Have any of ya'll ever ridden a Draft?
I've ridden Drafts or Draft Crosses for about 5 years now. I wouldn't hesitate to work a pasture on one. They're really great as Trail or Pleasure horses. I have my Shire now and he has been easy to work with. I will admit that he eats as much as any 2 horses I've ever owned and finding tack in South Texas has been a problem. You might be shocked at their strength and stamina. I might have mentioned it before but Emmett Dalton once picked up my feed barrel containing 300 lbs of feed with his teeth.

I ride a half draft. He is about 16.1hh and 1400lbs. He definately eats way more than our other horses, but he is a doll. You can feel the power he has in his hind quarters. He has cleared a 4ft fence like it is nothing. I wouldn't trade him for the world. I have also ridden several belgians and one clydsdale. I really like their work ethis, most will give you 110%.

Emmett is only 16.1 hh but weighs about 1750.

One of the lesson horses I ride for my dressage lessons is half draft/half paint. Very sweet horse and has a rocking chair lope. Gracie is only about 15.2 but she is a big old girl.

She is also one to mildly test you, but if stop her antics quickly, and she learns you mean business, she becomes is a dreamboat. I guess part of that is being a lesson horse too.

i've never had the pleasure of owning a draft (but would love too, some day!) i have ridden two. both were neat, one was very light in the bridle and to the leg, the other, was very pony like...as in, you ask for a turn...and a mile later, you got it <grin>.

Mike--i imagine that finding western tack especially would be difficult. i know you have a custom saddle--how much difference in the tree sizing from a typical qh???

If you've ever look over the back of an Arab imagine that times maybe 4. I've never measured Emmett Dalton across the beam so to speak but he is stout. He is 7'2" around the Girth.