For those of you who do not know what an American Drum Horse is, don’t feel alone. In this article I will try to elaborate what this breed is, and it’s unique versatility.
First, a brief description and history: The Drum Horse is a combination of any of the following breeds: Shire, Clydesdale, and Gypsy Horse, where no single breed listed above exceeds 87% (7/8) of the total make-up and the percentage of Gypsy Horse blood does not fall below 12.5% (1/8).
Purpose Of The Breed: The purpose of the Drum Horse as a breed in America is to develop a new Heavy Horse breed that utilizes the best examples of the Shire, Clydesdale, and Gypsy Cob breeds, while focusing on breeding for athleticism, agility, and performance ability for all ridden disciplines.
The inspiration for the American Drum Horse is the working horses still found carrying riders and heavy kettledrums in the Queen of England’s cavalry.
General Appearance: The overall impression of the Drum Horse should be one of an elegant heavy horse of great strength and agility. The Drum Horse is a heavy riding horse, and should therefore display the athleticism to allow for competitiveness in all ridden and driven disciplines. The Drum should be a large, well-muscled horse of medium to heavy weight, with good quality bone, an athletic body, a kind expression, and abundant hair (including heavy “feather” on the legs).
Color: Drum Horses may have any base color, and may be solid or colored. There is no preference given to colored horses over solid colored horses.
Size: The Drum Horse should be a large, athletic animal capable of excelling in a variety of equine disciplines. To achieve this goal members are encouraged to select breeding stock of a size that will help ensure their Drum Horses will reach the desired mature height of 16 hands or taller.
General Information: The American Drum Horse Association was founded to promote and preserve the Drum Horse here in America. Originally found only in England in service to the Queen, the Drum Horse has arrived in this country and is already creating quite a stir.
Our mission is to fill the niche demand for a tall, athletic, heavy riding horse and do so with a new breed rather than creating other types within other breeds. This preserves the Clydesdale, Shire and Gypsy Horse breeds as they should be and provides a new breed to fill the desire of a riding horse with the best attributes of these other breeds. We will do this with full focus and attention on creating and promoting the American Drum Horse into a true breed.
History: Actually named after a “job” performed by the horse, the Drum Horse is an important member of the Queen of England’s Band of the Life Guards. These horses carry two large solid silver kettle Drums, plus a fully outfitted rider, through crowds of thousands, during the Queen’s processions! The fact that the Drum Horse can remain quiet in large crowds of people while being controlled entirely by reins attached to their rider’s feet is a testament to the Drum Horse’s extraordinary disposition.
The American Drum Horse is a very versatile animal. Different uses and riding styles would be western, English, dressage, costume, driving, parades, jousting, farm work, and many other disciplines required of a large athletic horse.
Eclipse (see photo) is a Drum Horse bred by Barbara and Jim Snyder, and owned by Tom and Lee Ann Kagy. Eclipse who is in 4th level dressage, has qualified for the quarter final in the nationals. Eclipse is half Clydesdale and half Gypsy Vanner.
Five Drum Horses have been declared for the USDF All-Breeds awards program with the American Drum Horse Association registry.
For more information check The American Drum Horse web page at www.drumhorseassociation.com.