Darkmoor Shire Horse Stud | Useful Links - Darkmoor Shire Horse Stud

Useful Links

Rugs

Fitting rugs on adult heavy horses can be quite difficult. We’ve had great success using both custom rugs made here in Australia and off the shelf rugs from England. With younger horses, it’s usually possible to find a cost effective rug that fits well from your local horse shop.

Here’s a few places to look for heavy horse rugs:

Loretta from N’Hay Gear can make just about anything you desire. Her work is very high quality.

http://www.nhaygear.com

The Big Horse Shop sells pre made rugs designed specifically to fit heavy horses. They are reasonably priced even after the currency conversion, but the postage can be expensive.

https://www.thebighorseshop.co.uk

Love My Horse and Impressa, both based in Australia, also sell rugs in larger sizes to fit heavy horses.

http://www.qualityhorserugsaustralia.com.au

http://www.impressarugs.com.au

Leather & Biothane Gear

Halters, bridles and harness generally need to be specially made for heavy horses because of their size. Here are a few places that either stock or can custom make heavy horse gear from leather or biothane:

Mahbrook Harness & Carriage Supplies

Bywong, NSW

www.carriages.com.au

02 6236 9210

Dutalis Saddlery

Goulburn, NSW

www.facebook.com/Dutaillis-Goulburn-Saddlery-687481011333504/

02 4821 2838

Asterisk Horse Collars & Harness

Currawarna, NSW

www.asteriskhorsecollars.com.au

Carbery Carriage & Harness

www.carberycarriageandharness.com

Heavy Horse Show Decorations

The decorations required for showing heavy horses can either be made at home (if you’re crafty) or purchased from someone who makes them professionally. Here are a few suggestions:

Heavy Horse Decorations (UK)

Elaine from Heavy Horse Decorations makes beautiful traditional decorations in a lot of different colours.

www.heavyhorsedecorations.co.uk

Five Star Horse Decorations (US)

Five Star Horse Decorations do a fantastic job making decorations designed to match the American style of show decorating, which is slightly different to the English one. Their flights, tail decorations and ribbons are lovely, but remember that if you want to plait your Shire with a traditional English mane roll, you’ll need three strands not two.

www.fivestarhorsedecorations.com

Heavy Horse Publications

The Commonwealth Clydesdale Society of Australia publishes an excellent resource book filled with high quality information about heavy horse conformation, harness, vehicles, educating, showing and breeding. You can purchase that book here:

www.aussieheavyhorses.com/HTML/heavy_horse_resources_books.html

Heavy Horse Herald Magazine (UK)

www.auchengreeclydesdales.com/store/p89/HEAVY_HORSE_HERALD_MAGAZINE_SUBSCRIPTION.html

Draft Horse Journal Magazine (US)

http://www.drafthorsejournal.com

Heavy Horse World Magazine (UK)

http://www.heavyhorseworld.co.uk

Australian Heavy Horses Website

Aussie Heavy Horses has a great range of heavy horse merchandise and a large range of useful links.

http://www.aussieheavyhorses.com

World Wide Shire Studbook

http://www.shirestudbook.com

Heavy Horse Facebook Groups

There are a number of heavy horse specific groups on Facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shirehorsesaustralia/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/shirehorses/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/clydesdalesaustralia/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/heavyhorsesforsale/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/workingheavies/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Riddenheavyhorses/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/thebritishriddenheavyhorsesociety/

Heavy Horse Specific Shows & Field Days

St Heliers

http://www.stheliersheavyhorse.org.au

Gatton

http://www.gattonheavyhorses.com.au

National Clydesdale & Heavy Horse Festival – Werribee

https://nchhf.wordpress.com

Heavy Horse Shoes

Hawksbury River Saddle Co

Hawksbury River Saddle Co stock a great range of American made (Will Lent brand) heavy horse shoes. They ship Australia wide.

West Michigan Horseshoe Supply (US)

West Michigan Horseshoe Supply sell many different types of draft horse shoes, nails and tools. You may need to use a third party postal service to get these sent to Australia.

www.michiganhorseshoes.com/shop

Wesley Stewart Farrier Services

Wes is a skilled farrier and horseman who makes great quality custom shoes.

www.wes-the-farrier.com