Fact or Fiction: Draft Horse Edition
Draft horses have long captured horse-crazy little girls' imaginations as magical feathered giant beasts. But you might be surprised–it's not all foofy hairdos and carriage rides.
(top image from Kathy's Korral)
Myth: Those feathers stay clean, right?
Reality: Ha. Ha. Ha.
Myth: All draft horses are slow.
Reality: Not on barrel racing day! They'll turn and burn…okay, turn and thunderously canter or turbo-trot away.
Myth: All draft horses are quiet.
Reality: Draft horses weigh about 2000 lbs. and if they haven't been trained correctly, some of them are well aware of that fact!
Myth: Draft horses will accept you no matter what, even if you Prancercise up and down the barn aisles before every ride.
Reality: A horse can only put up with so much.
Myth: Draft horses are only used for plowing and driving.
Reality: Well, they're not exactly what your typical hunter/jumper judge expects to see in the ring…but they don't do half bad!
Myth: Draft horses are gentle giants.
Photo by Helene Ambrosio
That one's true…it's the ponies you have to watch out for!
Unless otherwise noted, all photos came from Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue and talented photographer Chris Lama-Hickey's Horsin' Around Facebook page where she chronicles her adventures volunteering in the draft horse world. If you're in the Maryland area, be sure to check them out since they always need a helping hand!
Go Volunteering.
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