RATHDRUM — When Charlie the draft horse wasn’t impatiently stamping his huge hoof or perking up his mighty ears to investigate a far-off noise, he seemed to be eavesdropping on a conversation.

The 1-ton, 17-hand-high stout equine, accented with blond mane and tail, nudged against Joy Crupper’s shoulder Wednesday afternoon in front of her barn as she and her longtime friend, Karleen Meyer, talked about how they came to be so fond of the colossal breed.

“They’re a much milder animal than a saddle horse,” Meyer said.

“The ‘gentle giant’ really applies,” Crupper added. “They take things much more in stride.”

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