Would you say the breed matters for a first time owner?

ladyrainicorn

ladyrainicorn

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Morning all!
As someone whos looking into a cob as their first, a lot of websites reccomend getting a connemara pony or a halflinger.
But then some other websites say the breed shouldnt matter at all! It's all a little confusing if you ask me.. 😅
 
I've only met one Haflinger and he was the rudest, most opinionated, least first-owner friendly horse I've ever met in my life.

I've got a soft spot for natives, but my share is a cob and he's an utter delight. How the horse is trained and treated has more of an influence on how suitable it is than it's breed does (in my opinion).
 
You do find websites that tend towards the generic state all sorts of bland things about entire breeds of horses. I have met some extremely quiet warmbloods, super kind Arabs as well as sharp cobs and draughts, nutty highlands etc. They only haflingers I've met in person were rescues with some significant trauma so couldn't really comment.

My first official pony is a fell pony and she has been more tricky than my Welsh/arab heinz 57 loan pony.
 
Unless you’re set on a particular breed miles on the clock and temperament are the most important things. If you decide to look at a breed it’s important to research bloodlines. Some are easy others less so. Breeders will tell you a certain stallion throws good natured ponies others are more ‘sporty’ and some combinations have a reputation for being rather ‘hot headed’. Not all ‘hairy’ ponies are easy, some of the large breeds, cobs, highlands, fells and Connie’s are ridden by adults for a reason! Others are 99% foolproof.
 
I’ve had 2 haflingers and they have been wonderful, kind ponies but firstly neither were bred in the uk (I’ve never seen a sales ad for a uk haffie that I’d want to buy and I love the breed) and secondly they are both clever and would push boundaries if allowed. Mine might've been ok for a first pony if the owner was on livery with helpful staff to keep an eye on them.

Obviously a lot of breeds get a reputation or stereotyped but I would definitely be looking for a good temperament over breed.

Your chance of finding a sane, sound horse will improve massively if you keep your mind open to breeds, size and sex etc
 
An older horse who knows it's job and can be evaluated properly

Then study how it has been kept and worked to see if aligns with your available free time to keep it going on nicely

It's not just about you, it's about putting the horse first, keep the horse right and let it do its job

I'd avoid anything nervous, spooky, a nice relaxed confident sort of horse who is good in traffic
 
There are some breed traits that generally prove more the rule than exception - for example I've owned a few Welsh D's over the years and they do earn their reputation of being drama queens 😅 though you'll get the exception to the rule, they don't always make the best first horse.

Cobs can be a huge mixed bag, I think possibly because they are the Heinz 57 of the horse world with no idea of lineage or breeding, they can literally turn out anything from the most level-headed dope on a rope, to an absolute turbo-cob that is off it's rocker - so you really have to just look at the horse in front of you.

Connemara's have been liked for their abilities to make nice sports ponies and in my experience tend to now be bred to either fall into 2 categories - the easy going, chunkier, chilled out nice allrounders, and the performance bred ones that can be exceptionally sharp and are bred to be buzzy competition ponies. But again, it should be fairly clear from the advert and viewing the horse which sort you are looking at.

As others have said, it's all so individual I don't think you can set your heart on a breed - look for a horse that ticks the boxes you want and don't worry about the breed.
 
I would look at the history of the horse/pony and what it has done, how ithas been kept and if that fits with your abilities and what you are able to offer in terms of time, facilities etc. For example, if you take a pony that is used to living out 24/7 on a small yard and then stable it on a busy yard, you can 100% be sure it won't be the same pony, regardless of it's breed and age. If it's an easy keeper and used to being managed in terms of grazing, and you just have a field full of grass, this will also be an issue. The same if it is used to being ridden five times a week and doing all sorts of activities and you just want to hack out twice a week. Also be careful that the pony/horse can do what you want. If you need to hack alone most of the time, you need to be sure that the pony/horse will be happy and sane hacking alone.

On the breed note, I have seen plod cobs and speedy ones, thoroughbreds that you could put a child on and everything in between. I have a Haflinger x, he is sharp, clever and not at all a plod, jumps for fun and doesn't hesitate to throw his weight around if he thinks he can. There is another pure bred one on my yard the same, still out competing (and winning) in 85cm jumpng classes at 21.

Good luck!
 
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You're buying the horse, not the breed. Horses aren't like dogs, where you can tell much more about how an individual is based on the breed (and it still varies greatly).
My Connemara is a very sensitive sporthorse, definitely not an appropriate first horse. The Haflinger I had was very hard mentally, so not really appropriate either but less bad than the Connemara. My Irish Sportspony, unknown mutt, would fit quite well after some years of training with me. Would've been a bad idea before that. Some SWB's I know would be great first horses, others terrible. These are just examples.
 
rabatsa said:
People also tend to advise go for the breed that they like best.
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😈😈 get the cob 😈😈

Everyone else is being very sensible. I have nothing to add, as my first pony was an unbacked 7yo rescue of unknown soundness. I think she's the best thing since sliced bread but there's only one of her so best nobody else takes that risk. (She was 100% a personality pick)
 
. It can be hard for older people to sit straight astride a cob or other wide, flat backed horse.

I started regular riding at 61 and have never been able to sit straight on a cob. The misery of my first year of riding lessons was because I was riding a cob and the RI failed to understood this. And I didnt either.
 
No but 'type', experience and and temperament do matter. Pick a horse you get on with, who will suit the lifestyle you can offer and (if you don't have the skillset to produce) has a track record doing the job you want them to do.
 
I agree with most of the advice here to not focus on breed but instead the individual horse. Things like age, background, ridden history are all very important. For instance getting a 5/6 year old who has only ever been ridden by a professional is much more risky than a 12 yr old who behaves perfectly for their current novice owner and has done for a few years.

Having said don’t focus on breed there are definitely some I would avoid as a first horse - TBs, Arabs and WBs spring to mind! Now there will always be some who are suitable first buys but as a general rule they are sensitive and therefore tricky if you don’t know exactly what you need to do with them.
 
My first pony was a haflinger and was so dangerous we had to sell her.

I’ve since had a wonderful bomb proof Anglo Arab, and Welsh section Cs. All of my section Cs have been safe, calm, easy, and kind. I’m not sure where the Welsh stereotype comes from tbh, maybe it’s just section Ds.
 
I agree temperament and education level are the most important, and tbh age too… don’t buy something young. At a young age it is easier to undo good education.

But if you are like me , and are crap and selling horses, and you like a particular breed, then you are going to be part of each others life for a long time so choose something you like… and make sure you have a good budget for what you want because if you don’t compromise on level of education, health or breed you may well have to compromise on price…

Also, a lot of Connies are quite hot in my experience, I’m sure there are quieter models but a lot of oversized Connies are bred for the teenage eventer market, which they are very good at so be careful. Having said that one that is older and has spent its life teenage eventing will likely be very well educated in life, stand on the box all day, seen everything so might be a good choice… a young one not so much.

Is there anyone knowledgeable you can take to viewings?
 
blitznbobs said:
I agree temperament and education level are the most important, and tbh age too… don’t buy something young. At a young age it is easier to undo good education.

But if you are like me , and are crap and selling horses, and you like a particular breed, then you are going to be part of each others life for a long time so choose something you like… and make sure you have a good budget for what you want because if you don’t compromise on level of education, health or breed you may well have to compromise on price…

Also, a lot of Connies are quite hot in my experience, I’m sure there are quieter models but a lot of oversized Connies are bred for the teenage eventer market, which they are very good at so be careful. Having said that one that is older and has spent its life teenage eventing will likely be very well educated in life, stand on the box all day, seen everything so might be a good choice… a young one not so much.

Is there anyone knowledgeable you can take to viewings?
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Having someone genuinely knowledgeable to assist with horse buying is crucial I think..
 
Lol I am a sucker for focusing on a breed or looks! I currently have an English bred Spanish horse who after a very long wobble is turning out to be a saint, however she most certainly is not for a first horse as she needs all the confidence from you. My previous one was a 3 year old firecracker idxtb and was not ideal as my first horse but we got to know eachother.

It depends on what you want to do. As everyone has said go for a well handled, nice horse that has good manners and is safe. The only haflinger I knew was really tricky. Preferably older if you can.

Also expect it to take time, your own horse tend to be very different to a riding school horse so make sure you are able to afford help and lessons from the start to help you get through any tricky spots.
 
blitznbobs said:
I agree temperament and education level are the most important, and tbh age too… don’t buy something young. At a young age it is easier to undo good education.

But if you are like me , and are crap and selling horses, and you like a particular breed, then you are going to be part of each others life for a long time so choose something you like… and make sure you have a good budget for what you want because if you don’t compromise on level of education, health or breed you may well have to compromise on price…

Also, a lot of Connies are quite hot in my experience, I’m sure there are quieter models but a lot of oversized Connies are bred for the teenage eventer market, which they are very good at so be careful. Having said that one that is older and has spent its life teenage eventing will likely be very well educated in life, stand on the box all day, seen everything so might be a good choice… a young one not so much.

Is there anyone knowledgeable you can take to viewings?
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Unfortunately no : ( ive been going off of books and research alone
 
Where would you be keeping the horse? Could the yard owner help with viewings? Another pair of eyes no matter how (in)experienced you are is invaluable
 
oh dear, Haflingers don't seem to be doing too well. :D:D

mine was a 2yo and I failed to ask the question when buying him if he had been bottle fed. He spent most of his 2nd year standing up on his hind legs. The rest of the time he spent trying to grab me. His mother had rejected him. After a few months of his antics I had a lot of sympathy for his mum. :D

He did turn out well and we spent the next 18 years together but no way was he a first or even 2nd or 3rd horse. He was probably about my 20th.
I am not sure if Haflingers are actually even horses. He had some strange ideas, we spent a lot of time in reverse when he wouldn't go past something, he would stop and refuse to go forward, refuse to move to the side so I gave up and turned for home and he refused that way as well. Sometimes he just exploded into the air. You had to enjoy playing with that sort of horse or you would have hated riding him.

OTOH I would have him or any other haffy back tomorrow.

What about a nice little arab cross for a first horse. I would be looking more towards a "Heinz 57" type of mongrel that may be an easier first horse. Forget websites, find someone experienced in the antics of people selling horses (especially dealers) to take with you to fully check out the horse and get it vetted. (most important)
 
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