Recommend a breed?

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Laurenm01

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I am looking to get my first horse in Feb and was advised to get a cob. I'm just curious if anyone would recommend any other breeds? I am looking for a 14.1+ horse for hacking!
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Norwegian Fjord, ours is perfect for our Mum who is a novice rider, we call him our ‘plod’ pony. However I have heard some can be more of a handful (as with any breed) so find a good one!
Today!
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Alot of people have the belief that cobs are plods and suitable for novices (I don't know if you are a novice?) but TBH that is often not the case! On saying that, there are plenty of bombproof cobs out there too
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As someone mentioned connemaras, ID Xs, CB Xs are good too
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(although these may be a bit bigger)
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it all depends on the horse, my friend has just brought a lovely ID X TB that is utterly bombproof. my TB (gelding!!!! for those of you with your jaws on the floor, not the rearing one:P) is suitable for novices with supervision. but equally there are 2 cobs on my yard that i wouldn't say a novice could own, handle or ride.
 
Can't recommend a Connemara enough, obviously there are the high-spiritied ones but they're hardy, easy keepers, gentle and sane. I have one and there is a four year old on the yard too, both are the most down to earth horses on the yard as far as I'm concerned. We've never had an issue with either, I'd trust mine completely. Maybe I'm biased though =P
 
My hunter is an ID cob (sire) x TB/Connemara and she has always been a strong, sharp, psyco lunatic! Cobs are generally very strong. ID crosses are usually sane though. Also, appaloosas are meant to have good natures. Hope so anyway as I have recently purchased an appy x ID baby! Good luck, the individual horse is more important than the breed.
 
I wouldn't go specifically for a breed - more of a type - there are such variances! I have known cobs that are the salt of the earth and others that are really sharp wotsits! I have had a number of ID x TB's and they have consistently behaved differently each time... in fact, the most bombproof horse I ever owned, who ended teaching a novice was actually a pure 16.3 TB ex chaser...
 
all the newfies I have met have been absolutely fab and superbly forgiving and would certainly be a recommendation from me as a breed suitable for a first timer.
 
We just got a NF as an allrounder for daughter, lovely temperament, easy to handle, sensible even though quite young, and he'd make a lovely hack - I'm going to shed a stone and hack him this spring! (Had shed half a stone but not ventured near the scales this week)
 
Thanks for the big responce!

I've been riding on and off since I was 4 (almost 21 now) and looked after my stepmums horse during the summers and loaned this year. The cob I loaned was abit of a plod and I felt really safe on him but he was too pushy on the ground!

I understand that each horse is different and temperaments are not always based on breed but i'm trying to narrow down my search as there's so many to choose from!

Thanks again for the help so far!
 
I personally would narrow down my search by location, age and height then sift through for the horse with the personality you are looking for. My first horse was a 3yr old welsh cob - a breed supposedly with a little too much attitude and more often than not difficult to ride. Oh and i had been riding for 5 months when i bought him! If the ad screams safe and sensible then it is worth a look, infact i know of a lovely mare who will be coming up for sale that sounds like she may fit the bill. She is well bred safe sensible good enough to show and jumps a little course the perfect home is of the utmost importance for her as she has been in the same home since a foal.
 
Morgan, if well started and schooled, and you can research the breeding. Around 15 hh generally. Very bright, but usually level headed with it and "people friendly." They are happy to tackle anything. Not often for sale, as owners tend to keep them for life unless they are producing for sale or have to sell for personal reasons.
 
Thanks both. I did narrow it down to South Wales and found a lot of youngsters/covered mares or cobs (another reason why i'm considering one). I didnt want to travel too far as I want to visit a few times before buying!

I've been looking on websites like this one, equine adverts, preloved, your horse, horse market etc. Is there another one that anyone would recommend?

She sounds lovely Taffster! At the moment i'm favouring mares and seem to be attracted to flaxen manes and tails for some reason. I'm aiming to have a good look around and buy in Feb so i'm not rushing too much!
 
What about a highland?

From my experiences with them, I'd steer clear od Section D's- Nothing wrong with them, but they do tend to need a more experienced owner.
 
I would recommend New Forest if you are looking for something to hack on - often the ones that are forest bred have seen quite a bit of traffic and tourists etc so are quite brave.

I am an adult not that brave and my NF is the most fantastic hacking pony he is brave and not too fast or slow and also comfy. Lovely nature and smart enough to show as well as doing jumping. There are three NF on the yard and all of them have very friendly natures.

However all the large natives would be probably suitable though the welshies can be more fiesty than the others. Dales and Highlands are also great if you are looking for something with a chunky build but tend to be more expensive than a New Forest. Connies are very popular and they tend to be the most expensive of the natives.
 
Seriously, forget the breed and go for the horse.

I know good and bad from most breeds. Angelic cobs and bulshy little brats. Gentle sweet and laidback TB and raving lunitics. Quiet and chilled hotblooded horses (arabs etc) and totally psycotic native ponies.

Temperament seems to have very little to do with breed but their personalities and often management.

First decide what you want to do with the horse, now and in the future. Do you want to show? To do dressage? To jump. All horses can do most displines to a basic level but some are much more suitable to a certain disapline than others.

Then - how old? What sex? How big (do you NEED a bigger horse, or could you ride ponies?). HOW MUCH?!!!! (price will be a huge factor)

Much more importantly you need to look at the lifestyle you can offer them. If all you have is a side of a windswept hill, with no shelter and bugger all grass then a TB probably isn't a great idea. Alternatively if you have a lovely yard in mind that has only dairy grass than a good-doing native won't work.

The 'type' you like plays a big part, but don't left it blind your choices. If you HATE big hairy coloured cobs with a passion, don't get one, ditto spindlity little Show Ponies. If you've always wanted a coloured pony, have a look for them. Or a black with four white socks or whetever. Just bear in mind that a good horse is never a bad colour/breed.

Once you've decided on height etc look by temperament. If you want a quiet plod that's easy to handle look for 'gentle' or 'quiet' adverts. Ones that say 'bombproof' 'suitable for a novice' or 'confidence giving'. Bear in mind sellers can lie (intentially or not
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) but it's a good place to start.

I bought a pony based on the facilities I had, what I wanted to do with the horse and what I wanted. I needed something that could live out 24/7 with little facilities. I also needed a gelding as it's a gelding only herd. I've always wanted a coloured horse so got a skewbald. Ditto wanting a young horse to bring on, so got a yearling. I also was intending on selling (may still) so got something easy natured, easy to train and 'desirable' to sell. He's not my 'perfect' horse in an ideal world (one where I had unlimited money and time
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) but he's perfect for what I have and want right now. he's also the cutest pony in the whole wide world so that helps
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