The Marbardi Family love to jump their heavy horses, specifically their Clydesdales.  Photo courtesy Anne Marbardi.

Hello Everyone and a hearty welcome.  Heavy Thunder has become synonymous with heavy horses and some of you may now know we breed heavy as well as light horses.  And it is our passion to help our heavy horse thrive and survive in the 21st Century.  So please, pull up a stump and enjoy…

An Overview of Heavy Horses in Australia

Heavy horses are becoming more common in Australia. Breeds such as the Clydesdale, Percheron, Shire, Australian Draft and Welsh Cob are among the best examples. For a lot of people, it is instantly assumed that these horses are for draft purposes only, however, it should be noted that they are far more than that.

Australia is a Sunburned Country

 Australia is traditionally known as a sunburned country. It can be dry and hot where there is the potential for weather patterns to fluctuate from hot one day, wet the next. 

These weather patterns could very well impact on the ability for these traditionally cold climate animals to thrive in this country.  Further to this, the types of natural grasses in Australia and feeding patterns adopted could be very different to those overseas.

So owners of heavy horses in Australia may not only need to develop a different method of animal husbandry but develop different uses for them. Our animal husbandry need to be easy and sustainable so these horses can thrive better in a climate very different to the one many of these creatures originated in.

But Australians need to think more laterally to ensure these horses survive longer in our lucky but sunburned country.

How Heavy Horses are Utilized in Australia

The decline of heavy horses is evident worldwide and there is a need to look at how to utilize them better. There have been infusions of various breeds into European sport horses but not so much in Australia. So the questions are: What are we doing with our heavy horses in the new millennium in Australia? What can we do to alter that forecast?

In Australia, people haven’t entirely embraced the concept of riding these horses. The main uses of these horses are still in the traditional way such as draft, show, and breeding or simply for companion purposes. In order to change this dark destiny, the situation could very well require a change, or a shift in thinking.

Thrive to Survive

With the hope to breathe new life into our precious horses, it is fitting to encourage people to become enthusiasts. This renewed interest will eventually lead the breeds of heavy horses to thrive and survive in the new millennium. Additionally, people who may have owned these horses for many years may also need to rekindle their interest once again.

What can we do to make this happen? The answer is simple: Ride them. And thank fully, some Australians are thinking laterally which has led to these horses being ridden in three novel ways.

Some Australians are riding their heavy horses in events like:

1.    Dressage like Hotse the modern day Friesian as pictured here.  Photo courtesy Heavy Thunder.

2.    Jumping Anthony Murray takes his Clydesdale through his jumping paces.  Photo courtesy Anne Marbardi and:

3.    Trick riding.  Emily Wright takes Clydesdale cross G6 through his paces at Rutherglen in Victoria. Photo taken by  Ann Killeen.

Heavy Horses under Saddle are Ideal.

These breeds of horses have huge frames allowing ease of carriage for people of all shapes and sizes. They are smart on their feet as well as in their thinking. Their temperaments are reliable and they are very forgiving. All of these attributes add up to a great mount.

Making use of these horses in varied ways will allow us to see them in a different light. It has also occurred to us that many of these horses themselves love to be ridden. And riding these powerful animals more would create an even greater source of pleasure for people of all ages.

With renewed public interest and careful review of their usage, the Australian heavy horse industry would surely be there to reap the benefits. This would mean these animals would survive a little bit longer in our fast paced modern world.

Riding these magnificent creatures more, rather than using them in the more traditional manner, would not only provide an alternative use for our heavy horses in Australia, it would literally give them a new lease of life.

Riding Our Horses

As one of the worlds momentous achievers, Walt Disney said, "If you can dream it, you can do it." It is a dream whereby Australian heavy horse owners get together and say, "We can do this. Let's ride our heavy horses." With a modified perspective regarding these magnificent creatures, the use of heavy horses in Australia would more likely increase and we can all benefit from their kind for many more years to come.

Thanks again everyone for dropping by.  We hope this will inspire people to look at heavy horses in a different light and enjoy our magnificent heavy horses for many years to come.

Cheers

Paul and Jann