Pic's of My Draft Cross at a Dressage show today

[Bravestrom]

Here is a link to some pics of my 9 yr old clyde cross gelding at a dressage show today - level 1 - he was such a good boy - we got lst and 2nd.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=203497&l=b2b87&id=505480415

[piaffequeen]

I LOVE YOUR HORSE!!!!!!!!:)

[Sabovee]

He's LOVELY. :)

[2Horse]

Very nice!

[FLeckenAwesome]

Oooh, he is PRETTY!!! And so flashy :)

Just out of curiosity...what does level 1 equate to? Training level, First Level? Second level?!?

Thanks! congrats!

[Dressage Art]

Your photos are lovely! I love drafts! My family had about a dozen drafts, so I become to know them quite well! Wise, very wise horses!

[Trevelyan96]

Beautiful horse!

[Hazelnut]

Nice pair, you guys look happy together.

[HCF]

He is adorable! Congrats!

[Ambrey]

GORGEOUS! And congrats on your win!

[STF]

Very nice cross. Most of the time I dont care for the neck sets of the drafts, but your guy has a very nice neck and def wants to step under himself.
Congrats on a nice horse and your ribbons. :)

[exvet]

Very attractive guy. Great pics too. Thanks for sharing and congratulations.

[Bravestrom]

Nice pair, you guys look happy together.

thanks everyone - he is my heart horse - funny that you say we look happy together because that is the most common comment we get - that we look so happy together.

He loves to show and loves to think he knows the test better than me. It was great to get out. Especially because this week is supposed to be so cold for us up here.

[mickeydoodle]

Very nice pics, they show good roundness and energy for the level!!!!!!

[webmistress32]

cutie patootie

[goeslikestink]

Here is a link to some pics of my 9 yr old clyde cross gelding at a dressage show today - level 1 - he was such a good boy - we got lst and 2nd.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=203497&l=b2b87&id=505480415

well done to the pair of you -- cant wait for the next one haha

[FancyFree]

Very nice cross. Most of the time I dont care for the neck sets of the drafts, but your guy has a very nice neck and def wants to step under himself.
Congrats on a nice horse and your ribbons. :)

Yes I agree, especially about the necks.

Yours is a very nice example prodomos. Love all the chrome too.

Congrats!

[pintopiaffe]

I'm a fan of the "Commercial" horse. Haven't seen one yet I haven't liked.

You two look fabulous. :cool:

[trakehner013]

He is so cute!!

[RogersChapelFarm]

Very nice and such a well matched pair! WTG!

[Beasmom]

Oooo! I want one of those!!

[anchorsaway]

awww you guys look great!
Congrats on your win and hopefully this showseason will bring you many more :)

[ThatScaryChick]

You two really look lovely. Congrats on doing so well!

[unbridledoaks]

Congrats! He is lovely!

[Bravestrom]

I'm a fan of the "Commercial" horse. Haven't seen one yet I haven't liked.

You two look fabulous. :cool:

Thanks for all the wonderful comments.

Yes - he is a commercial horse - bred by a renowned breeder - one of the top breeders of the clyde/hackney crosses - he actually was trained to drive and showed as a commercial at 4 years of age but outgrew his team and I bought him as a 5 yr old just broke under saddle. He has come a long way in the 4 years we have been together.

I also own his sister - who is about to have a donavan foal and is the mother of my 2 yr old swedish warmblood cross colt and my younger son rides a cousin that has had top dressage scores at a number of events under my older son.

Our coach now says we have to step it up a notch and are going to start working on level 2 tests (of course that is after this darn cold snap).

[BaroqueLady]

I also have a Clyde/Hackney cross, a gelding 16'3" and 8 years old. He looks
very like your gorgeous guy :) with the same fabulous chrome.

We did very well at training/first level but he decided he preferred jumping to
dressage. He is currently for sale which breaks my heart but I want him to
be happy in his work.

I purchased him from a sport horse place in Maryland but he was bred in
Canada...possibly related?? I have videos and pictures at:
www.cs.vt.edu/~kafura/Nickie

[centeur]

You should be proud, what a beautiful image!

[Bravestrom]

he does look like a relative - do you know if he is a shady maple cross?

I used to think my guy preferred jumping until we really got him using his back end, going forward and through - he still gets really excited jumping but then it is hard to bring him back to serious work and since we are working towards psg and schooling level 3-4 I really want to keep the focus. Although he loves to hack and do the occasional fox hunt.

Is yours trained to drive as well - my guy was and it is a challenge to shift their way of going from pulling to pushing.

[BaroqueLady]

I don't know if he came from that farm.
He was a green broke 4 year old when I bought him and had not done any
driving.
Forward has always been a problem for him in dressage. I was too exhausted
to go on. Put some jumps in the ring and he is a different guy! He does
3'6" with the same ease that he does 2'6". I am sure he can do more but my
homemade jumps are out of 'holes'!
I believe he would love to fox hunt. He is great out hacking. My rider is going
to hill top him with the Farmington Hunt (Charlottesville, VA) in the next week
or two. I would keep him but I don't jump anymore as I am old and fragile:(

[Bravestrom]

He looks like a relative of my guy and jumps like my guy - there are some jumping pics of my guy on www.hotelfun4kids.com/horses.htm

They jump with great tuck.

[keana]

Your horse is lovely! good job!

[dcrider]

Does anyone have any experience with Shire crosses? Been researching draft crosses for about 2 years now. Fell in love with the Shire attitude. I plan to purchase one shortly. He's currently in VA - owner has him trained to 1st level and he's done some fox hunting. Plan to continue his dressage training and see what his aptitude is for jumping.