Texas Dotted Drafts

09/16/2025

Some bootiful ASHDA backsides! If owning an American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft has been a dream of yours, the handsome Palomino blanket gelding, Odori, is available. Reach out to his owner at Rockin’ the Dots for more information.

Sweet! It’s another Twofer Tuesday! Featured today is a double dose of handsome Sugarbutts.
Pictured is 2023 Heritage gelding, RTD's LookAtThat (Odori), a Palomino blanket, bred and owned by Rockin’ the Dots and 2024 ASHDA E-Designation c**t, RTD's Sugarbush HowLucky (Cassian), a black blanket, bred by Rockin' the Dots and owned by Sandi Singleton. These two are quite fond of each other and are seldom apart.
If you’ve been wishing for your very own American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft, Odori is available. For more information about him, please contact his owner through their business page, Rockin’ the Dots.
From everyone at ASHDA, have a happy Tuesday!
Photo credit to Rockin’ the Dots

09/11/2025

In Memory of 9/11.
On this day, we remember not just the tragedy, but the bravery, resilience, and love that rose from the ashes. May we always honor the memory those who never came home. 🇺🇸 🕯️ 💔

For more information about this 2011 Budweiser Super Bowl commercial, visit: https://causemarketing.com/commercial-gallery/budweiser-clydesdales-9-11-tribute...

08/19/2025

ASHDA is a new organization, built to honor a man's vision for a beautifully colored, conformationally correct draft horse. However, our newness does not affect our breed's past. The horses used to create an American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft are centuries old.

From the Percheron Horse Association Website:
The Percheron Horse originated in the province of Le Perche, near Normandy, France. The ancestors of the modern day Percheron served as war horses carrying knights into battle instead as draft animals in the field. Those horses were light, sure-footed and spirited. As agricultural pursuits began to take precedence over battles, these horses were bred more for size, weight and strength.
The French, however, kept very few
records regarding breeding which allows for speculation on the breeds true origins.
It is widely believed that the Arabian horse played an important role in the development of the Percheron. By the time of the crusades, the Percheron breed was widely recognized as outstanding for it’s substance and soundness, as well as for it’s characteristic beauty and style.

By the 17th century, horses produced in Le Perche had attained widespread notoriety and were in demand for many different uses. The Percheron of this time showed less scale and easily adapted to pulling the heavy mail coaches of France. They stood from 15 to 16 hands high at this time.

In the early 19th century the French government established a stud at Le Pin for the development of army mounts. In 1823, a horse named Jean La Blanc was foaled in Le Perche and all of today's Percheron bloodlines trace directly to this horse.

Edward Harris of Moorestown, New Jersey, first imported Percherons to the United States in 1839. Although in his two attempts to import eight Percheron horses to America, only two survived the journey, a mare named Joan and a stallion called Diligence. These two horses helped establish the Percheron breed in America. Diligence reportedly sired over 400 foals with three of his being recorded among the foundation stock in the first American Percheron stud book in 1876.

No other Percheron importations were recorded until 1851. The stallions, Normandy, Gray Bill and Louis Napoleon, were imported in that year. Louis Napoleon had a profound effect on the Percheron breed in America and his owners were instrumental in the forming of the Percheron Association in 1876.

Thousands of Percherons were imported to Americans in the last half of the 19th century, and importations continued up until World War II. The Percheron quickly became the favorite of both the American farmer and the teamster who would move freight on the nation's city streets.

The Percheron was so popular that by 1930, the government census showed that they were three times as many registered Percherons as the other four draft breeds combined. Following World War II, the invention of the modern farm tractor made the breed nearly extinct. As America modernized and mechanized, the Percheron was all but forgotten. However, a handful of farmers including many Amish, dedicated to the preservation of the breed, kept it alive through the next twenty years of the draft horse depression which lasted through the 1950s and 1960s.

The late 1960s saw a renaissance in the draft horse business as Americans rediscovered the usefulness of the draft horse. Today, Percherons are back on small farms and working in the fields and thousands of are used for recreation such as hay rides, sleigh rides and parades.

Percherons are shown in competition hitching, halter and riding classes at many state and local fairs across the country. They are also used in advertising and the promotion of other businesses. The Percheron is also a common sight on many city streets as the carriage business flourishes.

The America Sugarbush Harlequin Draft Association is proud of the heritage of our breed and we honor the breeders that had the foresight to cross correctly conformed horse with great pedigrees together.

08/18/2025

Since ASHDA's launch, we've been blessed to see interest in our breed grow the world over. New owners and breeders are becoming a part of ASHDA on the regular and our breed has found its way into the hearts and homes of many people. We're always thrilled when the American Sugarbush Harlequin Draft touches another person!

When ASHDA made the decision to open the books in order to bring in some new blood, we knew we had to be careful in what we allowed in the door. One bad quality stallion can affect the entire breed negatively, especially if they are a sought after color. From day one, we imposed strict rules on conformation, genetics, allowable breeds and even color. Only the best are allowed to come into the breed, because one horse can change our future and we want to ensure it is for the better.

However, despite our longstanding rulings, we do still get people who want us to lower our standards. Many people who wish to get into ASHDA wish to do so with horses they already own. And while this can happen, it is rare that someone is already in possession of a breeding pair that meets all of our requirements when they come to ASHDA. Some have come to us with grand plans of buying a draft stallion to breed their herd of appaloosa mares to, or vice versa, and then becoming irate when we inform them that each individual horse must meet both our genetic and conformational requirements before they can produce a registered foal. ASHDA is not a breed you can simply fall into, yet we still face a fair amount of outrage when we will not allow horses in that clearly do not fit our requirements. ASHDA may be a rare breed, but that does not mean we must register every horse that comes knocking. If anything, it means we must be hyper vigilant to ensure that only the horses that will positively influence our breed are permitted entry. This means that when your horse does pass our requirements, you can be assured that they absolutely do belong here.

We understand it's frustrating when horses are turned down. Many of us have horses unsuitable for ASHDA ourselves. It does not make them poor quality animals, it simply means they are not ASHDA material, in the same way you could not breed a Friesian to an Appaloosa and register the foal with ApHC. We encourage anyone who truly wants to get involved with the breed to support our breeders. They have poured endless money, time and effort into shaping their programs to meet our standards so that the best quality foals can be produced. Supporting them supports ASHDA and ethical breeding as a whole.

If you are interested in purchasing your very own ASHDA horse, please contact us for a list of breeders!

Pictured is ASHDA Hall of Fame Improvement mare, Classic Dark Godiva, aka Godiva, owned by Texas Dotted Drafts and currently leased by Trinity Appaloosa Farm.

Photo credits to Bron Stark.

08/08/2025

For those of you who have followed this page for years, here’s an update on Praline. This might be a bit of a surprise for some, but I couldn’t be happier about it.
I am very happy that she is doing great and now living with the wonderful people at Trinity Appaloosa Farm.

We received a lot of questions when we announced Vexin's return- the main thing was, is Praline there too?

Yes, she is. We had the opportunity to bring both Vexin and Praline here. However, we are at a crossroads with this beautiful girl. Her stupendous dam, ASHDA Hall of Famer, Classic Dark Godiva, as well as both another daughter, granddaughter, and grandson, currently live here. At this point, it feels a little greedy!

So, with a few caveats, we will be tentatively offering this stupendous ASHDA mare.

The first cavaet is that she MUST remain active in the breed. Either as a show horse, a broodmare, a breed ambassador, preferably all of the above, even just a working horse that can continue to help spotlight the great versatile abilities and sweet temperament of the breed! She also MUST go to a home that will keep her breeders, our good friends at Texas Dotted Drafts, updated on her within reason.

Praline, TDD's TexasPralinesNCream, is a 2019 Main Book ASHDA mare. She is one of just FIVE full draft mares in the Main Book that are not outside Improvement mares, and one of only two not to be founding line, and she is the only one of all of those horses to have a Hall of Fame dam. Praline has a show and ambassador record, is 7panel negative, is broke to ride, has been to Breyerfest and other huge events. She trail rides, has been started in harness, is super personable and sweet. She is no drama in a herd, to haul, and stays fat on air. She is UTD on coggins, shots, deworming etc.

Bred to ANY ASHDA registered or Approved stallion with main book breeding rights, she can produce another Main Book foal. She is a total outcross to all founding line stallions not descended from her dam. If we didn't have her dam, her sister, her niece... she'd be staying. And if we don't find the absolute best place for her, she'll be staying. And if she's still here in the spring, she may just have a hot date with Rocket, and then she REALLY won't be going anywhere.

This is a perfect mare to start a program with. She comes with an existing show record, a fantastic, established damline pedigree, is already going amazing undersaddle, and is the perfect age. For people looking to really start (or continue!) their Sugarbush journey with a bang, we would also consider a package deal with her and Puff, giving you two completely unrelated high quality mares; one already ready to ride, show, and breed, and one coming up that already has her baby basics.

This is an amazing opportunity to own a daughter of one of the most recognizable mares in the breed, her only full draft daughter as well. And if we don't find the perfect place for her, it won't hurt our feelings to keep her, we know how well her bloodlines cross on ours! Just look at Leia, Kraken, Polaris, and Solo!

PM us for more information.

07/24/2025

Godiva has such nice foals. Her 2025 c**t, Polaris, is just so handsome! He’s going to make someone an incredible horse no matter what direction they choose to go with him.

You almost can't stand to look at him, he's so perfect! Cosmic Groove 2025 ASHDA Main Book Sugarbush Harlequin Draft c**t out of ASHDA Hall of Fame mare, Classic Dark Godiva and by ASHDA Approved Cross and ApHC/CRHA stallion, Medallionaire.

Polaris✨️ is UNDER CONTRACT! Contact us for information on our one remaining ASHDA filly if you'd like a horse of his breed.

07/16/2025

COOL SCIENCE (pun intended)!

An old myth wants us to believe that horses should be walked until they cool completely after exercise, even in the summer. However, a study from 2020 looked at five different ways to cool a horse after exercise: walking, walking with fans, walking with intermittent cold water application, walking with intermittent cold water application and scraping, and stationary with continuous tap water application. As it turns out, the method that resulted in the quickest return to normal body temperature was stationary with continuous tap water application (2 minutes), while walking alone took the longest time for recovery (25 minutes).

Bottom line: enjoy your rides in the sun this summer but remain vigilant for signs of heat stress in your horse. If they look tired, it’s time for a drink, a cool bath, and a break in the shade.
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Brough to you by the AAEP Horse Owner Education Committee.

07/03/2025

For horse owners in the United States, fireworks celebrations on the 4th of July can be distressing for horses. Here are some helpful tips to minimize their stress during this time. Thankfully, my horses have been desensitized to fireworks and gunfire over the years and stay relatively calm. I keep free choice hay in front of them to keep them occupied. Our well-lit property allows for regular checks on the horses after dark when fireworks are most intense.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July holiday weekend.

05/28/2025

A great opportunity to own a Godiva baby. Trinity Appaloosa Farm also has special considerations if he goes as a pair with their yearling ASHDA filly, Sugarbush Smokeshow (Puff), who is unrelated. It’s a fantastic opportunity for a breeding pair for someone looking to get a start with their very own breeding program with Sugarbush Harlequin Drafts.

Polaris✨️ comes by his moves honest! His best playmate is his mom, Godiva, who doesn't miss a chance to go out and buck and frolic with him (as long as she's not away from the buffet for too long!)

Polaris is our only 2025 ASHDA Main Book foal. Contact us for more information and for special considerations if he goes as a pair with Sugarbush Smokeshow, our unrelated yearling ASHDA filly!

05/23/2025

Whoever gets Polaris is going to be a very lucky person! He’s a very flashy, well put together c**t with some great movement. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!

05/07/2025

Just a little over 3 weeks left to take advantage of this opportunity to save 1/2 off on Improvement registration with ASHDA.

Don’t forgot, ASHDA is offering this big savings for Improvement registration!
If you have a horse that meets the requirements for Improvement registry, contact us for more details.
Through the end of May 2025, Spring Improvement Special is back! Get all of your registration materials in to save big! If you own a high quality draft or draft cross, you might just qualify! Contact us for more information!

Pictured is ASHDA Hall of Fame and 2025 National Reserve Champion Improvement mare, Classic Dark Godiva.

05/05/2025

Another Godiva baby killing it in the show ring! Congratulations to beautiful Leia and her breeder/owner, Bron Stark at Trinity Appaloosa Farm.