I want to hear about Belgians! (Horses)greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread |
I'd like to hear anything anyone has to say about Belgians...good and bad experiences, their traits as riding horses, temperaments, health, etc. Any stories and anecdotes are welcome, too. Yes, I have done searches & learned a lot, but I want to hear some personal experiences. Thanks!
-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 17, 2002
Arent Belgians a bit large to be riding. I though Belgians were draft pulling horses.
-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), January 17, 2002.
You can do just about anything with them. I really like going to the Tulsa State Fair because they have classes for vehicles, pulls, and riders of draft animals. It has been my experience that Belgians ( actually any draft horse) are very hard on fences!! It doesn't matter if their pasture is wonderful and they have plenty of hay, grain, etc.....they are still going to lean over that fence and probably step on it and mash it down enough to step over and go visit the neighbors. They also seem to take greater delight in destroying floats in the water tank, etc..... they are just too intelligent to hang out in a pasture or stall. They NEED to work. I have a hot wire aroung the top of fence. I have Halingers now and they are a story unto themselves.... it is quite amazining to see a horse trying to swim in a stock tank.....
-- Tana Mc (mcfarm@totelcsi.net), January 17, 2002.
I had a great Belgian grade gelding. He was not too tall and perfect for bareback riding. I could also let a beginner get on him with them holding the reins and he would just follow me around. I am partial to draft horses. The only bad thing that I have heard is that they can sometimes cramp up when the farrier is working on them. Gauntlet wasn't that big so he had no problems. Good luck with your Lio.
-- BB (johnson337@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.
LOL! I thought at first that you wanted to hear about people whose descendants(sp?) came from Belgium!
-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.
Shannon, I can tell you that here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon there is a young lady who competes in show jumping classes and her gelding is half belgian. It is a lot of fun watching this pretty black horse with feathers on his feet take those jumps. He is a willing worker and very sweet. That said I would think for an all- round saddle horse you might want something smaller, and more important, "handier". An all round breed would better be able to handle anything that comes up on the trail and negociate these things easier than a larger horse. Also, there is upkeep cost to consider. Everything is going to cost you more with a larger horse. Good luck, aren't horses wonderful? LQ
-- Little Quacker (carouselxing@juno.com), January 17, 2002.
I rode a friend's Belgian several times, bareback of course, cause if you find a saddle to fit a draft horse, they are very expensive; and I loved it. I rode him all over bareback, it was so much fun. we'd trot a lot, but I could never get him to canter. Come to think of it, I never saw him trot in the pasture, either. Anyway, he so much easier t ride bareback than my Arabs, 'cause there is just so much more there to grip with your legs. This Belgian HATED dogs. he would chase them down and try to stomp and bite them. One stray puppy wandered in and my friend watched helplessly from her kitchen window as the Belgian killed it, first grabbing it with its teeth and shaking it and then hurling it and stomping it. We thought maybe that when it was a baby it had been terrorized by dogs or something.
-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), January 17, 2002.
Oops I meant I'd never seen him CANTER in pasture! He trotted everywhere!
-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), January 17, 2002.
Reading that last post reminded me that Gauntlet would go after cats and skunks. I believe he even killed a skunk once. Try covering a draft horse with tomato juice. LOL.
-- BB (johnson@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.
I have had two Belgians. one was a stallion , Buck and my brother just jumped on him and held to his mane and rode him. He never was broke except for pulling a plow. I also had a beautiful (my favorite horse of all time)mare, Sundance,whom anyone could ride . She cantored and she was so gentle. I would still have her now but 5 years ago she got out of pasture and was hit by a car and both of her front legs were shattered and the vet came out and put her down.The man who hit here was so drunk he did not want to stay and left and came back the next day so that we could make an insurance claim to pay for his car. But isn't that life! Terry
-- Terry Lipe (elipe@fidnet.com), January 17, 2002.
Living a mile from world-renowned Belgian breeders of yester-year. I have learned that though they are sweet and calm, they are not at all suited for riding, they are a draft horse for plowing and wagon pulling, if you want a riding horse get a Morgan, Quarter, Thoroughbred, etc. If ,on the other hand you want a draft horse get a belgian. I'm not sure but I don't think there are any DUAL purpose breeds. They are giants with sweet hearts.
-- Chandler in Minnesota (Providencefarms2001@yahoo.com), January 17, 2002.
I worked at a stable where they had some draft crosses for larger clients. I've ridden draft horse crosses. Percherons are a good cross. Draft horses are tall and rather wide. I'm short, not a good combination. Felt like raggedy ann on a shelf. Very gentle though. There was one that you had to carry a crop with and the person dropped it so he just stood still while the man kicked him, I guess too much padding. I rode up on a little arab and gave him a branch I had broken off.Then the horse looked at me and proceeded to walk along. He did it again when the man dropped the branch. He thought he didn't need it again. I told him "Guess again" LOL You could always use them for jousting. :) The Knights did.
-- PJC (zpjc5_@hotmail.com), January 17, 2002.
Isn't nature grand? the bigger the animal the gentler the nature!
-- john hill (john@cnd.co.nz), January 17, 2002.
Don't laugh, I ran a semi professional jousting show for ten years and we used 4 belgians and one percheron. I really appreciated their calm nature with crowds and they seemed to put up with more strange thihgs around them, like armor, lances, etc. They are very large to ride, and most riders needed a mounting block for the 17h ones. Percherons have a more active gait, but all are capable of cantering. I think that one that had pulled for a few years might not be good at running though. Mares are a better size for riding. We were able to find used saddles without too much trouble (english and western). Just don't run them much on pavement, I think the extra weight would be hard on their hooves.
-- Rod Perrino (redjouster@aol.com), January 17, 2002.
We have a neighbor down the street that has a Belgian and a Percheron for riding......they usually aren't considered "riding" horses but can make fabulous mounts. Saddles for them are EXTREMELY expensive so most people ride bareback, and they're usually used for just "hacking around" (just the kind of riding Shannon is planning on)....although, I also know of a Percheron and a Clydesdale that are event horses (dressage, cross country jumping, show jumping). True, they've been bred for heavy pulling but any horse that is big enough to carry a person can be a great riding horse....heck, I've heard Standardbreds are great riding horses and yet they've been specifically bred to pull carts/sulkies.As Shannon already knows, I can't personally recommend a Thoroughbred/Percheron cross....my mare is an awful witch. She did GREAT in the dressage ring (when she behaved) but she has an AWFUL temper (have a dent in my fence from my head to prove it....and that was just from riding her around at a relaxed walk.....I wasn't even asking her to REALLY work!). No, I won't be selling her to someone "more experienced" (she's had three trainers that now REFUSE to work with her) as I don't consider her safe and I KNOW she'll wind up at an auction somewhere. Despite her nasty riding temper I love her (call me stupid....). Anyway....what was the subject again? ;o)
-- lisa - MI (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), January 17, 2002.
I've seen Belgians driving magnificent carriages and out riding on the trail. Those gentle giants can do more than pull a plow!
-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), January 18, 2002.
We have four belgian geldings and we use them for everything from farming to riding. Most of the riding is done by our kids, they ride them bareback and usually end up racing them. It is a lot of fun to watch. I wouldn't trust my kids around a lot of horses but the belgians have the sweetest dispositions. When my daughter was younger and smaller, she would stand in front of the one, under his head in front of his legsj, put her arms up and hold onto his mane on both sides of his neck and hang there. He would walk all around with her like this, stepping very carefully with his front feet. He never so much as scraped her with his shoe. Belgians are great!
-- Joanie (ber-gust@prodigy.net), January 18, 2002.
Our mare is a registered Belgian of the old style and we love her and appreciate all her hard work. She pulls logs, rides, drives, will plow and does not eat as much as the two QHs we have (except for hay of course). Be careful how much you grain you feed your Belgian as they are subject to founder as most are very easy keepers. Ours is fat right now on less than 2 lbs of grain a day as we aren't working her. They love to work and are very intelligent. Ours knows more about log pulling than we do! I love their disposition and calmness although Molly will lead a run around the pasture with the QHs in pursuit! She can canter, but won't if I am riding her without a lot of effort on my part. I prefer to trot with her anyway, but if I ever fall off I have to lead her home. She's over 18 hds and weighs 2000 lbs and we cannot get a farrier to do shoes. The last shoes we had on her cost me $135. We now have a farrier who will trim her, but no one around here will put shoes on her and she is great with the farrier(she doesn't lean at all). Our farrier says it costs too much to stock the shoes. Belgians which are worked alot do need shoes on their feet just like any other horse, so we are careful not to work Molly on hard ground or pavement, etc. and we do keep her trimmed. There are not a lot of Belgian studs around, so we are going to breed her to our Mammoth Jack this year. We have gotten one reg. belgian baby out of her, but sold him and he is over 19 hds now and the owner does ride him. All in all, Molly is a great horse and if I had to choose which one horse I would keep out of my three, I would keep her over the two retired show horses we have. She's calmer, and does whatever we ask her to do.
-- Cindy (colawson@mindspring.com), January 19, 2002.
When I was born my Dad had a team of Belgians---that was over 50 years ago--(he had raised them since he was a boy)--& he raised them until he died ten years ago--- now my one brother has teams--- over the years there were many/many /many teams---Dad bred the mares & rasied the colts & then trained the colts & sold them as teams!! I can't rememeber all the teams any more (by name)---over the years we have heard from people who bought a team from Dad---at one time or another- Dad farmed with his teams---used them for many things-- he had a covered wagon & also had parade dress harness for them along with work harness & he took them to many parades & rodeos-- etc/etc/etc/-- he was well know in our state & for several states around /for his teams & his training! He also used them in competion pulling--entered many state fairs/etc/etc/etc/ where his teams were the top pullers---- My Dad taught his teams with verbal commands-----he could let anyone have the reins in driving--as they were listening to my Dad's voice instead of what /who ever was doing with the reins!! We use to have a box wagon on runners & the first snow---Dad would fill the wagon with straw & hitch up a team & up the creek we would go/ as soon as we got chores done & gather all the neighbors /we could in the wagon & we would ride for hours in that sleigh!!! Dad would let different ones take turns driving the team-----but of coarse they were listening to Dad's commands-----but they knew when he took over the reins!!!!(when they pulled the sleigh Dad always put sleigh bells on their harness)--that team loved it!!! They would do anything my Dad asked of them!!!! We have had city grandchildren in the barn lot with the teams & the horses knew those kids knew nothing about a horse----I have seen a mare stand with her foot up & afraid to move because--she couldn't see where a child was & was afraid she would step on them/ & stand there until Dad told her it was ok to move!!!! I have seen teams run off with peopele who had no clue----and then myself/ be able to stand & give verbal commands in a voice they knew & understood as "authority" & have them stop---- I have taken the reins of the team & started them in "competion pulling"--as Dad adjusted & checked the weights--etc/etc/etc/ & did the hitch to the weight sleigh him self-----some times I was not even a teenager yet------people would talk about that team ----that young girl had in compition at that state fair----(at that time the team wants to pull & are very excited & you better know what you are doing)----as when they feel they are hitched ----they are ready to pull!!!!(honestly they are ready to pull when you drive them into the arena)-if you have not seen a pulling competion--it is something to watch----still after all these years it gives me goose bumps----to watch a pulling competion---especially when the owner understands & loves his team & they are a team in one!! My Dad never whipped the team & only asked them to do what they wanted--as far as their best----they always wanted to give their best & loved the competion---they always seemed to know when they were loaded /if they were going to a pulling competion---or be in a parade- -or what they were going to do & they had a certain mood for what ever they were going to do---- I have given the reins to someone else(at a competion) to be able to go to the ladies room & found the team running off with them----until my Dad/ or I one spoke to them in verbal commands /that they knew & knew as authority & stopped!!! So they are sweet & careing animals ---but also know when someone knows what they are doing & when they don't!!!! Training horses to pull & to work is becomming a lost art----even the proper harness for useage & how to harness a team--there are fewer who know their stuff--many who think they know & it isn't correct---We knew a guy who called me & said /he had bought a belgian gelding & needeed help------you bet he did ---the horse knew the guy /knew squat---& tried anything he could with the guy---& got by with it---- he wanted to know if I would work with the horse for him----(I would have but--when I took the horse back it would have been the same old thing---as the guy blamed the horse---when it wasn't the horses fault- --this was not a man--you could tell him-- I can straighten out your horse--but your horse is not the problem)-----there are way tooo many people who have more horse than they are able to handle---drafts love to work & pull ----and to be used for what they were bred for--- most people get into trouble when they don't understand the breed & what it was bred for---& that they want to work!!!! I feel that is true no matter what the animal---- we have a neighbor who blamed his blue heeler for chaseing chickens---the dog was bored-- --it was bred to work cattle---the guy bought the dog to haul around in his p.u. with him /cause all the cowboys had a dog like that---& he bought one---then blamed the dog /when it got out of the p.u. /that it took the chicken flying as it ran around the back yard!!!! Well DAH!!!!!! I feel most of the time it isn't the animals fault----the people don't understand the breed of what ever the animal is---& what it was bred for--- I hope you realize that your belgian wants to be USED for what it was bred for!!! When most people get into trouble is when they try to force an animal to do something /it was not bred for & the animal thinks they are idots!! The horse I was asked to straighen out /not long ago---would not have been a real problem /as he was smart/ he just needed to know authority---& be used for what he was bred for---it was his owner that needed the most training!!!!
-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 19, 2002.
Our electricity went off for a minute & it posted--before I was ready- I think one of the main things is to bond with you horse--& also at all times have it realize you are the one in "authority"---(of coarse you must understand that & not abuse it either)- you are in authority to do what is right for you & the horse---if you don't understand what authority you need to have in each training task----read -ask & find out--- most hosres are ruined---because the owner was not able to teach or have the "proper authority" that was needed at each stage & event in the horses life!! I have seen more good horses owned by people who have no understanding of "what" should be done & when & how--- the horse is then given the authority---& usually it becomes a bad situtation for the horse & the owner--- The person who is the owner SHOULD BE THE ONE WHO KNOWS ENOUGH TO BE IN AUTHORITY! Most have no idea what that even means----let alone put it into practice!!! Understand your breed & if your use/ is not what the animal was bred for-maybe you made the wrong selection---for the use you intended. And I don't mean you personally--- I am useing that as an example!! I find that the hours & hours I have given of my time to help--(and I must admit in most cases why I help is not the people who ask me--- but I know the animal needs someone to help it--becasue the person in it's authority has no clue)-I find the person as bought an animal & is not prepaerd to be the person in authority over this animal---as they don't either understand the animal or it's breed ---or what do do --or how to do it--- The same as I see some people have children & have the same problem as they have no understanding of how to care for a child or authority for being responsbiblity---- I feel if we are to be the best parents & grandparents & animal owners it comes down to knowledge of the task & being responsible & the proper authority---that is protection for all involved!! My own personal opinions-- & I feel when there are problems-it all stems back to one of those things---lack of knowledge---lack of responsibility---or lack of authority!! Best wished with your horse----I wish you knowkedge -- responsilibility & proper authority!!
-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 19, 2002.
So, let me get this right Sondra.....if you want a horse to ride around you shouldn't get a Thoroughbred or Standardbred because they're bred for racing; unless you plan on working cattle or ranch work you shouldn't consider a Quarter Horse; a Saddlebred should only be used for show; and Draft horses should only be used for pulling etc/etc/etc. No wonder my 3/4 Thoroughbred 1/4 Percheron mare is unhappy.....I don't use her for racing or pulling (this of course is a mare that hates to work OR go fast!). So how do these horses "know" that they aren't being used for the purpose they were bred does mommy horse sit them down and tell them? Does that mean that the fabulous Clydesdale eventing horse is truely unhappy because he is not pulling? He certainly didn't look unhappy to me (ears up and eager to jump). Or the retired Thoroughbred or Standardbred race horses that are now used for trail riding are depressed because they are no longer racing? No, I don't believe so. Working is working to a horse, whether its riding, driving, packing, or pulling, and if a horse is happy working and physically able to do a particular type of work then they can be perfectly happy doing any or all of the above (even if it's not something the horse was particularly "bred for").And of course, am I right in assuming that unless someone grew up with this particular breed (or even horses in general) you shouldn't consider owning them since you obviously don't know enough.....sounds like a lot of snobbery to me. I agree that there are many people out there that shouldn't own horses. These of course are not people that haven't grown up with horses, but rather people that aren't willing to get the help from experienced people that they need (when they need it) or people that think THEY know everything and aren't willing to learn more. I've seen a LOT of "experienced" horse owners that truely don't know how to train/care for their horses properly.....they think they "know it all" and aren't willing to get help from outside sources. Yet, I've seen some first time owners that are FABULOUS caretakers for their horses.....they get help when they need it and do much research in order to find out how best to care for their horses.
-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), January 20, 2002.
Lisa My name is Sonda not Sondra & that is NOT what I said /but what YOU THOUGHT I said!!! There is a big difference!!!!!!
-- Sonda (sgbruce@birch.net), January 20, 2002.
Oy vey!
-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.
Before anyone gets their knickers in a bind,, I hit the button too soon after my "oy vey!! I wanted to say that Sonda made some very interesting points on both owning animals and raising children. I don't own horses and don't ever plan to, but I've raised children and there are some correlations. Knowledge and experience help a lot. May I humbly suggest that the post gets read twice beore making conclusions as to what Sonda meant.
-- Ardie /WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 20, 2002.
I apologize for the mispelling of your name Sonda....it was certainly not meant intentionally. My maiden name was also one that people inadvertantly put an "r" in.....I guess I never thought to take it personally tho'.My answer to your post had to do a lot with other posts I've read from you regarding horses and have gotten frustrated with the tone you tend to take with people who are "new" or "assumed to be new" to horses and read more in to this particular post than might have been there. As you know I normally don't post critical posts to this forum (if I have something critical to say I normally prefer to keep it off the forum and send a personal email if I feel it to be necessary). I apologize for posting my previous post directly to you (although I do feel strongly about the content of my post in general).
I do not claim to be an expert regarding horses....I feel there is too much to know to ever truely be an expert. Although I may be a long way from knowing everything (or even the majority) of what there is to know I am constantly trying to learn more.
-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), January 20, 2002.
Don't apologize, Lisa...you took the words right out of my mouth!No one likes a know-it-all, especially one who's full of opinions rather than facts.
-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), January 21, 2002.
Girl, I'm gathering up all my toys and going home now. Come on, before this ends up in a squabble, let's back off and take a deep breath. Everyone has the right to an opinion and we can agree to disagree. My DH and I do it all the time.
-- Ardie/WI (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 21, 2002.
I meant to say Girls..not Girl!
-- Me again! (ardie54965@hotmail.com), January 21, 2002.