How to Train Draft Horses for Pleasure Riding

Large and powerful, draft horses are traditionally used to pull wagons, carts, plows, other vehicles and farm machinery. Because these horses often have choppy, ground-pounding gaits and the larger ones -- such as the Percheron and the Belgian -- have broad backs, most people find draft horses uncomfortable to ride. However, some of the smaller draft breeds, with their calm temperaments and strong bones, often make ideal mounts for larger riders.

Things You'll Need

  • longe line
  • saddle
  • bridle
  • surcingle
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Instructions

  1. Training a Draft Horse Already Broken to Harness

    • 1

      Place a saddle blanket and a saddle on the horse's back. Do this carefully. Most draft horses who have been broken to the harness should not object to the saddle or the tightening of the cinch. Walk the horse around for awhile to get him used to the feeling.

    • 2

      Introduce the weight of a person to the horse's back. Have an assistant hold the horse, while another person carefully lays across the horse's saddle. If the horse gets nervous, gently slide down and then try again after soothing it. Most draft horses that are used to wearing a harness and pulling a cart, should not find the introduction of a person to their back odd or frightening.

    • 3

      Lead the horse around the pen with a rider on its back and an assistant guiding it. If the horse seems fine with this, have the assistant longe the horse in a round pen with the rider on its back. The rider should use the verbal cues that the horse is used to hearing while being driven to ask it to walk, trot, canter and stop, while also gradually introducing leg and rein commands.

    • 4

      Ride the horse in a riding ring without the aid of a longe line and assistant once you feel it understands the leg and rein cues you have been introducing to it.

    • 5

      Use your leg and rein aids to teach the horse how to maintain an even pace. If it slows down or tries to stop against your wishes, apply leg pressure to keep the horse moving forward. If your mount tries to go too fast, apply pressure to the bit to bring him back to the desired pace.

    • 6

      Train your horse on a consistent basis. If you wait too long between training sessions, your mount may forget what you have taught it in the previous outing.

    Unbroken Draft Horse

    • 7

      Introduce a bridle and bit to the draft horse. While holding the bridle in one hand, apply gentle pressure to the horse's poll area, behind its ears, until it lowers its head. At the same time, guide the bit with your other hand gently between the horse's teeth, while using the thumb on the same hand to apply pressure in the space between the animal's front and back teeth, which is the same area where the bit will eventually end up.

    • 8

      Lead the horse around and then also longe it with the bit and bridle on, so that it can get used to the feel of these new items on its head and in its mouth.

    • 9

      Fasten a surcingle around your horse and attach long lines to the bit. Run the long lines through the surcingle and stand a safe distance behind the horse. Have an assistant stand at the horse's head. Ask the horse to move forward with a verbal cue like a cluck or the word, "Walk." Ask the assistant to pull the horse forward. Repeat until the horse associates the cue with moving forward.

    • 10

      Teach your draft horse to stop by pulling back lightly on the reins and giving him a verbal cue, such as "Whoa." If it does not understand, have the assistant aid in stopping the horse. Repeat until the horse understands what you are asking it to do.

    • 11

      Follow the steps in Section One to acclimate the horse to a saddle and rider.