What breed/type of horse would you recommend....

[anniedoherty]

.....for my friend who wants to get back into horses after a long break from having her own? She is in her early 40s and has been riding fairly regularly at riding school and on another friend's horse but she now feels ready to buy her own horse again. She used to have a TBxHackney but he was a bit of a handful for her so I think she needs to look for something quieter.

She is not the bravest rider, especially out hacking, but is actually quite competent i.e. she rides my friends horse in an outline, can walk, trot, canter, and she does a bit of lateral work and can ask for a degree of collection and extension. She is the same height as me (5 foot 6) but I haven't liked to ask how much she weighs! I think she is probably about 10 or 11 stone? Not sure on that one really. She isn't thin but she's def not fat either. She says that she prefers smaller ponies and her last one was 14.2 hh.

I went with her last night to look at a ShireX but it was too big. After my experience of buying a horse recently I don't feel able to offer her much advice so any suggestions would be welcome!

 

[Sparklet]

I would get a highland, beautiful animals and great for those lacking confidence.

 

[anniedoherty]

I don't have much experience of Highlands apart from a riding school that my daughter used to go to a few years back where the instructor had one. She used to lead them out on hacks on it but I seem to remember it being a bit nappy. Maybe it was just that one though. It's funny how seeing just one example of a certain breed colours your judgement of them all!

I will tell her to Google Highlands and see what she thinks. Thanks!

 

[TGM]

To be honest, I wouldn't worry too much about the breed or type as long it is the right size and temperament for her. If you narrow it down to specific breeds then you could miss out on the right horse for her. Instead just look for something in the right size bracket that is already successfully doing the sort of job that she wants it to do.

 

[Sparklet]

Any horse can be nappy, dont think it is a breed thing. My girl used to give it a go and she is 7/8 tb, just needs firm handling.

I've come across quite a few and they are brilliant, well natured horses, gorgeous to look at too as they come in fab colours. Add on's in showing and dressage (yes they do lower level dressage very sucessfully too - lower = up to advanced). Laura Fry is riding one for someone and doing very well - called Quest of Mendick, look him up.

There are quite a few highland riders on this forum - put a thread on asking for info about highlands - you could give you friend that too.

In her shoes I would go for a highland.

 

[Baileysno1]

I think any native cross or perhaps a over height connemara, me friend has a 15h connie and hes is fantastic, and beautifully schooled, takes a kiddie one day and wins elementatry the next.

 

[Blizzard]

I honestly would not look at breeds if temperment is the most important thing. You will miss out on most of the market if she limits herself to a specific breed.

a cross or Heinz 57 could be the best horse in the world for her, as could a purebred.

A horse of any breed can be naughty or nappy, and I think too many people go into purchases thinking oh well 'such and such breed' s supposed to be quiet so will be good for me.

I would do a search on various horse sale sites under her price and size bracket, and see what comes up that sounds suitable!

I looked at so many different breeds before finding Beau.

 

[Sparklet]

St Bernard is completely right but I still have a yen for a highland

 

[Puppy]

[ QUOTE ]
To be honest, I wouldn't worry too much about the breed or type as long it is the right size and temperament for her. If you narrow it down to specific breeds then you could miss out on the right horse for her. Instead just look for something in the right size bracket that is already successfully doing the sort of job that she wants it to do.

[/ QUOTE ]

Totally agree with TGM

 

[anniedoherty]

Lol at Sparklet - shall I ask her to buy one for you instead!

I agree that she mustn't just limit herself to looking at certain breeds but must look at everything which may be suitable. The thing is she is asking me for specific advice and I don't feel qualified to give it so that's why I thought I'd ask for a few more opinions. Before my bad experience I would have felt a lot more confident going to look at horses with her but now I feel like it's a case of the blind leading the blind so to speak. I don't trust anything that anyone tells me regarding horses and I have made her paranoid too.

 

[Dogbetty141]

I would suggest she had a look at safe cobs or a website selling or a yard selling horses that they have trained to be safer if you know what i mean? i hope so!a breed in particular i would recomend is maybe ID or Connies or maybe welshes some are very safe! Like everyone says though all horses are diff!

 

[bex1984]

She needs a solid, steady ponio that has had a decent education and some good schooling - breed doesn't really matter (but fell crosses are lovely

)

 

[GoJo]

I don't think you can generalise about a breed- my boys 3/4 arab and he's a complete bombproof confidence giver which you wouldn't really expect with an arab.
Think it depends totally on the individual horse.

 

[Sparklet]

[ QUOTE ]
Lol at Sparklet - shall I ask her to buy one for you instead!

[/ QUOTE ]
oww yes please - I fully intend to retire with one because I doubt I will be able to get on my 16.3 with stiff joints.

Good luck with it - by the way, trial periods are a great way of reducing the risk if you friend can negotiate one. A couple of weeks is good but a month is brilliant. Horses are not selling as well at the moment so you are more likely to get one.

 

[Theresa_F]

Why not something like a gypsy cob - mine is the larger and lighter type - he will be about 15.1. He is only 3 but has been so easy to bring on and has a wonderful kind and steady outlook to life.

My previous mare was a fantastic jack of all trades - jumped up to 2'9, very bold round XC, did well at prelim dressage, fantastic to hack, wonderful to handle and a very sweet nature.

The breed is well know for not being a plod but being very sensible and great fun.

Only problem is that the coloured are not cheap but the plain are better value and you can hog them if you prefer to not have a hairy.

 

[anniedoherty]

Thanks Sparklet. One of our friends has told us about someone fairly local who has let other people have horses on trial for a month. I don't think there are many people willing to do that these days so we are going to go and see what sort of horses she has later on in the week.

 

[SSM]

Cleveland Bay or Cleveland Bay cross

 

[anniedoherty]

Teresa_F, I think she has ruled out gypsy cobs because she thinks they seem overpriced at the moment. I've not seen any so I can't say but I would imagine she could be right since they seem to be very trendy at the moment. I love the ones with a lot of feather myself but I imagine they are a pain to keep clean.

 

[anniedoherty]

StinkerStonkersMum, how did I know you were going to say that?????!!!!! Seriously though I did suggest Cleveland Bays or crosses to her and even told her that I thought Madonna had one. She says that she likes them but hasn't actually ever seen one for sale. So come on, where can I find her one? She is a good friend and has helped me loads in the past so I want to try and help her now.

 

[bex1984]

If you leave them alone the feathers sort of keep themselves clean! You just brush out the dry mud occasionally. Hairy cobs are the best!

 

[Hullabaloo]

"(but fell crosses are lovely )"
My fell cross is an opinionated git (still lovely though)

 

[bex1984]

opinions mean character though! and character is good! Mine can be strong, and has no idea what schooling is, but is a real confidence giver

 

[Honeypots]

A cob

You get a bit of everything with a good cob...

 

[rach1984horse]

I would recommend a Highland. I have two and they are lovely quiet ponies. At 14.1 my mare is strong enough to carry me but I feel closer to the ground and very safe. Having a big neck in front also helps.

Is she does decide to look for a Highland give me a shout and I can tell you the best places to look.

 

[XmisshorsestyleX]

[ QUOTE ]
I love the ones with a lot of feather myself but I imagine they are a pain to keep clean.

[/ QUOTE ]

Haha!! you've hit the nail on the head.. they look stunning in the summer though, when theres no mud around

They are fantastic allrounders and good weight carriers, that can turn there hoof to anything. Dont rule them out for being overpriced, the majority of horses for sale at the moment are overpriced id say. I got mine fairly cheap but then she did need alot of schooling work, although 100% bombproof in traffic.

 

[tabithakat64]

A quiet, well mannered schoolmaster type would be best. Personally I love Highlands and New Forests, or any native cross. Breed really isn't important.
There are some very good websites specialising in safe all rounder types, Stubley Hollow, Hungerford Livery, All About Cobs & Safe Cobs.

 

[vieshot]

A nice full up 14.2hh New forest. Or maybe a native x like a forest x tb or something. As said before though, its not all about the breed.

 

[carthorse]

When I worked at an RDA centre we had Norwegian fjords and haflingers. Both breeds were excellent but I agree any breed can be good ,we have a 5 years old dutch warmblood that you could put a 2 year old or a 90 year old on

 

[Magicmillbrook]

A nice one! This is a 'how long is a piece of string' type question. A slightly smaller one may give a slightly safer feeling as less distance to fall. I do love TB x cobs as thats what my girl is. We have a TB who is a handfull (but she is a baby). The two welshies are sweethearts but too clever and cheeky by far.

 

[Theresa_F]

Not that bad, especially if you do what I did - get a 50 - 50 with a black mane and tail

Feathers do need some looking after - but they do look wonderful when cleaned up - not that I am biased

It takes me between 1 - 11/2 hours to turn Chancer from a mud covered monster into a show horse - my TB used to take only about 15 mins less to clean and plait.

They are not that cheap - but they are very much in demand as people are realising what a fantastic little horse the gypsy cob is - I cannot see me every going back to my TBs having had two - they are very addictive.

I have also seen some very very nice TB x gypsy cobs - and if you are lucky you get the TB looks and GC attitude to life.