Looking at breeds to make a good family horse?

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BoggyGirl

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Like loads of people I watched the Clydesdale film the other week and was really taken with them.

I have an elderly horse and a pony which is my daughters. I was thinking about another horse for when she retires.

As I don't actually probably need the horse for a year or two I then thought about getting a youngster and bringing it on in the meanwhile. I have done this before so do know what I am taking on.

I don't want a world beater at all. Something with a good temperament for a bit of everything but mostly a nice person. I had looked at Highlands but I am tall (5"10) although not heavy and don't want to feel enormous. I like the Clydesdales but perhaps that is total overkill the other way.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Something more on the native side in terms of being less hard work to keep and chunky? I like the idea of something that could be shown. I know they are all individuals but the nature is really key here. I have had a lot of Warmbloods/ Tb's etc and that isn't what I am looking for these days.

Wondering if anyone can suggest anything I haven't thought of?
 
I've had ISH and cob/ sports horses (and the odd TB) but recently i have got myself a RID and i have to say i am blown away by his temperament, calmness and versatility. Not to mention the bone, i cant stop looking at his legs, he has about 10inch of bone, lol! He comes from very old school ID breeding and ive been told by everyone who sees him that you dont see them around like him too often anymore, he is a real traditional stamp.

He's my allrounder and trust me when i say i will be teaching him to take the chain harrow behind him to harrow the fields this spring, lol!
 
Highlands are so versatile, and will take up your leg, and in my experience they ride bigger than they are. A full up 14.2 would be great. Especially as you are looking at buying from the breeder, so you can make sure that they are kept lean, and trained well. They are cheap to keep (but can be a challenge if your grazing is too rich, as they are such good do-ers). And they are pretty.
 
McFluff said:
Highlands are so versatile, and will take up your leg, and in my experience they ride bigger than they are. A full up 14.2 would be great. Especially as you are looking at buying from the breeder, so you can make sure that they are kept lean, and trained well. They are cheap to keep (but can be a challenge if your grazing is too rich, as they are such good do-ers). And they are pretty.
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That could be the solution! I wanted something that isn't huge compared to the pony too as we will be riding together. Maybe this might be a good place to look. I will contact a few. I guess finding such a big one might be tricky. I couldn't find any over 13.3h.
 
Scotsbadboy said:
I've had ISH and cob/ sports horses (and the odd TB) but recently i have got myself a RID and i have to say i am blown away by his temperament, calmness and versatility. Not to mention the bone, i cant stop looking at his legs, he has about 10inch of bone, lol! He comes from very old school ID breeding and ive been told by everyone who sees him that you dont see them around like him too often anymore, he is a real traditional stamp.

He's my allrounder and trust me when i say i will be teaching him to take the chain harrow behind him to harrow the fields this spring, lol!
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My old girl is pure ID she is fab huge horse. I just seem to find much sportier models for want of a better word. I don't want to go hedge hopping anymore so would be a waste. Good to know they are out there. I need to look again.
 
I have a Clyde x ID and a Shire x Irish Vanner. Two more different horses in temperament would be hard to find.

The Clyde x is bold, forward, lots of fun and a huge character. Highly intelligent and more than capable of using the intelligence against you, which she did with her previous owners in a spectacular way. I had to sort a lot of undesirable tricks out when I bought her and even now, some 8 years on she still catches me out if she can. For those of you old enough to remember the cartoon of Penelope and Kipper, that is my mares outlook on life !

The Shire x (gelding) was a bag of anxiety and nerves, not settling until he was 8. He remains anxious and will try his heart out to please you but if pressured returns to an anxious mess. Very sharp and forward always wanting to give you more than is needed. To his final day he will never be suitable for a novice or inexperienced home. He is also an intelligent horse but is a total worrier. There is a misconception of the heavy breeds being 'gentle giants'. They are made into gentle giants, not born as a gentle giant.

For a true family horse you wouldn't be far wrong with an ID or something with a big chunk of ID in it. Finding it is another story, but as redundancies increase, covid grants cease and furlough ends there will be horses on the market. Good luck.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I have a Clyde x ID and a Shire x Irish Vanner. Two more different horses in temperament would be hard to find.

The Clyde x is bold, forward, lots of fun and a huge character. Highly intelligent and more than capable of using the intelligence against you, which she did with her previous owners in a spectacular way. I had to sort a lot of undesirable tricks out when I bought her and even now, some 8 years on she still catches me out if she can. For those of you old enough to remember the cartoon of Penelope and Kipper, that is my mares outlook on life !

The Shire x (gelding) was a bag of anxiety and nerves, not settling until he was 8. He remains anxious and will try his heart out to please you but if pressured returns to an anxious mess. Very sharp and forward always wanting to give you more than is needed. To his final day he will never be suitable for a novice or inexperienced home. He is also an intelligent horse but is a total worrier. There is a misconception of the heavy breeds being 'gentle giants'. They are made into gentle giants, not born as a gentle giant.

For a true family horse you wouldn't be far wrong with an ID or something with a big chunk of ID in it. Finding it is another story, but as redundancies increase, covid grants cease and furlough ends there will be horses on the market. Good luck.
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This is very true. I have had a shire x youngster that broke all my ribs twice. I've never been launched in such style.

Maybe a wait and see attitude is the way forwards. Not really in a hurry. Lots to think about thank you.
 
Personally I'd forget thinking about a specific breed. Temperament and overall type and size are more important. In all honesty I wouldn't go for a clydesdale for riding - too big and not athletic enough. Lovely of course in their own way but not designed as riding horses. I'd look at what good reputable studs are breeding in your vicinity and find one producing good solid, sound all rounder types that take your fancy. Go and view them and see what their temperaments are like, are they good natured and sensible types? See them working and get information about what their youngstock go on to do - even track some down and see if you can see those in action too and how they have turned out. I bet there is one out there that will just sell itself to you. That is what I would do anyway.
 
mini barnes said:
I completely agree with just choosing the right horse rather than the right type/breed.
However, another vote for an IDx (cold blood crosses)
I won’t have anything else.

If I had to choose a pony, highland or new forest.
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Thank you. I have a better idea where I am looking now. Its fun to browse and see what is available.
 
Annagain said:
A larger Section D would probably do the trick. They are marmite horses and you do get some that are a bit... erm lively..... but get a good one, and you'll never want another breed.
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I had a 16h D, Parc Welsh Flyer lines. Kindest horse you could ever want, mad as box of frogs from foal to 29 years of age but not in a bad way, just fast forward at all times. A ride judge referred to the ride he had as "shaken not stirred".
 
I will be honest, I had always thought of Shires being mostly your typical 'gentle giant's' as default - it wasn't until I read AA's thread about her boy that I realised I was wrong! They can be very sensitive.
I love a Clydie x as we had a lovely one when I was a child.
It depends on the horse though, completely. You could get a neurotic Clydie and a horizontal TB - who knows!
 
If I was to buy another horse once mr H retires i’d want another mr H - unregistered welsh x Arab - but I’d probably be too scared to from all the stories about them being not for the faint hearted
(A bit off topic as he is a bit small for the OP at 15 hh)
He is my 2nd horse of a lifetime - the first was a Cleveland bay - TB mix.
So I guess another native cross.
 
Clydesdales make perfect family horses but you do have to take into consideration everything that comes with them is giant size, rugs, shoes, tack etc.

Shires are sharper than clydes but still make good riding horses. I think if I had my time again, with a heavy horse, I would maybe give the Belgium draft (Brabant) a crack. Smaller that shires and clydes, less feather but full of character and fantastic temperaments. A much under-rated horse.
 
AdorableAlice said:
I had a 16h D, Parc Welsh Flyer lines. Kindest horse you could ever want, mad as box of frogs from foal to 29 years of age but not in a bad way, just fast forward at all times. A ride judge referred to the ride he had as "shaken not stirred".
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Yup, that was my boy too. Certifiably excitable but solid as a rock. He spooked once in the whole 14 years I have him - when a squirrel jumped out of a hedge and landed on his neck. I was so not expecting it I fell off. I never had a normal fall off him (partly as he was so solid) they were always crazy freak accidents (partly as he was so excitable he'd forget to put his feet down properly!) I had total faith in him that I've never had in another horse.
 
Annagain said:
Yup, that was my boy too. Certifiably excitable but solid as a rock. He spooked once in the whole 14 years I have him - when a squirrel jumped out of a hedge and landed on his neck. I was so not expecting it I fell off. I never had a normal fall off him (partly as he was so solid) they were always crazy freak accidents (partly as he was so excitable he'd forget to put his feet down properly!) I had total faith in him that I've never had in another horse.
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Mine didn't spook, rock solid in traffic and nothing ever frightened him. He went through life (all of it with me) with the attitude of 'lets go, you can come if you want to' I was young when I had him and it wasn't until the later years in my forties that I realised I had always been slightly terrified of him in a sort of acceptable way. I came off him a fair few times, never from stops or bucks, he didn't do either all his life. That was the problem he never stopped. He jumped a strand of wire out hunting and fired me off into a cattle feeder. Had he listened and looked we could have gone through a flipping gap ! He also dumped me in a pond out hunting following a disagreement about how quickly corning was possible. He always waited after the dumping episodes and when I had hauled myself back on, would resume at warp factor 10. I can honestly say I never saw him tired. He also only ever saw a vet for jabs and was by far the hardest soundest horse I have ever had. He developed a cough in his early twenties and the vet found a heart issue and he was instantly retired. I would never have another Welsh D unless I could knock 40 years off my age. They are a young persons ride.
 
AdorableAlice said:
Mine didn't spook, rock solid in traffic and nothing ever frightened him. He went through life (all of it with me) with the attitude of 'lets go, you can come if you want to' I was young when I had him and it wasn't until the later years in my forties that I realised I had always been slightly terrified of him in a sort of acceptable way. I came off him a fair few times, never from stops or bucks, he didn't do either all his life. That was the problem he never stopped. He jumped a strand of wire out hunting and fired me off into a cattle feeder. Had he listened and looked we could have gone through a flipping gap ! He also dumped me in a pond out hunting following a disagreement about how quickly corning was possible. He always waited after the dumping episodes and when I had hauled myself back on, would resume at warp factor 10. I can honestly say I never saw him tired. He also only ever saw a vet for jabs and was by far the hardest soundest horse I have ever had. He developed a cough in his early twenties and the vet found a heart issue and he was instantly retired. I would never have another Welsh D unless I could knock 40 years off my age. They are a young persons ride.
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I’d have another like a shot if I could find one big enough. A while ago a friend was having some confidence issues with her D. I was supposed to ride past her place to pick her up for a hack but when I got there she wouldn’t/couldn’t get on him. I offered to swap as I was on saint Monty, expecting her to say no as she’d never sat on him before but she said yes. I was a bit too heavy for her boy really but I thought a bit of a walk would be fine. The second I got on him I felt like I’d come home. He didn’t put a foot wrong so after 20 minutes I insisted she swap back as I was too big. I was secretly hoping she’d say no. The irony is I’ve lost 3 stone since buying my new boy so would be ok on one now that I’ve bought a 17hh hunter type! He’s going nowhere though so I won’t be getting another D.
 
I have a traditional cob and she's as heavy as it gets in those stakes really. 15hh and rock solid. She was 4 when I got her, and is a very brave young horse. She knows her mind but is generally very happy to go along with what I want, and tries really hard. I'm not a great rider, but I've not come close to parting company with her and rode her bare back down to our fields a month after getting her. She has turned in 3x 70%+ intro tests, the most recent she won so she is very capable of a job. She hacks like a pro, is so easy to do (not perfect, she's 5, not a unicorn!). I wouldn't jump big on her but that is my choice, many traditionals can and do.

I would never have anything else now. She's just brilliant fun.

She is from the Kimico stud, they are on facebook if you'd like to look. Quality traditionals.
 
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