Dales,Fell or Traditional?

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fallingstar

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Hi all.
I have decided to bite the bullet and buy a new horse. My 14hh new forest is coming up 20 now and although still well has several health problems which mean hes only really suitable for hacking out now (dont all panic by the way,im still keeping him as well)

I want a youngster (ideally a foal to a 2 year old) My best horsey friend has her BHS stage 4 and shows and competes so plently of help will be available from that end.
I want something i can show inhand and then in ridden classes when old enough. Also something that can hack,pop a jump and generally be an all round riding pony. I like my ponies with a bit of spirit about them as well,nothing too ploddy!

However i am having a dilemma over what to go for! I love my native ponies and want something thats going to be no bigger than 14.2hh when grown. Im only 5,4 and 8 ish stone so im fairly small. I adore dales ponies but my horsey friend has just bought a stunning 4 year old gelding and as we are planning to show them together im worried we will end up going head to head all the time and it could prove akward if one keeps beating the other!
Ive considered a fell as they are lovely as well but we might still end up in the same classes.
Thirdly i do adore traditional coloured cobs so that is another option,at least we wouldnt end up in the same classes in most instances. Im just a bit concerned about how good they are as all round riding ponies as i dont really know anyone who has one. Round my neck of the woods its all 16.2hh warmbloods and im considered odd for prefering ponies!

I should add that im a total showing novice and also on a very limited budget for buying!

So Dales,fell or traditional? what do you all think?
 
I have a cob and he's the best thing I have ever sat on!!

I've done more with him than any other horse I've had. They are brill allround ponies, he can do dressage, showing, we've even started jumping and playing at XC. So I would vote for a cob :D

No compeating with your friend either if you get cob.
 
Take a look at local show schedules around your area. Up here there are very few classes for traditionals ridden, and I've never seen one in-hand. I think you'll find a lot more classes for an m&m than a traditional, but it might be worth researching.

Depending a little on how you are proportioned, you may find yourself a little too tall for some of the smaller fell ponies. I'm only 5.2, and whilst she can carry my weight fine I feel a little long in the leg for my sister's.
 
For me it would have to be a Fell. I had a gorgeous Fell mare, bought from a semi-feral herd as a 7 year old. Despite her age and background she was very easy to break in, she had an amazing gentle nature but was a forward going ride, more than happy to jump. She was stunning and I loved her to bits and would have another one in a flash if I could. They really are beautiful to look at and very kind. And quite an endangered breed so you'd be doing your bit for the rare breeds! Good Luck with your search.
 
A combo of all 3?! My pony is supposedly Fell x Dales, but I'm sure there's some traditional cob in there and he is AWESOME :) We have done local showing, jumping, dressage, handy pony, hacking, sponsored rides, XC schooling.
 
Nice big solid traditional :p haha. There'll be plenty of showing for it ;)

Why not just have a browse around and try them all, then decide on which ones you feel best suited?
 
Well I have a traditional coloured 15hh pony. He jumps a 3ft course (would go higher if I werent a wimp!), can do ridden classes and in hand showing (not my thing anymore but used to be very sucessful when I was interested!) and is affiliated BD with over 50 points at novice/elem - hope to compete aff medium next year.

So they really are versitile chaps!!!

BUT - take heed - a hairy takes a lot of work if you want to show... you cant always wash the feathers when you want too because you will cause issues with mud fever/scabby legs and the hair will fall out if you brush it too much!

Good luck with your search!!!

p.s. I think the Pferde studd has a stunning coloured stallion.... he always produces lovely coloured traditionals! :)
 
It would be a Dales for me, they have such lovely temperaments, a friend of mine breeds them, they've done inhand showing, ridden, they hack, jump, easy to turn out, the perfect allrounder!
 
Thanks for all the replies so far.

I hadnt considered the possibility that classes might be limited for a traditional (as i say im a total showing novice) So i will definately have to have a look into that. No point having a nice horse and nowhere to take him!

Ive ridden my friends new Dales several times and he is fab to sit on and beautiful to look at! Just dont want to end up competing against her if i got one. Although if i got a baby and hers is 4 now they will be in different classes anyway in a lot of instances.

Concerned a fell might be slightly too small as the maximum hight is 14hh and a lot seem to be smaller than that. I havent got really long legs but they arent that short either. My new forest just scrapes 14hh and i think my legs look slightly long on him. Although i guess fells are chunkier and my legs will have more body to stretch around! They are stunning little ponies though.

The agony of choice eh? I can think of worse dilemmas to be faced with though!
 
I think you should choose the horse that you want that suits you best and not worry about your friend. I'm sure it would be fine even if you do end up competing against each other.

Personally if I was short enough I'd have a M&M rather than a traditional as there are far more classes. Breed classes, general M&M classes, both ridden and in hand, and normally workers too.

I would also consider that a traditional can be up to 15.1hh so if you got a 14.2hh it would look pretty small in the show ring which might work against it in the line up. But if you got a bigger one you wouldn't be able to do pony classes.

Also fells and dales are generally black and therefore much easier to keep clean than a coloured!

If you are really worried about competing against your friend you could consider some other larger natives. Maybe a section C, a highland or a connie? All good all rounders.

Or *whispers* what about an arab? Plenty of nice ones at about 14.2 they have their own showing classes, don't need plaiting, are good doers and hardy like a native, have good feet, carry plenty of weight, are good allrounders with plenty of personality and are very very pretty!
 
coloured cob all the way =) I have two, one thats now like 20 and a 1yr old, both have so much character and my older mare will still do anything, not a plod but behaves as well, jumps, cross country, gallops full pelt accross the beach, shows and gets plenty of firsts, and she has one heck of a jump on her i might add. I think its more how you work with cob now a days, if its really fit and well worked most will do anything you as of them, they are so willing and lovely temperaments, especially my youngster, think he's the best horse I've ever owned :) so get one !!!!! haha (I might add that I love a good Fell as well, but it has a to be a good one, =D ) xx
 
My mare is a Coloured Native (Dales X) and she is beautiful. She is bang on 14.2hh. Locally, there are loads of classes for her, including BSPA qualifiers and PUK qualifiers.

Because she is a coloured native as apposed to a trad cob, there is not so much feather, but keeping white feather clean in winter is a bit more work than dark feather. Also, she has a white tail......If you want a white tail to remain white, ensure it is attached to a gelding who won't pee into his tail!!!!! They stain a lovely tobacco yellow and need a lot of work to keep white.

Anyway. A Black and White Dales Pony might be what you are after. :D

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Highland :P

Sorry couldn't resist, I think they are awesome.

Dales are lovely too and I do like Trad Cobs but I think dales/highland types are a little more versatile than the fully up to weight cobs.

(hides and dons flack jacket in protection for cob lovers flames)
 
My 14.2 Traditional Coloured Cob does everything!

Showing, Dressage, Show Jumping, X-country ( 2.9!!), TREC and is a brilliant hack.

showing wise there are tons of classes out there! - coloured classes/cob classes/traditional classes - CHAPS-BPSA -

He's the most versatile all rounder that I know!
 
I've Ridden dales and fells in the past and found them fabulous little devils, i'm tall 5'9 and have foiund them to ride big and carry me well as i normally feel unbalanced on ponies and stick to hunter type monsters. They were both great all round fun ponies i found them forward going and my dales jumped 3'6-4ft without any trouble and really enjoyed it.
Pick the horse you like most don't worry about competing against your friend if your good friends a bit of friendly rivelray won't hurt, if am going to loose i'd rather it be to my well deserving friend than some stranger :-)
Also found both breeds to be very bold and confident neither were ever silly and so laid back without being lazy plods, hardy good doers as well both were barefoot but i don't do much road work and didnt take much feeding
 
For me it is the gypsy cob and they come in all sizes from 12.2 to 16 hands but the majority are around the 13.2 - 14.2 mark. You can show them as an adult in pony classes. Mine is coloured so I can do also do coloured classes on him, I also do workers where they allow hairies in.

He is capable of jumping 3'3, and will go a bit higher, but that is enough for me. He is fearless when jumping and also does a nice dressage test. He is a true all round fun little horse and gives pleasure to all sorts of riders. I plan to hunt him next year and start some XC for fun.

The feather takes some work, but Dales and Fells are both very hairy - they gypsy cob was developed from these breeds plus the clydesdale and shire. I love the hair and winter is easy, cover in P&S weekly and forget about the legs until the spring unless showing - or buy a solid colour without any white!

My lad is going on 15.1 and fairly substantial, but this suits me even though I am 5' as I far prefer to have a lot of horse under me - more to hang onto if it goes wrong.

They have very kind natures, very clever and you do have to keep on top of them with regard to the rules or they will take advantage, but never in a nasty way.
 
Previously, I would have said a traditional cob, however I've been converted into a huge Fell fan. I would research the breeds and try to find out what classes would be available to you should you want to show or jump.
Attending stud open days or breed shows can also be a very good way to get a feel for a breed.

My Fell pony is a true confidence giving all-rounder who will go all the way in the M&M show ring, both ridden and in-hand and will also do workers as well as being a fun hack, enjoying jumping, being able to produce a lovely dressage test and also being quiet enough to be ridden by nervous, novices or children.
 
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I have to say Dales, especially if pockets not too deep as really good Connies command a high price tag. I am biased as I have two of them and they are really laid back, easy to handle but still sparky when necessary.
 
I adore Dales and Fells if I had to choose between the 2 a Dales pony would just get the edge. However, I own a coloured heavyweight traditional and he's gorgeous but more hard work to keep clean than a Dales or Fell would be. If you don't want to compete againist your friend in shows then I would go for a traditional.
 
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