By Rita Thompson-Tinsley
Sometimes the kindest, gentlest of animals come in ginormous packages. Draft horses and draft crosses are becoming HUGELY popular and doing everything and more in equestrian circles, with both bravado and style.
How big is big? You might have heard a horse’s height being referred to in ‘hands. Each hand measures four inches, and the measurement is taken from the highest point of the horse’s withers (located at the base of his neck). So, if a horse is 16 hands high, this can be converted to 64 inches. If the horse is 16.2 HH, this would be converted to 66 inches high.
The most popular draft horses include the Shire, Clydesdale, Percheron, Belgian Draft, and Haflinger, most of which stand at between 16-19 hands. Incredibly strong and powerful, the Shire horse can weigh up to 2,400 pounds. and you certainly want to avoid any incident of your foot landing anywhere near under his mighty platter hoof. (Although, he likely wouldn’t notice.)
Out of all the draft breeds, the Clydesdales are the most recognizable because of their beloved Budweiser commercials, and their parade prominence pulling the world-famous Budweiser hitch.
Ronni Kearns of Mile High Clydesdales in Chino Valley learned to drive horses at the age of 17 from a neighboring old farmer in Michigan. After moving to Rocksprings, Wyoming, Ronni spent time providing horse driven sleigh rides in the winter and hayrides in the summer. Her love for horses was undeniably profound.
Ronni had always been obsessed with owning a big draft horse, and by coincidence her mom, Scotty, was from Scotland where the Clydesdale breed originated. It was her mom’s wish that Ronni fulfill her dream. After her mom passed, Ronni got not one, but two Clydesdale mares: Scotty, named after her mom, and Kismet. And so the adventure began.
Ronni and Sam, both retired police officers, have had several of the drafts over the years and have also experienced the joy of their newborns who can weigh up to 250 lbs. at birth.
They don’t breed anymore and currently have four total Clydesdales: Scotty, Kismet, Jack, and Emerald. Ronni drives them in local parades, takes them to pertinent horse shows, and gives them plenty of attention every day. Truly a dream come true.
Lisa Cuthbertson sits proudly in the saddle atop her draft cross Mo, abbreviated from Geronimo. Though only 15.2 HH, Mo is powerful and massive in size as well as in gentleness. This good-natured boy has an impressive DNA reading which includes Shire, Belgium, and Percheron.
Lisa rides Mo on local trails, including their completing the entire Prescott Circle Trail system together. They also do parades, and Mo, at 24, participates as a therapy horse one hour a week at Horses with Heart. At home, Mo’s barn buddy is miniature horse Gus who sometimes tags along on their casual trail rides being ponied.
Gracie is a 16.2 HH draft cross consisting of both Clydesdale and Thoroughbred lineage, a dynamic combination of both strength and athleticism. Cari Gorman acquired her from a local farm in Dewey and their personalities seemed to click right away. Gracie required some further training after moving to Cari’s, but everything fell right into place.
Gracie, now 17, has a big sister relationship with her barn mate Piper who is a miniature horse. Remarkably, both mares are bays with right rear socks. Cari and Gracie enjoy doing trail rides, parades, and the rodeo grand entry with great pomp and circumstance. Mini Piper does many of the parades being hand walked in full festive costume.
When the day is over and they all get home, Gracie and Piper carry on their big sister/little sister relationship that certainly makes your heart smile.
