Which breeds/types do you prefer when buying?

mandwhy

mandwhy

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Just wondering what all of your favourite breeds or types are when buying a horse?

In the range I am looking at (under 3000) most are TB, cobs, ISH, some IDx but have seen the odd hanoverian (one I am very keen on from the ad) and other warmbloods...

I would like some good solid hooves, that is one of the top things on my list along with generally healthy and sound! Otherwise am pretty much looking for an all rounder :-)
 
Depends what I want it for really. I love connies and connie x tbs. Think in general they're pretty fab allrounders. Usually I just want to know its fit for purpose. Personally I wouldn't buy anything excessively chunky or excessively fine but only because I prefer the feel of more normal range horses, not because I dislike them & wouldn't discount them for anyone else. (and I do mean excessive, eg show hacks & heavy draft breeds, much as I think they're lovely)
 
My first pony is a welsh cob, second one is IDxTB, and third is a cob with a bit of TB in there.

Makes me sound like a cob fanatic, but it just happens to be that I connected with them most when trying and buying.
 
Anything with arab in it ;)

I've had 6 horses/ponies with arab in, varying from 13hh to 15.1hh. They all had/have lovely personalities.

I've had, connies, welshies, foresters, ID's (!) all cross arab. I think they make great Part bred horses, plenty of talent and none have had major issues :)
 
Like connies and connie crosses, I think they have all the jumping ability that the average amature wants/needs, can do the lower levels of affiliated easily, cheap to keep, cleaver and have that pony brain to help you out when needed. Get a good one and you wont look back they are like a mini sports horse but normally can tone the sharpness down when needed.
 
Registered Paints and Quarter Horses for breeding. Must be mares, must be patterned and/or dilute, no good breeding for colour from a bay.

Arabians and Paso Finos for riding, I like them small with a bit of fire about them.

Anything else that comes along and takes my fancy for selling on, as long as it is pretty and sound, and not over 15h.
 
Ummm ... Yeah! I am a bit of a special case lol! I have Shetlands and Retired Racehorses and a bit of everything inbetween!

To be fair on the Shetland front we breed them so first we look at the bloodlines that will go well with our current ones, then we look at general conformation - it has to be good with atleast some bone, then height - we like big riding ponies. Somethings we can forgo a little in the conf. and height bit as we have 2 stallions that do put the height, bone substance and movement into the ponies. But every single one of them MUST have a pretty head. I can't be doing with Shetlands with ugly big heads!

In my TB's I generally bring them home from work and at work I always make sure I ride the prettiest ones - again with beautiful heads. Of the 4 I have 1 is a genuine Large Show Hack, another is a proper Small Riding Horse, the 3rd is a Large Riding Horse/Lightweight Hunter depending on judge and the last strictly speaking would be a Hack if he were small enough but at 17hh he has to be a Large Riding Horse. I don't like them too chunky but definitely not too fine. The last one mentioned is actually quite a dainty horse. I'll see if I can find a decent pic of him.

GrayPerth.jpg



My theory with the heads is: If you have to look at it over the stable door everyday then you may as well have one thats pretty to look at.

It's funny, in natives I go for good width, depth and ponies that take up the leg but in TB's I quite like my refined beasts.
 
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I wouldn't restrict myself to any breed or type, if it was capable of doing what I wanted to do :) The more 'open' options you have when buying the better IMO. For me it's temperament and conformation/soundness over anything else :)

Though I do like a good warmblood :p
 
I like a bit of bone, a good looking horse, well put together and a good temperament. Apart from that, couldn't care less what breed it is.
 
mandwhy said:
Littlelegs - Yes I am not a big fan of really heavy breeds, for me to ride anyway although I think they are awesome to look at! I am probably a bit heavy for fine boned types.

I think an IDxTB is probably a good option, or some sort of ISH, but what do we think of Hanoverian? I like this one! http://www.horsemart.co.uk/performa...s_16_3_hh_black_south_yorkshire/advert/221569
Click to expand...

Read between the lines of that advert. Owned it 2 years, it's 5 this time, been ridden twice in last 8 months. The photo on the right of it stood up is either misleading or the horse has some very odd forelimb conformation.

It's a nice long advert that could be condensed into 'too much horse for me, selling it cheap', or, as she has stated she is a dealer, this horse has come in a part exchange for one of her cobs. Be careful.

For a pleasure all rounder you would be disappointed with a IDxTB. Good luck in your search.
 
AdorableAlice - Yes I realised it was a dealer but had not thought about it having been part exchanged which is a good point! Also the video was not there before and doesn't make the horse look that great. I don't mind a bit of work needing doing but I think it is too much money in that case and realistically maybe a bit young for me!

I'm not really trying to decide which type to buy as I agree it's down to the individual really, I wouldn't mind a tall welsh cob if it was quite smart looking and not too big and hairy! I like connies (my share is part connie ISH) but I haven't seen many crosses big enough. I need over 16hh if not more like 16.2 really, same with Arabian (I like their heads), I am quite a fan but just too teeny for me :-(
 
I've only bought one horse.

Wanted something around 16.2 with lovely big paces and a nice forward attitude without being a mentalist. Assumed i'd end up with a TB, TBX or maybe a WB .... ended up with a 15.2 Welshie.

Initially I was a bit paranoid about his size but people say he looks bigger than 15.2 when i am on him and he rides big. Looking in the smaller height bracket seemed to get me a better quality horse for my budget.

Would definitely consider another big welshie in the future or maybe a welsh x wb - that could be a nice cross!
 
I can't think of a single breed I don't want on my list.
If I could ride/keep 100 plus horses a day (and afford them) I'd have them all !!!

My three horses who have a lifelong home with my mum and I, is an Arabian, Welsh D and OTTB.

I would still love a Hackney, paint horse, Morgan, Cleveland bay, show cob and Andalusian. But I would never sell any, so this collection could be a little high maintenance.

One thing I do notice is my arab, welsh D and ex racer are strangely all chestnut mares!
 
Haha me too Imogen, I would love an Andalusian in the collection, a Friesian, and I once fell in love with a Camargue so would have to have one even though they are often too small as well! Would still like a section D, saw a looovely palomino one advertised and was in love with him entirely based on looks! Oh and got to have an appaloosa just for fun!
 
I just love all horses ( well I do have some exceptions ) and have a right mixture at the moment but if was allowed one choice only Dutch warm blood I love Irish draughts but not ID crossed with TB.
 
My mare is ( we think!!!!) an Anglo Arab cross and on Friday my OH is getting TB mare ( ex rachorse) vetted but I guess it depends on alot of things and what you want from the horse
 
My new boys a friesisn, wasn't looking for any breed in particular but fell totally in love with him :-)
 
HIGHLANDS HIGHLANDS HIGHLANDS!!!!
but the wee boy i'm goin to see on saturday is a stunning fell.....so anything native he he!!
 
I have only bought one horse, my arab gelding. I went looking for an Arab or a large native, but if I'd got side tracked along the way by anything else I wouldn't have minded!

I wanted something that was going to have a good chance of being fairly cheap to keep and I didn't want anything bigger than 15.2 and I have always loved Arabs to ride and gaze at. But I have ridden a lot of ponies and would have looked around for a New Forest I think.

I like connemaras but they all seem to be very expensive. Arabs and New forests seem to be very good value!

But I think everyone is right who says they don't look for a breed, it's just that with no experience I wanted to narrow things down for myself. I didn't have a big list of requirements in terms of jumping and dressage ambitions, so I just wanted hardy fun and (reasonably) safe.
 
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I like tbs or 3/4 tbs, preferably with a dash of ID or pony.

I like them to have good bone, nice leg and hoove conformation and plenty of go and 'buzz.'

Not so fussed about what the head looks like- of my current 2, Millie has the most beautiful head and Vinnie has a breezeblock for a head!
 
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