What breed of horse is the best for you?
Some
horses are bred specifically to perform certain tasks, such as the draft breeds
like the Budweiser Clydesdales. They are tall, strong, and able to pull heavy
loads. The Shetland pony (which incidentally is the strongest breed of horse
for their size) originated on the Shetland Isles because only the small and
hardiest horses could survive the harsh climate. A draft couldn’t do the job of
a pony, and a pony couldn’t trade places with the draft. Or take Arabians as
another example. They are strong, sound horses originally bred in the Middle
East for superior stamina, which is why they are great for endurance riding.
How
can you know what breed is right for you? It comes down to what you want to do
with your equine partner. Maybe you want a calm trail horse, or perhaps you
dream of winning blue ribbons in the dressage ring. You might want a horse you
can jump or maybe even train for eventing. There are many versatile horses, but
most of the time you want a horse that’s geared toward a particular discipline.
As trainer Jane Savoie says, “I always try to make each horse feel like he’s a
champion and he can do anything.” No matter what horse you buy, he or she needs
to be your champion, and as they say, a good horse is never a bad color.
However,
it is important to have an idea of what type of riding you want to do up front.
My family was looking for a steady, calm horse we could safely ride in a ring
and also take out on the trail. We didn’t need a fancy pedigree or flashy
moves, and we knew we didn’t have the knowledge to train a young horse. Because
of this, we were able to find our match without spending a fortune.
But
no matter your needs—and there really is no right or wrong here—sitting down
and thinking through exactly what you want your horse to do will help you down
the road. There are few horses that can do it all (if you find one, you truly
have a gem!)
My
family has always loved the look of the American Paint horse. The breed has
been a part of our American culture for years but was only recognized officially
in 1962 when the American Paint Horse Association was founded. This breed has
Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred bloodlines and is a good all-around horse that
can be successful in many disciplines. They also usually have a calm
disposition.
But
you might be drawn to Friesians. Or Thoroughbreds or Dutch Warmbloods or
Appaloosas. Here are a few possible matchups to get you thinking:
If
you want to …
Ride
the trails
Look for a Quarter Horse,
Paint, or Appaloosa. These sometimes stocky mounts are usually quite hardy and
sure-footed.
Race
across the fields in a fox hunt
Look for a Thoroughbred. They
have been bred for speed.
Barrel
racing, Western pleasure, or Gymkhana (includes other speed events)
Look for a Quarter Horse or
Paint.
Rise
up the levels in dressage
Look for a Dutch Warmblood or
Hanoverian
Endurance
riding
Look for an Arabian.
Learn
how to drive a horse with a cart or wagon
Look for a Haflinger, Draft,
or Shetland pony.
You
can find crosses of any combination, and there are many other wonderful breeds
to choose from, as well. I’ve only scratched the surface. The Horse Channel
website has a great article to get you started:
I also recommend doing a
search online for “best eventing breeds” or “best jumping breeds” or, well, you
get the idea.
Comments
Post a Comment