We've been looking around for a small draft horse/pony/mule/donkey. We looked at a "Haflinger" gelding a couple weeks ago, but the owner couldn't keep his stories straight and consistent, and the horse had been running wild for 2 years and had no manners and no training. After about a week of looking around on Craigslist and newspapers and bulletin boards, we found a prospective buy. So my sister, dad and I went to look at it yesterday. I'll try and make this post brief and concise.
She's just across the border in PA on a farm with beefers and 3 other ponies The mare is an 8 year old Percheron/pony cross named Taffy, mostly white - excusing the dirt - but with a light dappling of grey. She weighs 950 and is approximately 13.1 hands.
When we got there, the owner took us into the barn where the stalls were. She said to go right ahead and take her out. So I slid my hand along Taffy's back as I went into the stall, unhooked her and told her "Back Up" and she did. We brushed her, led her up and down, turned her in a circle. She had very nice manners: no nippy/lippy behavior, knew her place and respected humans. We checked her teeth for parrot/monkey mouth, abcesses; lifted all 4 feet with no trouble, (they were really clean and healthy looking; no cracks; and for not being trimmed since August are in reallynice shape); ran our hands from nose to tail, down legs and neck feeling for lumps - nothing. She has had rabies, tetanus, 4-Way and Coggins tested. No shoes. No limping either.
After a while I asked the owner to harness her up and drive her so we could watch. Wanted to make sure they weren't trying to fool us. Not that I suspected it; Taffy's owner used to ride saddle-horses and drove 3 teams up until last year. Taffy is the last one to be sold. She drives single or double, has been worked/hitched with all Amish farm equipment, pulled both a sled and wagon. She was bought directly off an Amish farm in Ohio. They have owned her 1 1/2 years.
We watched them harness her and they knew what they were doing as much as the horse.
The owner had said the horse knew her commands, so I asked her to demonstrate today while we were watching. She walked her up and down the road in front of their house at least 3 times, doing all the commands: Gee, Haw, Whoa, Stand, Step Up, Back Up, Lift. And the horse did them.
Over the phone the lady mentioned how Taffy was traffic-safe. Well, while she was walking her on the road, 3 cars drove past and a logging truck roared by (not even bothering to slow down. I mean, how rude! Not to mention potentially dangerous!) But Taffy was very well-behaved. She didn't even blink an eye at the 3 cars that went by. The logging truck: she did swing round real fast to see what it was but didn't buck/spook/bolt.
Taffy is selling for $600, price including her halter and fitted collar. We talked to a farmer friend who said that if we are serious, try talking them down to $500, or at least $550. Another friend told us that for an already trained, Amish broke pony, $600 is an awesome bargain.
So....what do ya'll think?
We made a list of requirements to look for in a horse that will fit our needs and Taffy fills nearly all of them:
*Plow garden
*Pull loads
*Drive cart/sled - The owner said she could easily pull about 1000#, she's pulled about 10 people around on a wagon
*Ride - Taffy has been broke to ride but her current owners didn't pursue it as they were interested only in driving her
*Good with cows/dogs
*Easy Keeper - Taffy eats approximately 1/2 a bale of hay a day and gets 2 quarts of grain in the summer on days when she's worked
*Good disposition - Taffy is very gentle, calm and quiet. She happens to be low-man-on-the-totem-pole where she is now.
*Sound feet
*Already trained
*15 hands or less
*Good conformation
Here are some pictures.
Taffy in harness:
Sideview:
My sister standing next to Taffy:
Backview:
Back feet:
Front feet:
This got longer than I expected! What happened to being brief?
I did post this over on BYH, but thought there may be some of you here who aren't there and might want to give your opinion.
She's just across the border in PA on a farm with beefers and 3 other ponies The mare is an 8 year old Percheron/pony cross named Taffy, mostly white - excusing the dirt - but with a light dappling of grey. She weighs 950 and is approximately 13.1 hands.
When we got there, the owner took us into the barn where the stalls were. She said to go right ahead and take her out. So I slid my hand along Taffy's back as I went into the stall, unhooked her and told her "Back Up" and she did. We brushed her, led her up and down, turned her in a circle. She had very nice manners: no nippy/lippy behavior, knew her place and respected humans. We checked her teeth for parrot/monkey mouth, abcesses; lifted all 4 feet with no trouble, (they were really clean and healthy looking; no cracks; and for not being trimmed since August are in reallynice shape); ran our hands from nose to tail, down legs and neck feeling for lumps - nothing. She has had rabies, tetanus, 4-Way and Coggins tested. No shoes. No limping either.
After a while I asked the owner to harness her up and drive her so we could watch. Wanted to make sure they weren't trying to fool us. Not that I suspected it; Taffy's owner used to ride saddle-horses and drove 3 teams up until last year. Taffy is the last one to be sold. She drives single or double, has been worked/hitched with all Amish farm equipment, pulled both a sled and wagon. She was bought directly off an Amish farm in Ohio. They have owned her 1 1/2 years.
We watched them harness her and they knew what they were doing as much as the horse.
The owner had said the horse knew her commands, so I asked her to demonstrate today while we were watching. She walked her up and down the road in front of their house at least 3 times, doing all the commands: Gee, Haw, Whoa, Stand, Step Up, Back Up, Lift. And the horse did them.
Over the phone the lady mentioned how Taffy was traffic-safe. Well, while she was walking her on the road, 3 cars drove past and a logging truck roared by (not even bothering to slow down. I mean, how rude! Not to mention potentially dangerous!) But Taffy was very well-behaved. She didn't even blink an eye at the 3 cars that went by. The logging truck: she did swing round real fast to see what it was but didn't buck/spook/bolt.
Taffy is selling for $600, price including her halter and fitted collar. We talked to a farmer friend who said that if we are serious, try talking them down to $500, or at least $550. Another friend told us that for an already trained, Amish broke pony, $600 is an awesome bargain.
So....what do ya'll think?
We made a list of requirements to look for in a horse that will fit our needs and Taffy fills nearly all of them:
*Plow garden
*Pull loads
*Drive cart/sled - The owner said she could easily pull about 1000#, she's pulled about 10 people around on a wagon
*Ride - Taffy has been broke to ride but her current owners didn't pursue it as they were interested only in driving her
*Good with cows/dogs
*Easy Keeper - Taffy eats approximately 1/2 a bale of hay a day and gets 2 quarts of grain in the summer on days when she's worked
*Good disposition - Taffy is very gentle, calm and quiet. She happens to be low-man-on-the-totem-pole where she is now.
*Sound feet
*Already trained
*15 hands or less
*Good conformation
Here are some pictures.
Taffy in harness:
Sideview:
My sister standing next to Taffy:
Backview:
Back feet:
Front feet:
This got longer than I expected! What happened to being brief?
I did post this over on BYH, but thought there may be some of you here who aren't there and might want to give your opinion.
Being from an Amish farm I would presume that she is fine with all types of machinery, but of course you never know. I think she looks like a good bargain 
