This is Hamilton and his pal Danielle Toscano – Anne M.Meet my sweet 4-year old Percheron/Friesian cross- Moose. This sweet boy is just starting his dressage journey, but I am thoroughly enjoying watching him learn as he is so eager to please, has such a great personality and potential. He loves his people and really enjoys walking on trails with his 2 year old golden retriever buddy. – April F.-S.4 year old Brabant cross Banjeau “Mr. Big” owned and ridden by Debby Dejonge. He loves to please, surprise and delight her. He’s in her pocket & heart. A family horse, a Champion right out of the gait. Trail Blazer with her favorite crew of Dressage Cowgirls. – Willow L.This is my sweet guy! He is a Percheron and quarter-horse cross! I got him as a former western trail horse 4 years ago and barely had steering. Now we are getting ready to show 3rd level ❤️. – Sylvia H.-F.
