Judging a pony by its cover

I stay clear of WB and TB's never owned a full Arab but one of my boys is Welsh/Arab and he is an absolute saint, I love Welshies and one day hope to have an Irish
 
I've had pretty much everything over 50 years of horse ownership and training, and have seldom met a horse I haven't liked BUT, after having Spanish horses, I'll never keep anything else.
 
Having had a bad experience with a very highly strung connie, I wouldn't have another (apologies to all connie owners out there!).

Pure bred Arabs also don't float my boat either, although I can see their appeal.
 
Only breed I wouldn't consider is standardbred. Did get one for my learner partner however and he's great for him but def not sporty enough for me and resale market is bad.
 
Hmmm? I don't think I have any? I'm trying to think of anything I'd discount but really I'm not sure there is...
I have a little stocky/cobby Sufolk x Connie gelding, who, although I love him dearly, is nothing to look at... At all! However he's my 'wow' ride he never disappoints, I love how suprised people are when they ride him!:)
My Chestnut Anglo Arab mare is the opposite, absolutely stunning, but the sort of horse you have to learn how to ride, almost a one trick pony, but that's okay, it's one if the reasons I bought her:) I have two very different horses, but I have them for the horse they are, not there breed colour of appearance:)
I know lots of horses, from a sharp Ardennes that will jump 4ft with ease to a 'ploddy' thoroughbred you'd trust with you gran? I used to be a little bit picky about colour and appearance, but after meeting my boy, I just think..
'Imagine what you might of missed out on, imagine if you missed out on the pony of a life time because don't like bays, or they weren't striking enough!?'
Everyone different but I couldn't let that potential opportunity pass:) anyone agree?
 
I realise now that I would only ever have a native. I know that sounds awful but I like low maintenance and also I don't like riding anything over 15hh.

I am no spring chicken so Wide is good (harder to fall off) and Small is good ( not so far to fall)...

if I had shorter legs and weighed 4 stone less I would be fighting my 8 year old for her Welsh B (thought that one does admittedly fail the Wide test and is very whizzy).
 
I've ridden, known and owned a wide selection of horses over the years and I really couldn't exclude any breed. For riding, I probably like WB X TB's most, but as characters to have around the place, I like cobs, shires and little naughty native ponies.
Don't have a clue what my next horse will be.
 
I really quite suprised alot of you have said no Tbs or Wbs, I have a Tb & he is fantastic only ever rode Tbs & Wbs all of them have been great, comfty & would of loved to of owned them, I once owned a Sec C Mare & she was a nightmare only mare i have ever owned, I have a dartmoor on loan & he is a nightmare too, Got chucked off a new forest when i was little all time & rode a cob mare once in a riding school about 15 times & see was horried you had to kick loads to get her to go anywhere & was so uncomfy, so i would only ever buy Tb or Wb never anything else as never had a good experience.

Anything else is too small im used to 17hh mostly sometimes 16.2
 
Would never have a tb, just don't like them. Never met a warmblood that isn't always hurting its self, I have a ISH (connie x irish riding pony) and a Cornish Cob. Both clever, forward, flashy movement and the ISH always beats the big flash wb's and tb's he competes against. If it's bigger that 15.2hh tops then it doesn't even catch my attention. Chestnuts with no white, bays, palominos and more white than colour coloureds don't appeal to me either
 
As the current owner of a full Welsh D... let's just say I wouldn't be rushing out to get another one (he makes my brain hurt sometimes trying to keep even half a step ahead of him and he's quite a mild version!), also not a fan of very fine horses as I have a fear of squishing them (I like chunky little native creatures). Oh yeah and if I can't mount it from the ground then I'm not interested :)
 
I would never have a cob or anything heavy again. I have an ID and a Highland atm and find the weight watching hard work, my TB is so much easier to keep.

I don't like coloureds and would never buy a grey due to the melanoma risk and the plain old hassle of white hair on everything.

I have three mares so would look for another mare as I really prefer them.

I think horses are a huge commitment and mine have been with me for 14 and 15 years so when I get another I want it to be the breed, colour and sex I like as well as temperament and think it's worth taking the time to find exactly what I want as it'll be a lifelong commitment.
 
The only thing I would discount are blue eyes.

A TB is possibly the best ride in the world! We currently have three Sec Ds, all very different, a WB cross (poss cross shetland as his legs are so short!) and a Dratmoor pony who is a little angel with baby grandson.

I wouldnt be governed by looks or colour... I *know* when I meet a horse I want to own regardless.
 
Used to ride this little stubby legged common as muck coloured cob, Sammy.When I first saw him I thought I would hate him.Five minutes on his back and I was in love!.
 
I really like my cobs but would never say no to a horse because of breed or colour. The lady who rides my heavy cob, Ffin , over the winter is a TB person through and through, however she told me recently that she felt ffin was the horse of lifetime, that she had never ridden a cob like him. Aalthough I do not like a wall eye it would not be a deal breaker for me and as for dismissing an animal because it has blue eyes.......how silly.
 
Show me a horse and I'll love it.

They all have something to offer, but, like dogs, I choose a horse that's best for what I want to do with it.
 
Always planned to have a TB/ID, preferably dark bay. Definitely didn't want a hairy coloured. On my second one now ;). However, chosen for being fit for my plans, rather than for what he looks like, although I am starting to be fond of the two-tone forelock even if not of the scabby, greasy legs and the largely white body.
 
I'd never go for a HW type or a TB, both not my cup of tea.

I've always been very much into my iberians, and currently have an andy x arab. I don't think I'd have anything but an Iberian now.
 
I wouldn't have anything tall, now that I am getting on a bit and losing my spring. I've got a 13.2 pony now and that I can just about manage to get on from the ground if I have to.
 
confirmedponyaddict said:
Are there any types/breeds/colours of horses you wouldn't touch with a ten foot pole? I like to think I'm quite open minded but having owned two welsh part breds in the last couple of years I've decided I will stay away from anything welsh in the future! They are strong willed, hysterical and needy (they are also talented, good looking and rewarding) but I just can't cope with the spooking!
I also tend to avoid warmbloods like the plague as well but there have been some I enjoy riding, just wouldn't want to own (accident prone!).
So my question is- what are your horsey prejudices?
Click to expand...

Haha 8 months ago and as long ago as 6 years I was saying exact same thing. Had several welshies and they were just too much work, at the very least you always have to be one step ahead of them

Also a 100% gelding person, least favourite colour chestnut

So when horse shopping 6 months ago
What did I buy??

:):) a welsh cob chestnut mare !!!

And she is a complete saint and by far the easiest horse I've ever ever ridden, handled or mucked out

However I really wouldn't have a big thick set coloured cob even more if it was mostly white
 
I had a grey idx mare she was a dream, i now have a grey cob gelding if im honest ive always had a soft spot for cobs :)
 
I always said I'd never have a mare, always had boys. Also said I wasn't keen on greys for practical cleaning reasons!
I now have a grey mare and wouldn't sell her for a million pounds. Love her to pieces! I still stand by the fact that I don't like mares and she is my exception though ;) She is a welshie though and I've always loved them, had a few and they have always been so much fun.
 
I have a dislike of heavy/hairy horses personally. I've never owned one, nor even gone to view one.
I am sure they are lovely people though.
Again, never had a TB either and wouldn't buy one.

I do however have two cobxarabs as it's my favourite cross. I love the mixture of the two. Middle weight with a spark (both skewbald as it's my favourite also).

- I've recently decided I will not buy another mare. Geldings all the way.
 
Riding school horses probably aren't going to be the greatest ambassadors for their respective breeds, but I have found that I don't get on with natives at all. I find them very frustrating to ride. Nothing under 16hh either- partly because I sit a bigger horses movements better, partly because I cannot stand having any part of my leg dangling below the horses belly, and partly because I'm still very much an infant who enjoys being high up.

No normal/light bay, grey or normal/excessively marked tobiano, as I think it's unattractive. Nothing with an unattractive head and nothing very fine or cobby. I'm pretty vain and horses are expensive, so I reserve the right to be fairly picky :P
 
I wouldn't rule a horse out completely but I be put off by traditional cobs - I couldn't maintain long feathers and I'm picky on colour markings I like them different to the stand gypsy look, full tb just a bit fine for my liking, and ugly horses...

Re Arabs living out I used to look after 20+ Arabs who lived out 24/7 in Cumbria on just grass and they loved it, some even looked too good.
 
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