Breckenridge Sleigh Rides is home to Percheron and Belgian draft horses. We have four Percherons, all jet-black, and three red Belgians. The Percherons are one of the largest draft horse breeds averaging between 2,000 to 2,500 pounds each, and our horses are some of the biggest in all of Summit County. The average riding horse weighs about 1,100 pounds. The Percheron was originally bred in France to take knights into battle. A large horse was needed to carry the heavy weight of the knight and his armor, but more importantly the Percheron was also trained to protect his knight from the enemy if he was knocked off. It would take a brave knight indeed to go head to head with a protective battle-bred Percheron!

The Belgian horse is a traditional workhorse common throughout the country, particularly in the Midwest. Many farmers still use draft horses to plow fields and do other work around the farm. Both the Percherons and Belgians are large and sturdy, and can pull 3-5 times their own weight. That's serious horsepower!

Today, our horses are as gentle and loving as puppy dogs, albeit much larger! All our horses were bred and trained by the Amish. The Amish are well known to have the best draft horses as they use them daily as if it were a hundred years ago. Each horse has a unique personality, so lets meet the "guys."

Barney

Barney is our alpha horse, or leader of the herd. Barney is 12 years old, about 2,400 lbs and 18 hands tall (6 feet at the shoulders) which means he is almost 8 feet tall at the ears! Barneys hoof diameter is about 10" wide. He has a very gentle demeanor and is especially friendly to the ladies. Loves being scratched on the forehead and especially under his chin. If being brushed in a gentle fashion, Barney will doze off because he loves it so much. Barney is a ham and loves to pose for photos. Barney is jet black with no white markings, and his sleigh partner is Levi.

Mike

We call Mike "Gentleman Mike" as he exhibits the most manners of the boys. Mike will wait calmly during feeding time, and not get so excited like the others - he knows he will get his share. Mike is also 12 years old, about 18 hands and approximately 2,300 lbs. Gentleman Mike has a very unusual stance when standing still. He will extend his hindquarters, or back legs, more than the others in what is a very regal pose. Because all our Percherons are jet black, this stance makes it is easy to spot Mike when he is standing still. Mike will go into a trance when his belly is scratched - he enjoys that more than the other guys. Mike has a white star on his forehead and is teamed up with Duke.

Duke

Duke is affectionately called "Big Duke" for one obvious reason - he is HUGE! Look at the size of those muscles in his neck. Duke is 10 years old, about 18 hands, and has to be pushing 2,600 - 2,700lbs. Duke is also our "wild child" as he can be the most mischievous. Duke is always the first one to the fence to sniff your pockets to see if you are holding any treats. He has to check out your hands to make sure there are no treats before he is ready to be scratched on his nose. Next to Barney, he is next to claim his share of hay, often running to the other horses where they are feeding to make sure he is not missing anything! Duke has a white star on his forehead and pulls with Mike.

Levi

It's hard to tell in this photo, but Levi is over 18.5 hands tall! He has longer legs than the other guys, and you can see how he has to bend one to graze. Because he has more leg, he is only about 2,500 lbs. Levi is our "firecracker." Although he is partnered with Barney to pull the sleighs, he would prefer to do it all by himself! He is a little heavy on the reins, meaning we have to hold him back, because he would run if we let him. I'm sure Barney is telling us to "get this guy off of me!" Levi has a very majestic look about him for a 10 year old; his face is very chiseled and is the "male model" of the group. Levi is also jet black with a small white star.

Blondie

"Ole" Blonde is a Belgian draft that was rescued many years ago from an abusive environment. He was very skittish and very afraid of any human contact. Over time and patience on our part, he has turned around completely and now is the most docile creature of this earth. He is so calm that he can pull with any of the other guys, in any position (left or right side). He is the smallest of the group, about 17 hands and maybe only 2,100 lbs; but lack of size is made up in the size of his heart. Blondie is about 20-25 years old.

Doc and Dick

We can't name one of these horses without naming the other in the same breath because they are inseparable. These Belgians are both nine years old, both 18 hands tall, and are about 2,400 pounds each. They have pulled together all their life and enjoy their work immensely. Doc has a sweet tooth more than most, and after saying "hi" he begins nosing around your pockets to see what he can find. Both horses are sorrel (red in color), have very blonde manes and tails and both have white blazes running down their noses. How do we tell them apart? Doc has a black spot on his nose. But after you get to know them, Doc has a little more "giddy up" in his step.

About the Ranch

During the summer months, the horses are boarded at Pass Creek Ranch, a few miles north of Silverthorne. The ranch is a working ranch with cattle, geese, chickens, pigs, hay, and one dog. The ranch is about 1,800 acres and is one of the most beautiful ranches in the valley, maybe in Colorado. We put the boys on the ranch to pasture because this is very healthy for the horses. After a winter season of boarding in the corral, eating hay and grain, pulling sleighs, and just burning calories to stay warm they will loose a little weight, about 200 - 300 lbs. That is like us dropping 15 - 20 lbs. The pasture enables them to graze freely, run to their hearts content, roll around in clean ground to shed their winter coat, and gain back the weight they lost over the winter.

Our horses are very social animals and always remain together as a herd, and they also crave human contact. When we visit the ranch, they waste no time coming to visit us no matter where they are in the pasture. Duke is usually leading the charge, and when 16,000 pounds of Draft horse comes running, you certainly hear and feel their weight upon the earth - it's another form of "thunder in the Rockies."