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["Robert Walton" <waltonrp AT gmail.com>]

Does a draft horse need to be shod if working on dirt, not pavement?
What about a gravel road?

I'm going to have a little extra pasture next year and am thinking
about adding a horse. I've been looking around and have seen a few
older mares at decent prices. People are wanting to get rid of
pleasure horses with the bad economy, so I'm thinking it might be the
time to buy here soon. Preferably now while they are having to feed
hay.

Would I be crazy to think that I could start out with a over 15 year
mare and bring her into heat and have her AI-ed (if I can't find a
stallion) and grow my own replacement? I would probably start out
having the horse help out with harvesting some firewood and maybe
pulling a cart.

I do have experience with horses, I can break for riding, etc. I can
do all the farrier work except shoeing.

Rob - Va