Has a horse you have owned totally changed the type of horses you go for?

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Hovis_and_SidsMum

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Pre Hovis days I loved sleek shiny muscled beasties. Not a feather in sight - your typcial warmblood etc type.
Then I got Hovis - not what I was looking for at all but worth his considerable weight in gold.
Now I find myself looking at feathery types all the time. I'm working in scotland at the moment and the number of shire and clydesdale foals I am seeing is amazing. Yesterday I was out with one of the lads and I joked could we stop and kidnap one particular foal who was a small babyish version of Hovis right down to his colouring. The lad laughed and said it was not his type - he thought the sleek shiny warmblood in the next field was nicer.
This morning I was stood watching Hovis and Pride together and whilst I know Hovis is my baby (thus I am biased!) I still found myself thinking that despite Prides good looks, talent etc I still thought Hovis was a more striking looking horse. That said our new yard owner is besotted with Pride and barely glances at Hovis!
So have you totally changed how you view horses in so far as the "type" you go for? Was it because of a horse you have owned or just something that you have changed your view on over the years?
 
Yes, I know what you mean. When I lost my dear old boy (a bay) - I took advice and thought I'd go for something completely different, and have always fancied a Palomino, so that's what I went to see, had on trial etc., but it was not to be ....

Eventually, dunno how I did it!!! but I ended up with a hairy-heeled walking hearthrug, traditional piebald gypsy cob, who's got a moustache and a hairy muzzle, and I love him to bits. I'd never, ever considered a "heavy" horse, or a coloured horse to be honest, but now I can't ever imagine having any other horse.
 
Absolutely! I'd ride anything as a kid not really bothered, did like my Welshes though. After 13years of nagging, pleading and begging my folks finally gave in and said YES! you can have a ponio. Bought the only one I looked at (I was excited:) and he was a Pure bred Arab and hadn't been ridden for a year! Best £500 I ever spent:) after 21 years together he celebrates his 31st on Monday. The baby I bought a few years ago is Anglo Arab. Not only is my preference Arab, but specifically the Crabbets, I'm hooked, Love Em!
 
Yes totally. I used to have a flashy well bred WB with international Olympic SJ bloodlines. Never again.Absolute ****** who I gave away and haven't once missed.

I now have a cob x foalie who I bought with a friend as a seller on and she's a diamond.

In terms of looks i'm very shallow in that I do like good looking flashy horses but if I ever bought for me again it would be something saner.
 
Yes, all I would ever buy a horse now is for SAFETY..dont care what the colour is, looks etc. I had the most stunning 16.3hh Sports horse that was cold backed. I had to lunge him before I could get on. To be honest it totally put me off riding. He would just 'explode' some days.

My daughter now wants her own riding pony/horse and if we did buy one it be based on safety alone. Age etc unimportant.
 
I was a bit of wuss and always pictured myself on something ploddy and safe. I also wanted something over 16hh since I am pushing 6 foot! My perfect ideal would be a 16.2 IDx that was safe and easy.

How on earth did I end up with a 14.3hh whizzy argy tb??!! However, I trust her 100% and love her to bits. The thing is, she is not a novice ride by any means. She is joggy and fizzy and it took me 18 months to get on her without her rushing off with me hanging off the side. However she is SO honest. Yes she is a pain and a bit of a madam sometimes but she will try her heart out for you :D I am, admittedly a bit lanky on her, but she doesn't seem to mind!
 
I have always had Part Bred Arabs with the exception of a British warmblood I backed and sold. I was always into showing and sold my last PBA last summer.

Oddly I have now bought a TB ex racer! I am hopefully going to rehab her into a dressage diva! (fingers crossed!).
 
I have no idea how on earth I came to own a thoroughbred.

When I first met Hens his neck was upside down, his head was too big and he was just a nice sweet horse nothing at all special he was just honest. I can’t believe the change in him, he’s gone from ‘meh to WOW and I can’t believe how lucky I am. The little kid inside of me thinks it’s amazing to own a horse that looks like the big eventers I used to see at Badminton and never ever dreamed I would own.

Previously I used to be a cob lover! Now I’m all about trimming and pulling.
 
Yep, me too, the two in my sig are my previous horses, the chestnut TB 16.1hh (had her for over 12 years) and the bay i had on loan for about 8 months 16.3 ex racer. always gone for bigger TB types (i'm 5'10").

Now however i have my lovely skewbald cobx 15.1 (just) and i love her to pieces, i now find myself looking at cobby/coloured/native types not exceeding 16hh. although i loved my old chestnut girl, i dont think i've ever had as much fun with horses as i do with the coblet!
 
when i was looking for a horse, i had this idea that i would buy myself a solid feathery coloured dependable cob, what i ended up with is a lanky giant standardbred x and i wouldnt be without him i would definately look for another
 
I've had a Welsh D for the last 6 years and in the times I've browsed it's always been welshy's that have caught my eye/I'd have wanted to try. However since starting to ride a couple of ex-racers I fear I'm becoming a convert...help?!
 
I always wanted a welsh D or heavy cob type.

I ended up with a little arab who has turned his hoof to every task I have put infront of him. He is always honest, never scary and tries his heart out every time.

I would definately have another arab!
 
I adored my friends eventer (arab x dwb) who was the first horse I ever sat on and if I had not been about to go through my hysterectomy I would have definitely bought her (if her current owner- then loaner hadn't).

When looking to buy,I wanted an ID x gelding, age,colour immaterial. Ended up with a greener than a twig white and blue 6yo Irish cob mare. She has taught me so much, patience mainly, but I would not be without her for the world. Cobs just weedle their way into your heart and with their big characters matching their big feet I can't ever see me looking at any other type of horse. :D
 
Yup, I was looking for a cob x having had a clydesdale x on loan.... ended up buying a green ex racer :)

She has completly changed my view of TBs. When I first saw her I thought 'ahhh she looks very fizzy', however when I rode her she was the steadyest, kindest horse I'd ever ridden :) I've owned her for 4 months now and she has been perfect in everyway :)

It's a sad misconception that all TBs are 'scary to ride'. I admit some are pretty loopy, however the majority are inteligent, kind, fun horses that can be trusted completly.
 
I have done a couple of about turns! Started out with hairy cobs, especially coloureds, which I used to look after/loan as a kid/early teens from a riding school! Then I got the chance to buy, and had a 15.3hh chestnut russian trakhener! Then after uni wanted something to compete as mare had ongoing soundness issues and ended up with an arab gelding, mainly because he was available to loan at the right time and was the right size! Ended up buying him and now had 7 fantastic years with hopefully many to come....always said would have at least 50% arab in any future horses - then bought Roo for my OH and he lost interest so now also have a 16.2hh and still growing scottish sports horse! (ID x KWPN). And love him too! So have decided never to stereotype, and if I do ever have cause to look for other horses remember its the personality and attitude than counts, the breed/type isn't that relevant to me really!
 
For years I was into TBs and then my Hann x TB - beautiful horses, joy to view.

Then I rode a gypsy cob. She was such fun, lively but you felt so safe on her compared to my Hann x TB - Fleur was talented but quirky.

Andy was riding Cairo - for him it was love at first sight, and ever since, the only horese he wants is a sabino clydesdale, no more than 17 hands, hence Farra is a near perfect replacement.

I now love hairy horses, I do occasionally look at the TB types, but now honestly say a good gypsy cob with all that hair flowing is my horse of choice, ditto the clydesdale - both are horsey magnets to us.

Funny enough, we find at shows that so many people come over to admire our two large hairy monsters, far more than when I had the TBs.
 
Absolutely.

I have a young Spanish horse and what I really want is a 'binthereanddunitall' Welsh cob.... still can't believe it's happening. Doesn't look good for Spanish.
 
My first horse was a native, then I moved on to WBs and WBxs but I'm now back to natives :) I've got a wonderful Highland mare and I love her so much that I'm on the hunt for another Highland, just because I'm greedy and want two special ponies.
 
Yep...I've always had native Ponies and loved New Forests, and only geldings. When I started thinking about another horse i had a coloured cob in mind, had two on trial that werent quite right, then my friend bought Milly, 16.1hh very green chestunt DWBx ID mare, and fell pregnant so decided to sell her.....fell head over heels in love with her and havent looked back since! Totally love her and now don't just think all WBs are stupid, Milly is the clever est horse i have ever owned. Still like vanner cobs and if i come into some money would still buy one as a second horse but i am definately a fancy WB convert!!
 
Yup, after my first one was pts, I decided I wanted something totally different so I wouldn't be able to compare them as I didn't think it'd be fair on the new one. So ... no youngsters, no coloureds, no cobs.

Ended up with a mad snorting 8yo TBX, who's an absolute nutter and not the type of horse I would have ever considered before, and I absolutely love him to pieces. Anything else is boring or just not nippy enough :)
 
I always wanted a dun or buckskin cob or native and I love white faces and stockings so Fudge really is my dream horse in that respect.

I also had a thing about chestnut PBA mares before I got Lady.

These days I would go for anything that is easy to handle and a quiet but responsive ride however I still love gypsy cobs and natives.
 
After having a TB then an Anglo Arab, I decided I wanted something a bit more 'hardy' so I got a TB x Shire, she was fantastic. Forward going but sane and we went everywhere, sadly she was PTS and my next horse was a TB x Shire X ID. Ive had him 8 yrs now and hes an irrational wreck :(:D. If I ever get another horse its going to be a warmblood or a Welsh Sec D, always fancied a nice hopefully safe cob!
 
Yes....my last horse was a very complicated thoroughbred. Lovely but kept me on my toes....I've now got children and am keeping half an eye open for something safe but fun so my daughter will end up able to ride it and enjoy. i know longer want one that's going to set the world alight with looks or talent.
 
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