Why do you prefer the type/breed of horse you have?

Enfys

Enfys

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Some people like cobs, some tb's, some natives or warmbloods.
Me, I like my arabs and QH's (odd really as they are like chalk and cheese) ... but why?

What makes you, personally, prefer one type/breed over another?

Is it their temperament, their looks, or merely their ability to do the job you require of them better than another?
 
i'd rather a heinz 57 bred hunter stamp horse to any other highly bred type tbh - useful sort, can turn a hand at most things, hardy, leg at each corner, generally head screwed on the right way - and nice colour to keep clean ;)
 
I have an arab, and a lovely 3 year old TB X (ID and poss hano). My arab mare is quirky, and has a real attitude at times but when shes in a good mood she works lovely, shes also very easy to handle. Then I love horses with that bit of bone and presence hence why I have my 3 year old to do eventing in the future, hes a quick learner, quite chilled out but has a quirky edge to him aswell. I like anything that has that bit of a personality because even though you go through hard times, the end results can be very rewarding!
 
I have a new forest, a connemara, a shetland and a welshie! They all have plenty of attitude and great personalities!

I'm in the middle of a masters degree, so natives are very handy as if i'm busy they're more than happy chucked out in the field to fend for themselves for a while! :)

I've had a variety over the years from tb's to shetlands and WB'a to friesans...i loved all of them, but my current boys just fit in so well with my life at the moment! The welshies just been sold, and once my degree is finished next year i'll be after a WB youngster.
 
I like TBs. They look nice, they're clever cookies (as a rule, obviously there are always exceptions) and they'll do pretty much any job you ask under saddle. The original and best sports horse IMO :)
 
Hmm, well, since I currently have an Arab X Welsh, a TB X Ardennes, a TB X Warmblood and a Knabstrupper X Trakenher and have had in the past an ex-racer, a Newforest X Welsh X TB, an Irish Heinz 57, a Welsh X and an Appalosa X Dartmoor, as well as a Welsh Cob, I long ago came to the conclusion I don't go for particular breeds at all, I go for a personality type!
 
I love ID/ISH types as their character and build suits me. But I wouldn't ever rule out or select a horse on breed alone. Build-wise especially, though, I will only ever be able to have heavier types as I'm a big unit!

Also adore Cleveland Bays - used to own them and thought they were great. Monty aong with a lot of the IDs/ISHs I know remind me very much of CB in terms of his character :)
 
In 1986-1989 I used to have a lovely boy called Sirrocco who was a TB x who sadly died at the age of 8 - RIP boy.
I now have a coloured cobby because hes the perfect horse for me.
 
I have a WB because she is well put together, good temperment, what I want to ride.
Nothing to do with breed.
I would never go out looking to buy a horse of a certain breed unless I wanted to breed from it.
 
I have 2 friesians and a Irish cob
Friesians tends to have great presence and to carry itself with elegance , but also is willing
My Irish cob is compact and powerful, ample both in muscle and bone, yet, with an ability to perform as a good all-purpose animal and should possess a docile and willing nature, with a friendly disposition towards humans and other animal species.
So really got the best of both worlds
 
My haflingers because they have personalities to die for, both kind and affectionate and willing.

My Tb - for fun and speed and excitement.

My Shetland x Newforest because we all need a challenge and he lives just to outwit folk!
 
I've got a great crew! They couldn't be more different if you tried! Although the one thing they do all have in common is they all have very pretty heads - if you have to look at it over a stable door for the next goodness knows how many years then you may as well make sure you get a pretty one!

The Shetlands - well they are the bees knees! They are fun, full of character and are great under saddle.

My Dartmoor - he is a cheeky toad! But incredibly pretty and well built.

My Fell - He is in a league of his own. He is a pretty boy with proper flashy fell movement who move heaven and earth for you.

The Welsh D - because they are such fantastic ponies I couldn't not have one!

The TB's - completely different from the natives in every way shape and form but they are just as cheeky and just as mischeivious!

My next investment will be a part bred Arab/ part bred Welsh show pony to bring on.
 
I like natives and native part breds due to the fact they are hary and reasonably low maintenance! They tend to be good doers and work wise I find I can pick them up and put them down and start from where I left off. I have had TB's in the past and both were lovely, lovely horses but they had more things go wrong with them and had to be ridden daily to remain sensible - I don't have the time at this point to do this!

I will be looking to sell my coloured next year and I want a Welsh X TB or an ISH as my next little project, still with the native theme but a bit more spark!
 
I like highlands of the slightly lighter variety - they're smart, sharp and very well natured. Very trainable and will really give their all. Plus they're hardy, strong good doers who can carry a bit of weight without being a long way to get up from the ground :D

Plus we have a lot of rather poorly kept bridleways where a taller horse would see me decapitated :D
 
I'm easy too ;)

I usually end up with TB's as they are a way of getting a classy horse for not stupid amounts of money! I'm also slim and a bit weak physically so I prefer more sensitive, light to ride horses.

Thats all really! Ive had native/TB crosses in the past and registered British riding pony which was a PBA so i'm not afraid to mix it up a bit ;).
 
I don't actually like riding cobs because I feel as though I am sitting on a barrel, I do like looking at the old fashioned Section_D, but not modern types with long canon bones and hackney action. As they were originally a farmers pony, used on the farm and driven to church on a Sunday, to my mind that is what they shouldstill look like they can do.
A good horse should have a leg at each corner, colour: not too much white on a coloured, I don't like cremello or ones that would be sensitive to sunburn.
I like the New forest because they are small TBs but have pony intelligence and a very kind and willing nature.
My standardbred is a mix of non native types, so has good quality head and bone, he is not perfect behind, so I have spent a lot of time building up his muscles, he was bought because I felt I could improve him a lot, and I have!
 
I have my connie because his size suits me he is hardy and cheap to keep but theres still that attitude and athleticism in there when needed. In time he will compete to a decent level but the foundations need to be firmly laid before he starts being pushed. He is great with my very nervous and unhorsey mum and I trust him completly round her even if he does insist on snacking every few steps and he can be trusted with children of all sizes (although I wouldnt leave them alone). He is also very cute and I love his colour but thats just a bonus not the main reason I brought him. Basicaly I love him and he never makes me feel unsafe what ever he does even though he has some quirks he knows when to tone it down.
 
The warmblood has sort of been inherited from daughter definitely not something I would choose to buy.But love her to bits despite her being a narky diva at times.And she has taught me a lot.
The coloured was my choice-love coloureds and chunky types which we think he'll be once he starts to broaden out.And no specific reason other than just love looking at coloureds. Same as I like the colour blue lol!!
ps there may be some deep rooted reason from my childhood but don't know what!!
 
For me it has to be Iberian horses. beautiful to look at, beautiful to watch, beautiful to ride, so willing to learn, have a quiet and peaceful air about them, that makes you stop in your tracks. Willing, loyal, loving, thoughtful and will always be your best friend.

Just stunning horses.
 
I have a shettie and a Sec D - I like to live dangerously:D

I have the welshie 'cos I had always loved the breed both for brains and looks, and this particular girl caught my eye - who knows why, just some do, some don't. The shettie came as a companion, although I've not had much to do with breed she has converted me to their charms. So I guess they are both here because they are 'them' and are family.
 
Both of mine were chosen for a specific job. Both were also chosen for their personalities. Captain was chosen for dressage and has excellent confo and movement and is very trainable, he is intelligent with a lot of presence. Fany was bought as a bombproof hack and also has excellent confo, with a nature second to none. I never set out to buy either an Ardennes or a Gelderlander, but would happily have either breed again, depending on the job I wanted the horse for.

I love Welshies, and had one for a long time when I was young. I would happily have another of those too. I would love to own an RID, just because I think they are beautiful!

FDC
 
I am short, I have a bad back and cannot lift a saddle onto anything over 16hh. I'm also very calm and tend to get on best with hotter types, plus due to the back injury, my legs are not entirely under my brain's control. :p I therefore get on very well with short Tb's, Arabs and their crosses. I have ridden some very nice 14.2hh Welsh D's but their action really did my back in. :(
 
I like the cute factor, so traditionals and Highlands mostly, I's also love a small Irish Draught. Something sensible, weight carrying and hardy, that can turn it's hoof to any job at RC level.

I've never been keen on your stereotypical TB's, Arab's, WB's or Welshes.

I have:
1 Welsh D
1 TB x Welsh D
1 ISH (7/8 TB)
1 WB x TB
1 Arab x Welsh B &
1/2 shares in a Welsh C

:rolleyes: I don't prefer the type of horses I actually own (although I love mine, they weren't what I would choose to buy).

Although I would say, if I could have a horse that looked like Fudge, was as easy and bombproof as Merlin to ride, who had Lady's perfect manners in-hand, Bailey's perfect conformation and movement, Joe's ability and soundness and Tiggers wow factor, I would have my perfect horse :D
 
First I had a big 16.3 tb, ex point to pointer. I loved him because he was great fun, he tried hard and was a very safe big boy.

Secondly I had a 14.2 cob, affectionately known as Fatty.. he was only a baby but he was a real sweetie and had a lot of character. He too was fab because he really tried hard (once he tried very hard to get me off in front of an audience and unfortunately succeeded!).

Both were just loans, but I'd have either back in a heartbeat- they were both awesome in their own ways.
 
I would only have a TB as I have narrow hips and anything wider kills me. They are what I am used too and I find them easy to keep as I dont have to worry about how much grass is growing in the fields, he goes out with the dairy cows in the summer, so lots of grass. In the winter I would rather he was in and he likes that too. They are forward going, light and responsive. Oh and absolutely beautiful to look at. The day I am too old to ride a TB is the day I give up, there is no compromise.
 
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