Quarter horses

[Laura83]

Who has one?

I think they are stunning, not too tall but short coupled, strong, muscular, elegant horses. Absolutely gorgeous! I have heard they have a very laid back and calm temperament too and are good weight carriers - they sound ideal to me.

Anyway, I am rapidly falling in love with this breed so would love to hear peoples stories about theirs and see some pics :)

[Montana]

I think they're in my top 2 breeds (the other is cheating - my horse is an American paint x Arab, and I happen to think that's a great mix too!)

I got into western when my sister moved out to Texas. I went out and rode at the ranch she was working on, mostly on QH's. Came back to the UK, determined to buy a QH/Appy/Paint, and almost found one!

Have a look at the pics in the link in my signature - my sister and her OH now import QH's to the UK and I'm always tempted whenever they get something really good to tell her just to send it for me instead:D:D

I love the breed - they're so versatile and easy going:)

[Laura83]

Thanks for your reply :)

Do you know how well they perform in English disciplines? They must be able to put their agility to good use in show jumping I'd have thought. I am the kind of person who wants a great tempered allrounder, I'd love to be able to just have a bit of fun show jumping, try my hand at a bit of low level dressage just for a laugh so I am by no means looking for a horse that'll take me to the top!

The chilled-out easygoing temperament sounds just perfect.

I am lucky enough to live not far from Sovereign Quarter Horses, so am going to book a 'just for fun' Western lesson and meet some QHs!

[Trio]

my boy Jo's half QH (half arab) and he's a complete sweetiepie.

http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j265/skeats30/Copy3ofJOSEPT06003.jpg


first time i took him in the forest
http://i82.photobucket.com/albums/j265/skeats30/DSCN0222.jpg

[Laura83]

Trio he is gorgeous! So full of substance. Thank you for posting those :D

[greasedweasel]

We have one...

http://inlinethumb50.webshots.com/42673/2654641900075128712S425x425Q85.jpg (http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2654641900075128712guEuHT)

the bay rearing is an imported mare by "Perfect Execution" - she is in foal to our few spot Appaloosa "Exbury Ghost" and due early June. :D

[Alle]

My mare is a QH/TB cross, and sometimes the TB really comes out, as she can be hyper. Most of the time, she's sensible, sweet and really, really smart.
:)

We mostly do dressage, which she has quite a bit of talent for, and we jump a little...small stuff. The small stuff is do to my faintheartedness, not hers. :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Allevil/running.jpg

[levi1739]

"Oh yes, I'm a quarter horse rider, saddle up and watch em run"

For those that like those little saddles, and the skills that come with them,

http://www.skybluewalker.com/

And for others that like to chase cows,

http://www.babcockranch.com/

Two examples of very good breeding and competition barns. Simply the best of the best.

And here's one of ours, 'Jesse's Cajun Son'

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a49/levi1739/MVC-645Fx.jpg

Keep on, keepin on

Jack

[sotanimals]

Quarter horses? Man they rock. We have like 8.(included a couple mixs)
Rockin' Doc Smokey. He's our papered one. He was 3 when we got him, and he cost less the 500 dollars. If you're in the states NE is the cheapest place. I rate them in my top. They are SO COOL:D:):cool::p;):rolleyes:

[Cochise]

I'm rapidly being converted too! Some of them just don't look right to me, too much muscle in weird places, but others are just amazing. One of my top two breeds, the QH and of course the appaloosa. :D I'm looking for another horse in about 3 years time (Cheeks is semi retiring) so I'll be looking for whatever is right for me.
There's a lovely palomino QH stallion called Doc's Golden Pride standing in the South Island with a temperament to die for. I wouldn't mind one of his babies at all! :)

[Laura83]

They are all gorgeous!! I'm becoming addicted!

I think that's the trouble though, I can only find yearlings, young horses or broodmares for sale!!

Do most QHs get trained for English as well as Western?

I found this pretty girl - http://www.corporatehorse.co.uk/HorseDetails.aspx?HID=91&BID=3 - she is absolutely gorgeous but so little information is provided which surprises me as she is priced at £5000, you'd think they would attempt to justify that price!

[neen]

It's true, you don't find a lot of trained QHs for sale in the UK. I have seen very few English trained ones for sale; but then, I'm more interested in western riding, so I've never gone out to look for English trained horses.

They do work out more expensive over here than more usual UK breeds; you're still looking at a fairly small base of QHs in the UK to draw from, and you pay a premium for that.

If I were looking for a western-trained horse, I'd be tempted to follow the route Montana mentions and bring in a ranch-trained horse from the US. But it might not be worth the cost if you eventually want to ride English, as you'd need to retrain the horse anyway.

I bought a UK bred youngster in the end, to be trained western. It's a long slow haul, and of course the outcome isn't guaranteed, but it seemed the best option.

The western trained ones are certainly very chilled out; some of that must be in the breeding, as my youngster is extremely laid back already, but I think some of it may also come from the western training, which places a high value on calmness. Worth checking if you're looking for an English trained one!

[Cochise]

On the subject of English trained QHs, most I've encountered in this part of the world are western trained, but there are many QHXTbs out there in the English ring.

[calvo]

I dont own any but Im addicted to them! abso love watching them do cutting and reining :p

[anya01]

totally agree, my QH x ID appalossa is so laid back in fact i dont remember breaking her in just got on her back and away we went !! versatile xc / showing /endurance and SJ she is so compact really fast against the clock - currently in foal due mid june, not sure what colour the foal will be as i put her to Bazaars Chief coloured selle francais sport horse - anyone have any ideas to what colouri may expect??

anyway recommend 100% xx

[PonyGirlAsh]

I'm actually surprised that the UK is lacking in quarter horses. They are such a versatile breed, usually calm, good with kids, good doers. I started loaning one over here a couple months ago, and we just tried her english - she is a natural. Much better than western actually, and she was trained western pleasure. As for her temperment - she can be opinionated at times, but I think that's down to her being 4 and spoiled! :D

[Laura83]

I'm going up to see Sovereign QHs in June hopefully - they are pretty full weekend wise and I can't get from Cambridge to March by 5pm which is their last weekday lesson time! It feels like it's soooo far away still, but I'm really looking forward to it!

Hopefully they will advise me with regards to what I want vs what to expect and I'll see if they 'fit' me. If they're as easy to bring on as youngsters as people are saying they are then I might consider a youngun if I can't find an older horse. I wouldn't feel experienced enough to bring on a more demanding type of horse.

[campbh]

I've got a QH, UK-bred, affectionate, trainable and totally gorgeous - he's my 'good hair day' horse, fun to take out to clinics, shows, pleasure rides, ever curious and all round cute. And well schooled! That's why he's not for sale :D.

[Jessica23]

A guy i work with owns a QH stud! I think his wife does most of the breeding and horsey stuff, they've been doing it for like, 20 years though. Evans Quarter Horses they are :)

Fab breed, one i considered myself (would have imported one as they're a little small over here for me) and generally seem to have great temperments.