1,200 - 1,300 pounds!
My horses are getting progressively bigger.
My Crabbet Arabian was ~800 pounds. (14.2 hands)
My cremello QH mare was 900 - 1,000 pounds. (14.3 hands)
My four year old 1/2 Percheron is 1,200 - 1,300 pounds and possibly still growing. (16 hands)
When my Arabian died I knew I would probably never get another hot blood so I sold all his Arab-sized tack.
I bought new gear for my QH mare (sold to a QH breeder last August) but I put the Wintec western saddle on Phoenix today and I need a larger cinch! (And HOW!)
My current cinch is 32 inches so I just ordered a 36 inch one. I am hoping it is long enough. (Stephanie, did you have to buy a draft horse cinch for BlackJack? If so, who sells draft sized tack?)
The tie strap is the nylon one that came with the Wintec so I also ordered a new 6' leather tie strap. It is nearly a foot longer than the nylon and I prefer leather over nylon for multiple reasons.
I haven't put the Collegiate Marathon saddle on him yet but I bought two girth extenders for that saddle JUST IN CASE I need them. Phoenix definitely has a lot of belly width!
Sheesh I remember back when I had my Arabian I had to cut off part of the tie strap because it was way too long on the saddle I was using. How funny that I am now at the opposite end of the spectrum.
I also bought a Korsteel Flexi Flavored Mullen Eggbutt Bit. I was looking for a HappyMouth bit but I couldn't find them. This seemed to be a good substitute. I have a sweet iron loosering snaffle, but I like the extra softness option of these Mullen bits. Phoenix is ridiculously responsive right now in just a halter so I want to start him in the gentlest bit option available to keep his mouth soft.
I am not much of a bit girl--my years of riding endurance have made me a fan of the hackamore--but to be a good horseowner I need to make sure he is trained correctly and that means experience with the bit.
If he continues to be as easy to control on the trail as he is in his pasture (with just a halter) I will probably get a bosal or sidepull for him. I have a mechanical hackamore, but I last used it on my Arab and I am not sure it would fit Phoenix.
Today I just ground drove him around the pasture with my two lunge lines attached to his halter through the stirrups of the Wintec. If the weather cooperates tomorrow I plan on clipping reins to his halter and riding around the winter paddock.