I just watched the YouTube video "Belgian Draft Horses:horse logging and agility contest" by Robert Plessens. I am amazed at the cooperation between lady and horse. Her fondness for the horse is clearly evident too.
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I just watched the YouTube video "Belgian Draft Horses:horse logging and agility contest" by Robert Plessens. I am amazed at the cooperation between lady and horse. Her fondness for the horse is clearly evident too.
Steve, is that the video you are talking about?
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDWQckqBgYc
6 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Thanks for the link it truly demonstrates superior horsemanship
6 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Yes, Dan, I completely agree, that is superior horsemanship. I'd like to see that kind of thing here in the USA, too, because that is also a test and testimony to the docility, obedience and calm disposition of the horse. I am afraid that with very few exceptions modern American bred draft horses just do not have that anymore. Even the well known breeder Bruce Roy wrote in a Draft Horse Journal some time ago that we are in the process of making carriage horses out of draft horses. And in fact, when I look at a lot of horses of either breed, Belgians or Percherons, of the modern kind, they are starting to resemble the heavier warmbloods of Germany, like the old Oldenburger or Holsteiner, more than real draft horses. Along with the looks go certain changes in disposition. And although they might be good for being driven in circles inside arenas being upheaded and high gaited, but I am afraid, they get less and less usable for the kind of activities we see in that video, which are much closer to the challenges in real work situations. As Dris Abraham wrote so aptly in the last RH magazine" Where are we going?". I do not think we are going in the direction of the skills of those original Belgian/ Dutch/ Brabants. If I were younger, I would start importing these kind of horses.
6 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
Yes, Klaus, that is the one. I too, believe there is too much emphesis in the U.S. on breeding "hitch" horses to the detriment of the working "farm" type horse. I have been looking for an old style team for several years to no avail. They are very rare and the people that do own them , understandably, don't want to part with them.
6 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum
That is very cool thanks for posting.
6 years ago via Forums | Front Porch Forum