Standing taller than most NBA players and each weighing more than one ton, Belgian draft horses Big Jake and Almighty Bruce make up quite a large team.

At 20 hands, 2.75 inches (6’10” at the withers), Big Jake’s claim to fame is his Guinness Book of World Records title as the tallest living horse. The 14-year-old draft horse, residing at Smokey Hollow Farm near Poynette, Wis., weighs around 2,600 pounds and is owned by Jerry Gilbert and his family. Though Almighty Bruce stands a hair shorter than the record holder (20 hands, 1.5 inches), Jake’s long-time barn buddy outweighs him by 250 pounds.

While not all draft horses achieve the impressive size of Gilbert’s Belgians, most of these heavy breeds do need bigger digs, and they can rack up some hefty bills as far as tack, maintenance and feeding goes. But when owning a big horse, there’s a lot more horse to love.

Big Digs

Your average 15-hand, 1,000-pound horse may be comfortable in a 12’x12′ stall. The bigger the horse, however, the bigger the stall he needs. Stalls for big drafts like Jake and Bruce need to be twice as large as the standard. Gilbert says he keeps his drafts in 20’x20′ stalls.

Each of Gilbert’s stalls is equipped with a 25-gallon water tank. The average horse consumes 5 to 10 gallons of water each day, so a horse that is twice as big will drink about twice as much.

Though he has larger stalls and two of the tallest living horses in the world, Gilbert says he hasn’t had to change his fence height. Your typical 5-foot fence should hold in draft horses, but due to their size, draft horses can be more destructive than smaller equines. Having fences with a top rail (if made of small-mesh wire) will allow for visibility, and an electric tape or wire near the top will deter your draft from pushing through.

Even your trailer must be tailored to fit a draft horse. Standard trailers are designed to safely accommodate horses up to 16.3-hand horses, with 10′ stall length, 7′ or 7’6″ interior height and a 6′ width. For smaller or shorter draft horses, standard trailers may suffice. But for bigger, taller horses, you will need to purchase an extra-large or even custom-size trailer.

Double Duty

A bigger horse means double the manure … and more work for you. A 1,000-pound horse will defecate approximately four to 13 times each day and produce approximately 9 tons of manure per year, according to eXtension: America’s research-based learning network. The average horse can produce 50 pounds of waste per day. If you stall your horse for most of the day, soiled bedding can equal almost twice the volume of the manure. Annual stall waste from one average-sized horse will fill a 12×12 stall about 6 feet deep. Just think if you added another 1,000 pounds of horse to that equation!

Cleanup isn’t the only maintenance work that will double with larger horses. Grooming can also take twice as long and will often require a step stool to reach all areas of the horse.

Big Bills

Keep in mind, a bigger horse means a bigger bill. Tack and equipment for any horse can be expensive, especially when there are not too many “Big & Tall” outlets around. When shopping for his horses, Gilbert says he generally places custom orders. While he can occasionally find what he’s looking for at draft shows, not many tack stores stock up on big inventory because there are not as many buyers. Most tack shops will carry blankets anywhere from 58 to 84 inches, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find one on the shelf measuring 110. Be prepared to spend the money for custom-sized halters, blankets, tack and other fittings.

A 2012 estimate by the University of Maine calculated the average annual cost of owning a light-breed horse is $3,876, considering maintenance costs of feed, veterinary and farrier services, bedding, training and upkeep of buildings and pasture—and that’s just for an average-sized horse. Draft sizing may up the bill in some cases, but professional care on a regular schedule is essential for heading off bigger problems down the road.

Veterinary Care

It’s important to find the right veterinarian when getting into draft horses. Gilbert entrusts his high-performance pulling and driving draft horses to veterinarians Pat Griffin, DVM, Ph.D., DACT, and Howard Ketover, DVM, at Irongate Equine Clinic of Madison, Wis. Griffin and his colleagues have extensive experience working on draft horses.

Though health care maintenance for draft horses is not much different than it is for light-breed horses, Griffin says performing some general procedures can be slightly more interesting. “It always is a little more nerve-wracking for us because of their size,” he says. “But we use the same equipment. We tailor the anesthetic protocol because they’re actually easier to sedate. Laying them down is a little more difficult, though, because of their size. Recovery is the same, except you’re dealing with a 2,000-pound animal versus a 1,000-pound animal getting up.”

Leg and Foot Troubles

Like larger dog breeds, bigger horses tend to age faster and often develop lameness with age. Griffin says working draft horses display more arthritic issues in the fetlock and pastern, and sometimes exhibit ringbone-like problems because of the heavy weight they support.

For the feet, problems caused by improper management are quite common. “The hoof [problems seen in drafts] are the biggest issue in terms of adequate care,” says Griffin. “Part of it is because of their size and finding a farrier that is comfortable and experienced with draft horse trimming and shoeing.”

Griffin says abscesses are a frequent result of poor foot care. Drafts are also more prone to laminitis and founder than some of the light breeds due to their size, and it is generally caused by improper feeding programs.

Weight Watchers

Despite their size, draft horses are considered easy keepers. You might think they need a lot of feed, but they don’t, says Dan Burke, Ph.D., director of Tribute Equine Nutrition at Kalmbach Feeds, Inc.

Draft horses, just like any other type of horse, have different caloric needs depending on their individual metabolism and level of activity. But even the Budweiser Clydesdales sometimes don’t require as many calories per day as one might think. Those that are very easy keepers don’t require additional calories beyond what is provided by good-quality hay, says Katie Young, Ph.D. Young manages equine technical services for Purina Animal Nutrition, which is the official feed supplier for all three Budweiser Clydesdale hitches as well as Grant’s Farm, where young stock and retired horses reside.

“Easy keepers are maintained very well with 2 pounds of ration balancer per day to provide essential protein, vitamins and minerals that are typically lacking in forages, without adding unneeded calories,” says Young.

As with any horse, Young points out that the goal is to consider the amount and quality of forage they eat, factor in the individual metabolic needs (easy, average or hard keeper), lifestyle, and workload to design the appropriate diet.
Horses doing less work generally need fewer calories. A horse should consume 2 to 2.5 percent of his body weight per day total in hay and concentrate, with 85 and 95 percent being hay. For a draft horse that weighs 2,000 pounds, 2 percent of his body weight is 40 pounds, so 30 to 35 pounds of hay. That’s roughly a bale per day, paired with 5 to 10 pounds of grain, depending on how much work the horse is doing.

According to Burke, draft horses are very prone to developing metabolic syndrome, which is similar to type II diabetes in humans. They’re sensitive to high sugar/starch diets, which also makes them more prone to founder. Fat deposits can indicate too many calories.

Three places to check for fat deposits are on the crest of the neck, the tail head, and behind the shoulder blade. Fat deposits in these areas are often signs of metabolic syndrome.

Thinking About Owning?

For Gilbert, draft horse ownership runs in the family. “I’ve been around draft horses my whole life,” he says. “That’s how it is for most draft owners.”

If you’re thinking about owning a heavy horse, it’s not a decision that should be made lightly. Gilbert suggests interested owners should research draft horses, spend time around them and talk to draft horse handlers and professionals before purchasing one of these large breeds. “You really have to educate yourself,” he says. “That goes with purchasing any horse.”

Even if drafting one of these giants for your team is just a fantasy, it’s still fun to think big.

A freelance writer from Woodstock, Ill., LISA KUCHARSKI enjoys recreational trail riding and competing in open pleasure shows.

This article originally appeared in the July 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

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Western riding often looks effortless, but it’s hard work and good horsemanship that creates that impression. Whether you have a trainer or are trying the DIY approach, here are a few pointers to better western riding from American Quarter Horse Association professional horsewoman Dana Panella and Australian-born Mustang trainer TJ Clibborn.

Eyes Up

You’ve heard, “Look where you want your horse to go,” but how often do you actually do that? Though it might seem like overused advice, there’s a great deal of substance behind it. Panella, a trainer and judge from Mukwonago, Wis., says the simple act of looking down can be throwing off your ride.

“Keep your eyes up,” says Panella. “Not only does it help to look where you’re going, but it also helps your balance, which helps your horse’s balance. The more correct you are, the more correctly your horse is going to travel.”

She points out that riders most often look down at the horse’s shoulder when asking for a lead or when making a turn.

Exercise: To help counteract leaning, Panella suggests putting a little extra weight in the outside stirrup and keeping your eyes up. You know your horse is underneath you, so feel what he is doing instead of looking.

Ride with Your Legs

Clibborn, a natural horsemanship trainer from Milton, Wis., says many riders he works with resort to their hands to pull and control the horse instead of guiding them with leg pressure.

“Horses move away from pressure, but riders seem to want to balance their horses off their hands and drive straight from the bit,” says Clibborn. “There are a lot of horses that are real heavy in their front end because they can’t get off their own shoulders.”

Exercise: When you correct your horsemanship, you should see a change in your horse’s way of going.

Try these exercises to teach yourself to use more leg and less hand:

Clibborn sets four or five barrels (you can use cones if you don’t have barrels) at 15-foot intervals and asks his riders to cue their horses to weave through from a leg-yield. Leg-yield to the right, allow your horse three or four steps straight past the barrel, then leg-yield left. This exercise will teach the horse to move off your leg instead of leaning into the bit and dropping his shoulder.

Do pivots at the walk to isolate the shoulder. Start at a walk along the rail, and then ask for a 90-degree turn using your leg. Return to a place down the rail and repeat. Once your horse is consistently moving off your leg for the 90-degree turn, try 180-degree turns. After several lessons, ask for a 270 and then 360.

“You have to slow down to get it,” says Clibborn. “People want the results now, but the horse says, ‘You have to teach me.’ The horse knows how to do anything you want, but you have to learn to communicate it.”

Take a Seat

If your muscles are strained, your calves are tired or your back is sore, chances are you are forcing your seat or you’re out of balance. Horsemanship riders often sit very upright with arched backs. Not only does this position look uncomfortable for the rider, but the stiffness is also irritating to the horse.

“Think about sitting on your pants pockets so you’re sitting really nice and deep into the horse,” says Panella. “But you don’t want to go back so far that you’re sitting on the cantle.”

Some riders also tend to brace against the stirrups. Sit deep, pull your stomach back, have some bend in your knee and keep your heels down. If your stirrups are too long and you’re dropping your toes, your leg is ineffective. If your stirrups are too short, you will be standing up in the saddle.

Exercise: Whether you’re guilty of arching your back or you just need to improve your balance, Panella recommends two English-riding techniques: riding in a two-point position and posting at the trot.

A two-point is a more forward jumping position where your seat is elevated out of the saddle with your weight in your heels. This exercise is a little challenging, but really works on the rider’s balance. You should focus on creating a straight line from your ear to your shoulder, through your hip and down to the back of your heel. Let gravity pull your heels down.

While trotting, posting is when the rider rises in the saddle in time with the horse’s stride. In western disciplines, riders often like to post during training to teach their horses to move out. But Panella has her students post to practice timing and balance and to teach the rider to feel the horse’s legs moving underneath them.

Another helpful exercise to correct your seat is to ride without stirrups. Instead of letting your legs hang loose, though, focus on that alignment from ear to heel. Sit down on your pockets, have a slight bend in the knees and relax your thighs. Avoid leaning forward and gripping with your knees.

Ride Relaxed

We’ve all been told that horses feed off of our energy, so why ride when we’re tense? Clibborn says the easiest way to have a bad ride is to get on when you’re stressed. “You should be able to ride your horse like you’re sitting in your armchair,” he says. “You should be that relaxed when riding. Most people are tense. If you’re tense, your horse will feel it.”

When you come out to the barn to ride, give yourself plenty of time. “You can’t be around horses and be in a rush,” says Clibborn.

Your tension might be causing you to grip the horse with your legs instead of hugging him with them. You have to let off the pressure in order to give effective cues. Also, your stressed-out temperament could be the reason behind your horse’s increasing speed.

“I have a client with a high-tension job,” says Clibborn. “Her mind is racing. When she’s doing a rising trot, she’s 10 times faster than the horse. If you want your horse to slow down, you’ve got to slow down. If you want your horse to speed up, you speed up. It’s that simple.”

To remedy a racing mind and a speedy horse, Clibborn suggests riders practice four speeds at the walk, three speeds at the trot and two speeds at the canter by simply thinking slow and slowing your body. Practice those things so you can slow your horse to a crawl or pick him up to a fast pace.

Exercise: Set up ground poles to ride over to encourage you and your horse to think. If you’re going too fast, set the poles closer and think “slower.”

Forget the Fads

Fads are often more about style than substance. Panella says a recurring trend is to ride with open fingers, only passing the reins through the fingertips, to show how lightly the horse can be ridden. Not only is this unsafe if you’re not a professional in an enclosed space, it’s not an effective tool of communication to your horse.

Ride Your Horse

Be a rider every time you get on your horse. Even if you’re just out on the trail, pay attention to your surroundings and to your mount. Horses are flight animals, so their first reaction to a tree branch snapping is to take off. Being constantly engaged will make you a better rider and will keep your horse focused on the task at hand.

“There are a lot of trail riding mistakes that people can make,” says Clibborn. “They don’t think that they’ve actually got to ride their horse down the trail. It’s too late once the deer jumps to wake up. Be prepared for anything out there and you’ll stay safe on your horse.”

‘

Mix it Up

Are you on the fence about leaving the rail? Working on the rail can make your horse very one-sided. Panella says you can easily sour a horse to the rail if you don’t give him a change of scenery or mix up his exercise routine.

“It’s a complete safety net for a lot of people, and they really get trapped into that,” she says.

When you leave the fence, you must work to control both sides of the horse, whether you’re in the arena or out on a trail. Panella suggests working in an open field or coming into the center of the arena to work on transitions, patterns and poles. Give your horse a job.

Exercise: When using poles, start at a walk. Aim for the center of the pole and look past it. Feel the horse lifting his body and stepping over the pole. This helps you work on balance and teaches your horse to use his body and pick himself up. Avoid using PVC ground poles, though; they can shatter when stepped on by a horse.

A change of scenery is also good for you and your horse. Instead of sticking to a rail, ride over and through obstacles. Get out of the arena and allow your horse to work on different terrain.

Have an Extra Set of Eyes

Even if you’re DIYing your rides, you can still use an extra set of eyes. Set up a video camera and record your equitation. Look at your leg position. Can you draw a straight line from your ear through your shoulder, hip and heel? Are you leaning when asking for a lead or coming around a corner? How are your hands and your seat? Give yourself an honest evaluation.

Have a Checklist

Even on a casual ride, you should have something to work on. The more you practice your communication with your horse, the more effectively you’ll work together. Panella says what works best for her and her students is to put together a checklist.

“In your checklist, ask yourself, ‘How am I riding?’” says Panella. “‘Am I looking ahead? Is my foot underneath me? Am I breathing?’ Have some fun with it and relax.”

Put it Together

“All these little things you do really add up to the whole picture of good riding,” says Panella. “A good rider is not just a pretty rider. Correct position is going to help you be a more effective rider, and that’s what you should be striving for.”

A freelance writer from Woodstock, Ill., LISA KUCHARSKI enjoys recreational trail riding and competing in open pleasure shows.

This article originally appeared in the March 2015 issue of Horse Illustrated magazine. Click here to subscribe!

The post 10 Ways to Improve Your Western Riding appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

Lisa Habbley was pretty comfortable in her relationship. They had been going steady for some time and she thought she had a good grip on her guy. But Lisa learned the hard way that she was not paying enough attention to him. He dumped her. Literally.

Lisa’s 10-year-old Paint gelding spooked and unseated the distracted rider, who was trotting with a cellphone, hair clip and visor in hand—juggling the three in an effort to check the time and fix her hair. The fall resulted in a broken wrist and a new-found respect for the hazards of multitasking while on horseback. Shifting your focus from posting at the trot to posting a message on Facebook is not only a threat to your safety, but it also threatens your relationship with your horse.

No matter how harmless multitasking may seem, it’s distracting. According to research conducted by Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania, supported by the U.S. Department of Transportation, 37 percent of brain activity devoted to the task of driving is lost while simultaneously using a cellphone. That loss of attention can relate to riding as well. If you’re texting while trotting, what messages are you sending your horse? He deserves your focus and attention, whether you’re training for competition, heading out on a trail, or just riding around the farm.

R U There?

Consider how your cellphone interruptions can affect your relationship. After 17 years of marriage, world-renowned natural horsemanship trainers and clinicians Linda and Pat Parelli seem to have things figured out. But Linda admits that any relationship requires work on communication, respect, intimacy and friendship. When it comes to the bond between you and your horse, she says, “He has to know that you wouldn’t rather be anywhere else when you’re together.”

Dinner with your sweetheart should not be interrupted by a buzzing phone and constant screen checking. The same thing goes for you and your horse, who also needs your full attention. Linda advises that you only check your phone before and after your training session.

“Getting distracted by your phone interrupts the flow of communication with your horse, just like having a conversation with a friend and suddenly making a phone call or text more important,” explains Linda, emphasizing that giving your horse your full attention means you’re better able to read him and respond to his needs.

Linda says the Parelli Natural Horsemanship program encourages relationships based on mutual trust, respect and communication. To build that type of relationship with your horse, you have to make him a priority and keep your focus on him.

“Not many people can multitask around horses and stay safe,” Linda says.

However, having your phone handy has its advantages. Dan Grunewald, a featured clinician at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and four-time top finisher in the Extreme Mustang Challenge, suggests you keep your phone with you to be able to call for help if you find yourself in a dangerous situation. As an emergency medical technician, Grunewald has experienced first-hand the benefits of having quick access to a phone to call for help. Four years ago, his mom, Karen, was severely injured in a riding accident.

“In that situation, it was good to have my phone, and also good to know medical skills to help her,” Grunewald explains.
Like many other riders, Grunewald admits he is guilty of talking on the phone while riding. He warns, though, that if you decide to use your phone while on your horse, you should either stop or at least be on a well-trained and trusting mount.

In addition, riding with a cellphone in hand or pinned between your shoulder and ear puts you out of position and causes you to send incorrect cues to your horse. Inconsistent cues can interrupt your training program.

As Grunewald suggests, stopping to answer a call is a safer option. But this plan can cause confusion for your horse. While training, Grunewald will get up to five or six calls per horse.
“Every time that phone rings, it seems like I’ll be trotting and then I’ll stop. Then I’ll lope. Phone rings again. Stop. Pretty soon that horse won’t know if you want to go or stop.” If your horse grows accustomed to this procedure, you will eventually and unintentionally have conditioned him to respond to your ringtone by stopping.

Try to train yourself too. If you get a call or text, don’t immediately reach for the phone. Make sure you choose an appropriate stopping point, where your horse is focused and responsive, and then transition to a halt before answering.
You may be tempted to reach for that phone as you’re still gliding to a halt, but don’t do it. Grunewald cautions that your sudden movements to retrieve your phone may startle your horse and provoke a buck.

“Horses have a fight-or-flight instinct in them and they’re either going to do one or the other,” Grunewald warns. “If you’re not fully in tune and on the same page with that horse, he is going to tell you.”

GR8 Ideas

Avoiding conflict in a relationship is ideal, but oftentimes the most likely outcome is a compromise. Instead of leaving electronics behind at the barn, trainers TJ Clibborn and Tracy Porter actually incorporate phones, cameras and video recorders into their training programs to gauge their horses’ progress. However, it’s not just the horse that needs to have experience with distractions.

“If you’re not in a position where you’re aware of what little things your horse is doing, then it can be a huge detriment to your horse,” Porter explains, warning that it can also be dangerous for you.

As a former videographer for several television stations, Porter’s feel for the camera is second nature. “I think that’s probably why it is easier for me to

while riding,” she says, adding that she’s even ridden Extreme Cowboy courses while videotaping from the horse’s point of view.

TTYL

If you’re teaching upper-level techniques, Porter says you can’t be on the phone and train at the same time.

When using a phone while riding, Clibborn brings his horse back down to a walk. The 2011 America’s Favorite Trail Horse finalist says you should offer “soaking time” to your horse throughout his training. Using your phone during this resting time is perfectly acceptable, as long as you still remain aware. “It gives your horse time to think,” Clibborn explains. “He can have a little bit of time to soak in what you were teaching him before the phone rang.”

However, when starting young or green horses, it’s especially important to know when to turn off the phone. Call up trainer Mark Burnette and you’ll hear, “Hi, this is Mark Burnette. I am unable to answer my phone at this time because I am giving this 2-year-old the first ride of his life, and if I answer my phone, this 2-year-old will give me the last ride of my life.” The veteran Mustang trainer knows the importance of staying connected with his horse.

Dropped Call

While your phone helps you connect with people, Porter points out that some people are actually losing touch.

“I think the biggest drawback is that the more our society gets electronically dependent, the more people lose interpersonal skills, as well as their ability to be able to read what animals need and what they’re trying to say to us,” she explains. “I think people lose sight of that creativity and that communication with their horses.”

Just as we strive for having fulfilling relationships with the humans in our lives, we should also take the time to cultivate meaningful relationships with our horses. Establish open lines of communication, demonstrate respect, and nurture intimacy and friendship. No doubt that as your bond grows, you’ll make some lasting memories together. Chronicle these memories by having someone take pictures of you two on your phone. Then hit the silent button, tuck the phone away in your pocket and enjoy your ride.

Liked this article? Here are others you’ll love:
Trail Riding Etiquette
Show Ring Spectator Etiquette

This article originally appeared in the October 2013 issue of Horse Illustrated. Click here to subscribe!

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