Has one or two horses put you off an entire breed?

dominobrown

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 March 2010
Messages
4,345
Location
North England
Visit site
I know you shouldn't think like that but I have been put off ID's, don't think I have ever met a nice one! (like tb X though).
Yet despite working with TB's (and been bitten, kicked etc), I like them over anything else, would never ever get another ID though! :o
Someone please enlighten me!
 
I have a dislike of Welsh Sec D's formulated in the last couple of years. The first experience of them i've had has not been great. I'd never have another on my yard.
 
No, but I do think reasonably fair generalizations can be made about breeds. I think its fair to say, for example that, generally speaking, welsh cobs aren't quiet cobs for novices and thoroughbreds have flat feet. Different breeds generally suit different jobs too.
 
Hahaha, it's funny isn't it?! Working with a couple of fab section Ds has made me a fan for life and two friend's TBs have made me decide you'd have to pay me to own one! When you think about it, it's rather silly but horses for courses and all that...

Incidently, owning one mare has put me off buying another one of those either, which is equally ridiculous!
 
not really, i think i would have been put of warmbloods, as i'd had really bad experiances with them, but then i bought my boy, and he's lovely, :D

i agree with Flame_ though; generalisations can be made and are normally corect :)
 
Now waiting for the thousands of posts saying I don't get on with Arabs :-)

That would be me lol, well not to ride anyway, I just can't get used to their gaits. I part share one and he's lovely to handle just can't ride him for toffee!!

I've had a couple of cobs on loan and ridden loads more, and we just don't gel so wouldn't have one again.

Love TBs and IDs
 
Nope, not at all dealt with many different horses of same breed and they are all different.
Each horse has its own personality and quirks and i think its unfair to judge a whole breed based on one or even a few bad experiences.

On previous livery yard my yo had a mare and 3 of her offspring all who were full brothers and sisters all were completely different characters even though they had been brought up from the very beggining with same owner.

Also have known some extremely laid back almost horizontal tb ex racers and complete mentalist of clydesdale x cob and then other extremes of each of those breeds. Owned a completely neurotic pain in the a**e of a sec d and then worked with 2 who were used by riding school and RDA

so i believe no its unfair to judge..
 
See if I find ID's numb and stubborn with a bargy streak, and TB's more responsive. Saying that I did hunt a TB this year, he was fine with other horses, but if he was by himself, he stopped out on a hack and wouldn't move, at all no matter what you did! Still like him though!!
 
I`ve always said i`d never own an arab or Tb, last July i became the proud owner of an arab x tb:D unbroken but well handled, she`s an abs dream to own, can shift and is proving to be a neat little jumper!
I have been put off Sec D`s but thats because my old welshie was a complete and utter nutcase!!! but i funnily want a Tb xWelsh...go figure:D
 
shame you are in the North of England as I think I could change your mind, my ID is the sweetest horse ever, he's like a big dog! I bought him as a just turned 4 year old 13 months ago and the poor thing has had about 10 months of that on box rest and never once has he been grumpy - this is him when in immense pain the day before his stifle op

henryjune3.jpg


Now Trakehners are another matter, I don't like them! first one I had tried to kill me and any one else that got on him. Vowed I would never get on another let alone buy another, but I did as he was in a horrific dealers yard and felt sorry for him. He was a lovely horse but we never really gelled and his movement knackered my back! He is now on loan to someone on here and they have gelled perfectly and hope he has a home for life with her. Beautiful animals but I love my ID and IDx. Sorry I hope I haven't given you knightmares!!

Oh and I can't stand mares either!!
 
Now waiting for the thousands of posts saying I don't get on with Arabs :-)

MEEE!:D never got on with anything with an ounce of arab in. They are one of those breeds that I think look beautiful from a distance and take my hat off to anyone who rides one. But all the ones I've met have been very flighty not always in the running away way more in them just being fickle.
'I like you' ...'no I don't' ...'weeeee here we go wild and free'....'ah a plastic bag'
And one tried to kick me in the head with no explanation only ever once though, wierd!
I can't say I like stable horses just ones whose mind is made up of what they are scared of not something differant everyday.
But again I've only had experience with about ten ish arabs and crosses and am sure it was a dodgy sample.
I have always got on with welshes especially section D. But they are like marmite.
 
I think that some horses of whichever breed deserve their stereotypes and I have seen the best and worst in quite a few.

Of course there will always be the exceptions to the rule. We have the dopiest chestnut mare and kindest TB on the planet, but we also have a naughty little Section B, a bordering lunatic Sec Dx TB and sharp, whizzy little cob who is definitely NOT a novice ride. Oh, now I think back to Shils' thread, perhaps our cob is actually the norm... (see?)

What more gets to me is people who are deeply affronted by generalisations and will not accept what is often a very accurate overview. Note that I put often, not always!


I may well go and see an animal with an open mind but healthy respect for the often observed breed traits. Well, it's either that or only go to look at those of very indeterminate breeding and unknown/unfathomable parentage. Then you will have no idea what to expect from it at all!

Ask your farrier about 'x' breed and see what they have to say as they are often on the sharp end of things!
 
Yes ISH. I know Irish horses are meant to be the best in the world. I really wanted one and I trialled 3 to buy. They were all really strong for some reason, even though they were each quite different, they were just all really strong to canter and out hacking.. I felt really unsafe! They were also quite twitchy but in a weird way, like they were absolutly fine untill they decided they didn't like something or couldn't cope and then they just would not play ball.
I tried a TB after that (after I had decided I didn't want one) and it was a breath of fresh air, so light and easy to ride. I only had to *think* canter and they will canter or I just have to slightly close my fingers and they stop or slow down... Not for everybody but bliss for me! I love their sensitivity. I also find them much more malleable and adaptable. The Irish horses I tried were very disclipline specfic and they really didn't want to do anything else. Those were just the horses I tried though.
I really wouldn't go out specifcally looking for an Irish horse now, I've had throughbreds and a welshxarab that were better horses. Not to say I wouldn't not try an Irish horse to buy, I just wouldn't pick a horse because of it's breed, as someone mentioned they are all such individuals
 
I have what my old instructor calls a 'cold bottom!' :P I tend to calm horses down rather than fire them up (that would be a 'hot bottom'), so I tend to get on well with hotter horses and therefore love arabs, thoroughbreds, anglo arabs, welsh cobs etc...

The other thing to bear in mind is that I am short and anything over 16hh completely overhorses me so big Irish Draughts, massive warmbloods etc... do not suit me.
 
Its worked the opposite way with me!!
I've been riding my YO's horses (all IDs) and I didn't particularly dislike IDs before but the few I've been riding have completely changed my perception of them they're lovely, strong, all rounder horses with big characters!! Very responsive, a bit looky and sometimes spooky (which keeps me on my toes, not necessarily a bad thing!) but the one thing I DO find with IDs is that once they've found something they like they'll do that over and over and throw a paddy if they have to do something different!!
I've never really had a bad experience with any one particular breed...but every dartmoor or dartmoor X I've got on has rodeoed like a good'un!!!
 
Last edited:
Now waiting for the thousands of posts saying I don't get on with Arabs :-)

:D

Peruvian Pasos. Nothing against their nature, in fact I know, and have ridden, some very sweet ones, I just find them physically unattractive, from the way they look to the way they move.
 
Ha ha Dartmoors! As well as rodeoing when being ridden if she objected to something, a little mare we had used to show her disapproval on the ground by rearing up and waving her perfectly formed little feet at me until I understood she was absolutely not going to do whatever she was being asked to do.

Warmblood mares and I don't get on. At all. Never again.

I agree with the comments about Irish horses, our two are both strong cross country and can have moments when either they stubbornly refuse point blank to do something they can't see the point of (dressage / having rugs put on) or throw a complete wobbly if something unexpected happens (bicycles and motorbikes appearing randomly). One of them sulks if he doesn't get to do jumping or XC very frequently. It doesn't put me off them - you just get used to expecting them to be like that.
 
The other thing to bear in mind is that I am short and anything over 16hh completely overhorses me so big Irish Draughts, massive warmbloods etc... do not suit me.

Totally with you on this:) I like short horses that I can actually groom/tack up etc without having to stand on a bucket to reach their backs;) I am size-ist, I admit it, I won't take anything over 16h as a Boarder.
 
Warmbloods. I'd never have another. IMO they are opinionated under-saddle and lack bravery. Obviously this isn't the case with a lot of them but I just dislike them having had one (although he was an absolute sweetie) and watched plenty! Would much rather choose something TB or Iberian instead. Love Welsh D's too but they're opinionated in a good way ;)
 
I freely admit to being fickle. Have been put off Welsh D's after riding the most hidiously behaved one for several months before holding up my hands and saying enough. Also have never ever got on with Arabs or Arab crosses - I don't end to get on well with sensitive horses - I'm a bit too "pull / kick" for that and used to ride an Anglo-Arab that I didn't get on with at all. We currently have a 3 year old Arab on my livery yard and I will freely admit to being terrified of him. If it's wide as a bus and hairy I'm in! Or if it's Irish and a bit dense - I love it. The only anomally to this is TBs which I quite like but still can't really ride! I think I'll stick to my Fell pony! :)
 
Sorry not read all the thread. However, after both my husband and I were kicked by the same Highland Pony I said NEVER. I actually own a fab. HP gelding who is a joy to ride. I am pleased I overcame my prejudice.

Read the CB thread and see what my lovely Shagya mare did to me.

SO. NO I don't ever judge a breed by one experience there are plenty of folk around who can ruin a young horse - even those who think they know what they are doing.
 
I know it's wrong to judge an entire breed by a few horses, but I've never got on with Haflingers. The first pony I ever had was a haflinger, and instead of being sensible and calm like the breed is meant to be, she was strong, moody, very nervous and had a nice trick of bucking everyone off ;) Since then I've had friends who've owned Haflingers, and have all had similar problems with bad behaviour and bolshiness. I'm sure most haflingers are lovely horses, I've probably just been unlucky in meeting the few exceptions!
 
I'm sorry if anyone finds it offensive....but Haflingers!
I hate them with a passion. I spent a year with one and it was the longest year of my life. She did nothing I asked her, she showed me up at every oppurtunity and she broke nearly every bone in my body!!!
I wouldn't have one for all the tea in China!
ID's on the other hand. I'd sell my soul for an ID or an IDxTB
 
Top