Pictures from the Texas Draft Horse Show

[HoustonFarrier]

Sam, driving single.....
http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/43061/2061473390053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Sam and Tram double....
http://inlinethumb53.webshots.com/33076/2312587320053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb11.webshots.com/41546/2269271820053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Danielle and Elle in the costume class...
http://inlinethumb64.webshots.com/44543/2386488400053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Danielle driving Tram in Ladies Cart...
http://inlinethumb03.webshots.com/41538/2060103440053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Buddy winning Yearling Stallion class....
http://inlinethumb06.webshots.com/13445/2335098250053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Buddy again....
http://inlinethumb49.webshots.com/41968/2403046850053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Elle showing her classic hockset...
http://inlinethumb13.webshots.com/40652/2086657200053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

Sam in halter class....
http://inlinethumb01.webshots.com/40832/2892026170053248425S425x425Q85.jpg

There a ton more out on my webshots page

Steve

[IrisGreen]

OMG Great shots Steve!! Ohh I just love those big butts!! That hock pose is perfect at showing the draft set and how differnt it is from a light horse stance. I need to learn how to do manes like that!!

Great pics and some awesome horses. Love the yearling stallion! *wipes drool*

[HoustonFarrier]

Love the yearling stallion! *wipes drool*
He was the Supreme Champion of the show...so the judge liked him too ;)

Steve

[Mandy]

Those horses are just so beautiful I can't stand it.

[CircleR]

Gorgeous horses, and the carts are beautiful as well.

[IrisGreen]

Looks like you had a great turn out!! I love the blue hitch wagon!! I always see green or red.. I don't think I have seen a blue one around here... That one looks fantastic in blue!! You have some nice looking harnesses too!! What did those cost ya? I know there over 2K each easily. What a great turn out you had and you sure made those horses look great with there mane rolls, tails done and all nice and clean. Even there feather is bright white!! Great job putting on such a nice turn out. I'm sure the judges loved it!

What do you use on there feather to get it that white? Any tricks you have to get the stains out? Come on give it up:p

[HoustonFarrier]

Looks like you had a great turn out!! I love the blue hitch wagon!! I always see green or red.. I don't think I have seen a blue one around here... That one looks fantastic in blue!! You have some nice looking harnesses too!! What did those cost ya? I know there over 2K each easily. What a great turn out you had and you sure made those horses look great with there mane rolls, tails done and all nice and clean. Even there feather is bright white!! Great job putting on such a nice turn out. I'm sure the judges loved it!

What do you use on there feather to get it that white? Any tricks you have to get the stains out? Come on give it up:p

Thank you ! Actually, my wife, Danielle is the one who does all the grooming( I help a little). She washes the feathers every other day the week prior to the show. We use Castille Soap to wash the feathers, dry them good, and put sulphur/mineral oil on them. Of course, I do all the foot prep/trimming/shoeing. Since this was a "small" show....only the 2 big boys were shod....everyone else was barefoot !

Harnesses....geez.....I've got about 8K invested in harnesses..and I need more :eek:

The show cart was $4500 brand new, 6 years ago. The show wagon I bought used for 4K.....the new ones START at 10K.

Steve

[farmers_wife]

WOW, what beautiful horses. Thanks for sharing.

[WashingtonBay]

Magnificent! :clap:

Is Tram all better now? And your daughter, I believe, and new grandchild? Have I missed an update?

[IrisGreen]

Wow, Steve. I guess they had some awesome prices at the California Draft horse auction this last weekend. They brought in two show hitches. One was red with all the stainless steel extras and I think It went for..$3,500 and a green one that had no extras on it just plane went for $1,300 :eek: I don't know where they came from or who built them but they looks really nice and brand new.

People come from all over the USA to go to this auction and bring stuff by the truck loads to sell. I know some hitches are more expensive depending on who built it and the quality of materials/wood that went in to it. Some look good but deteriorate over the years faster then others of better quality.

I love that blue hitch!! Man, it looks great with those horses!!

Let your wife know she did an amazing job with the grooming! :) Your horses looked great! I groomed and braided a team for a wedding and my arms hurt from reaching so high and I was standing on a grooming stand! I only braided there mane, I didn't do the whole rolls and all of that so I can't even imagine what it takes to do all of your horses and how much time and effort she would have to put in to that all in one day! Her arms must me hurting after all that braiding!

I hear ya on the harnesses :eek: Those show harnesses are expensive but they sure make a statement when the horse is all done up and in a show harness. At least most are easy to care for and are made with bio thane and stainless steel so it's not like you have to oil and fuss so much to make them look nice. I think you can just use windex to wipe the dust off and there good to go. With how much they cost they better last a long time and be easy to take care of! lol I like how most come apart in three sections, hames, back pad and spider/breechen. Makes it easy for a girl like me to toss one part on at a time. I can barely pick a show harness up let alone toss it up on a horse in one piece. lol Those things are heavy!!

You should check out my thread on the Cali Draft Horse Auction. I took a bunch of pics of all the different carts and wagons that were there for sale. I only got about half of them because a bunch showed up later in the day. They didn't have any Clydes for sale. Last spring sale they did have one or two I think but there the 15 hand ones for pleasure driving. There about the size of Muffin not the big ones you have. I guess around here people arnt used to big drafts so they buy the small Clydes because there easy to toss a harness on and don't cost as much to feed... I'm guessing. Most people think Muffin is big and he is small compared to a full draft sized horse like your Clydes or the bulky "old school" perches.

Around here they breed them smaller, ether short and thick Clydes (15 hands) or sleek and tall Perches (17+ hands). Belgians are still tall and thick they haven't changed that much, I guess if you want a short small Belgian you just buy a Halflinger instead of trying to breed the Belgians smaller.

[jeezitsjacki]

awesome pictures

[Gliderider]

Wow gorgeous horses

[TLC97]

Steve, that brings me back to my childhood days when my dad showed Belgians. What beautiful horses. Thanks for sharing the pics.

[Tens Legacy]

Your horses are beautiful!
Thanks for sharing :)

[carla]

Gorgeous! :clap:

[sarhound]

Ohh, they're just gorgeous. One of these days... I aspire to have a nice Clyde living here with the rest of the boys. I'm in the process of looking for a nice carriage of some type. I'd like to have a doctor's gig, but I saw a neat omnibus that I'm absolutely drooling over. I could see a neat livery logo on it, and me rolling thru the town with a gorgeous big boy...

[Gypsy Rose]

Fantastic pics! Thanks for sharing them!

[ProvenPaint]

I just love it when you post pics! :whistle: And good job! :clap:

[vicklynn]

Awesome job to the both of you!!! Great pics. I love seeing and hearing about your bigguns.

[TheBadLands]

Beautiful!!!!

[shynbvs]

very nice! Your horses are very pretty! I have always loved drafts all done up!

[IrisGreen]

Bump! Great pics figured I would give it another bump :)

[~*Domino*~]

Great picts! Gotta love them big ole butts! LoL:jawdrop:

[Remali]

Your horses are just gorgeous, I love the braids and ribbons on them!

[sugarsgirl]

Wow, great pictures, the horses are all gorgeous!
I love the clown costume, priceless. :D

[Cat]

I always love seeing photos of your horses!

[Annie&Dixie]

I love your drafts! Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed them!

[valleyrider]

What beautiful pictures! Sam is amazing. Just love him.

[cheval]

Wow. Just WOW. You have some amazing horses!!!!!!!

Congrats on the wins!