Heavy Horse?

[stillnotjustamummy]

I've loved heavy horses since I was six... a field has come up opposite my house and I'm daydreaming about an older heavy horse in it. I'd have to do all the care myself. My girls are still too small to ride such a magnificent horse...
Please list all the reasons this is a really silly thing to do...

If we did, I'd want a very bulletproof hack, something me, 5ft2, 10 stone, and the daughters could eventually share. No desire to compete, but just enjoy the countryside. They may want to do a bit of jumping etc...

The stables I learnt at had Tom, a white shire nearly 17hands high. I loved being up there. It was the safest place in the world.

It should be very possible to find a nice, safe hack, but if you add the heavy horse requirement it makes it very difficult. For your size and for your DCs to ride a 14.2 to 16hh cob should be perfectly fine and you’ll find a lot of options at that height range.

Yeah i agree, a large cob sounds ideal, should be cheaper to maintain and far easier to find in the been there, done that category!

I used to ride a heavy haflinger (the old type)
very comfortable to ride. very elegant despite their size.
they need to be trained really well. or you will be in trouble.
they are prone to back problems. some people seems to think big horse = suitable for heavy rider. that's not the case. head down gymnastics/dressage is absolutely vital. (it is for any horse, really).
and yes to mites and hoof rot...

A 14.2 cob and a nice kid's pony as a companion might do nicely if the field is big enough to split and rest. Middle-aged, healthy and native type would live out with shelter all year and be as economical to keep as horses ever can be.

Please don't have one on its own. Heavy horses are gorgeous but for all the reasons given by PP I'd steer clear for now.