What breeds are good at everything?

[horsecrazychick]

Eventually I'm going to be looking for a new horse- hopefully a project horse that is around 4 yrs. Around here, if you ride western/trail rides/barrelracing/anything you get a QH and if you do any kind of English you get a WB, or a TB if you can't afford a WB. So I was wondering what breed has the potential to accel in jumping,dressage, AND barrelracing? And still be sane enough to fool around on trail rides? I become a nervous wreck on horses that are all unpredictable, built up energy ready to go off like a bomb the next time a leaf blows in the wind- however I don't mind and can ride through the occasional spooks, stubborn bucking, or whatever. The horse I have now is a silly arab/appy mare who is just right for me(very stubborn and sometimes spooky, but I can awalys tell when she's going to act up- somedays all she wants to do is go on a long gallop and somedays all she wants to do is go back to the barn and eat- so she's right in the middle of the energy scale I guess.) except her arthritis limits her to walk and trot(and the sweetheart is only 9!) so I was thinking what breed my next horse shoudl be- maybe an appendix, an anglo-arab, TB/WB, arab/QH, or something else? I'd like to eventually get back into competing in eventing, barrel racing, and gymkhanas. And still continue trail rides.

[crazystevie]

I personally think most breeds can excel all round, if given chance. I would suggest however, you go for something like a TB x with a native breed. Therefore, hopefully, you'll get the hardiness, and temperament of the native, with the looks, speed and agility of a TB.

[toohorsemad]

Ok as I am connie mad I would say connemara as they are very clever and good allrounders but have a talent for jumping! If you want a horse you can get a connemara horse (I have one 15.1hh) but your probably should get a connie X id/tb as they seem to be quite good or maybe an arab for beauty! Whatever your really into! Just that connemaras ROCK!

[crazystevie]

I'll second that! Connies are the best - get a TB x Connie - thats what iove got and he's a brill allrounder.

[nuttymanxmare]

my mare is a kinsky warmblood and they are really versitile and can do anything. They make good eventers because of this.

[intouch]

I third that! Connemaras or Irish Draught crossed with TB, the original all-rounders! :D

[alliecatalex]

Around here QHs are used for a lot of things. They are great barrel horses and if trained they make really good jumpers too. I ride a QH and he has had some dressage training and he is great at it, he is also 16.1hh so if trained to be a jumper he would be great at it too. Since you live in the US a great site to look for horses for sale is dreamhorse.com there you can check the specific diciplines you want your horse to have and find the right one for you.

[KarinUS]

I think sometimes the obvious is overlooked because it is just too close. You are in the US and the most available and popular horses are TBs and QHs. Why do you think that is? I think both QH and TBs can excell in everything you have listed. Keep in mind many QHs are appendix and already have the speed of the TB bred in as such. Just look at conformation when you shop. For some reason many of the QHs around here seem to be a bit long in the back that's why I prefer teh squarer built of the TB but I am sure you can find a good QH.

[sarahbeth]

Morgan Horses are the true all around horse :D Quarter Horses aren't really english horses and Thoroughbreds are more of competitive horses. Not that I don't like them and I'm not saying that a quarter horse couldn't do dressage, but when you think of a morgan you don't think of one sport. They can do western, saddle seat, halter, pleasure, jumping...everything :) They're one of my favorite breeds and they have a lovely personality.

[horsecrazychick]

I rarely see any Irish draughts, connemaras, or any thing of the sort around here. Yep I've been to dreamhorse.com- it's my favorite site. ^^ When I do a search for 3-5 year olds near by and in my price range, mostly what comes up is LOTS of QHs, a few TB/WB crosses, and a few arabs. An appendix might work well but I haven't seen very many of them. Could someone explain the difference to me of an appendix QH and a running QH? Also, most of the QHs here are bred for roping/cutting/etc so they are strong, wide, and short. Hard to imagine them jumping very high or running very fast with those short legs. There are some taller ones though. So far I haven't had much luck with TBs so maybe a quarab or a an appendix QH would work well. It's funny how everyone here has either a QH or a TB, and it seems to me like almost everyone in the UK has large ponies or short draft breeds. :D I don't know anyone that rides a WB- are they generally a bit calmer than TBs? I will be looking mostly for conformation and personality(and soundness!), but it would help to decide which breeds would be most suitable. I wouldn't want the horse's build to limit him from improving in whatever we're doing. Do taller/leaner horses not do as well in barrelracing/pole bending/etc? because all of the horses at the gymkhanas I go to are fairly short and very muscular QHs that can turn on a dime. :rolleyes:

[KarinUS]

An appendix Qh is a QH that has one or more TBs in their lineage. (Like if the dam is a QH and the sire is a TB you could still register the horse as an appendix QH). Gets you usually a taller, less stocky type of QH.

[charlotte+jill!]

I would rate at appy ...... mine was good enough for dressage..... good enough at jumping for just showjumping (he could fly 1.25) and def speedy enough for barrelracing and games. And had a quite sane head on young shoulders. :D

Mind you my now mixed breed who knows what is it, horse is a complete allrounder..... capible of 69% dressage, 1.15 tracks and likes his games too....... and hes a 15hh lightweight cobby thing

I wouldnt really judge by breed just look at the horse and try and see what it is capible of :D

[jUmPingIsLifE]

QH's make great english horses and great jumpers. around here they are very common for english. and they can also do western.

really though any breed out there could excell in both english and western you just have to find the right horse. my paso fino can do both english and western so can my QH/TB

if you go on www.dreamhorse.com or www.equine.com i think you'll be surprised with how many great jumper QHs you find, they are very common around here in the english show ring. and can quite often outdue warmbloods.

[horsecrazychick]

Thanks guys. The pony that I have now can't do much riding any more but she was an arab/appy and very all-around. However she'd be a bit too small for me now since she's only about 14.3 hands. I understand what an appendix is, I just don't get how it's different from a running QH. Someone told me that a running QH is also part QH and part TB, but something in their bloodlines makes them different(something about their parents being or not being racehorses or something like that???) I don't know..

[Kanuma]

i'll fourth the connie idea! brilliant ponies can do just about anything they set thier mind to. ive seen connies do western, sidesaddle, derssage, jumping, XC (they seem to particularly like this one), my connie has an amazeing turn of speed often out paceing our arab ove a short distance. they are quite sensible as a rule but also stubborn!

anyway, im a great believer that any horse with a sensible conformation can do anything! go for a horse you feel comfy with!

[horsecrazychick]

Is there a reason why you never see, say an eventing horse also do barrel racing? ESPECIALLY not the higher level ones? That's always made me wonder if one breed(or horse) can only be REALLY good at one thing- but then again it's probably just that most riders like to focus on only one discipline. Right?

[Kanuma]

mainly its because the riders specialise. and also because the horses at the top are worth a fortune, you do your best to minimise any injury. you also specialise the horses training to that one discipline.
but then again i know a lovely little (14.2hh) coloured pony who evented at quite high level, did western, did showing, heck even did the fancy dress! and generaly did very well at every thing he tried!

[horsecrazychick]

Yep that's a pretty good description of my pony. If only she would grow a little taller and turn completely sound. :rolleyes:

[toohorsemad]

I love connies but I don't think you would see many as you live in the US!

[fataldream]

i would say connameraXTB

[SupaTania]

Max is a german Warmblood, (cost his 1st owner over $100,000, then she gave him up and he was passed on and malnourished till he got to me, for free) and he absolutely loves to jump, although he is as old as dirt. (18-25) He is a very showy horse, and carries himself nicely, so is pretty much an english/dressage horse, but I'm sure with the proper training (at a younger age) he'd do western nicely as well

[ponylover88]

i have a 15.1hh coloured wb, and a 15.1hh grey cob. theyre both what id class as all-rounders. they both do dressage, theyre both reasonably showy, paddy in particular, theyve both hunted, reasonable jumpers. would jump 1m+. i think paddy, because hes more of a medium - lightweight, would be good at barrel racing, and even western. hes got speed, but yet is nice and steady.
im wbs all the way. :D

[jinglejoys]

Mules!:D
With the right rider who they trust they'll do anything for you;)

[Kira657]

I'll second that! Connies are the best - get a TB x Connie - thats what iove got and he's a brill allrounder.

Me too!

[kunama]

A good welsh sec D will go any where do any thing and be sane doing it my old 14hh welsh d would hunt all day twice a week , jump 4ft, go xc , ODE , you can fire pistol and carbine off her.... the list goes on AND thier just that little bit quieter than a connie.

[Kanuma]

dont know where you are but over here a D is no where near quieter then a connie, giant over grown drama queens perhaps but not quiet!

[love4horses]

Well, I am also from the U.S. and I know two very good websites to visit for finding horses of all disciplines and breeds, even some of the more rare breeds. They are: www.agdirect.com and www.horseweb.com . I love Tennessee Walking Horses and they are very versitile and can do almost anything. One thing I have never seen done on them is dressage, but that is understandable seeing how they all ready have their fancy gait. TWH's can do hunter/jumper, saddle seat, western pleasure, trail riding(which I favor most), and many english classes that are at TWHBEA shows. These include open shod, light shod, fast racking, and so on. I just love them also because they have sweet personalities and can adjust well to almost anything.

[xhorse_riderx]

i would say maybe an anglo-arb (arab x TB) as the have the elegance and beauty of an arab and speed size and stamina of a TB !! best of both worlds !!

[Luv 2 Trot]

Quarter Horses are known as an all around breed. They can race, do dressage, jumping, western, hunter under saddle, conformation, driving, trail riding, eventing, cross country, speed, the list goes on and on. Plus, they are known for good temperment and calm dispostions, though not all are like that. I would definatley go for the Quarter Horse.

[sassy210605]

I d crossed with tb

[Keket]

I'm probably being biased, but in my experience, Quarter Horses make great English horses. They've got a lot of power in the hind end so they tend to drive themselves along with they're hind legs and collect quite well. It is true that they're more related to Western disciplines, but they can make except English horses too. :)

[Luv 2 Trot]

My appendix QH and i just recieved Champion's in English Pleasure and English Equitation on the flat and my friend and he QH recieved Champion's in Western Pleasure and Horsemanship.

[CMR]

I was too lazy to read through what everyone said, but I think draft horses really are great all around horses. Of course the bigger and bulkier ones won't be any good for western events, if you get one of the hitch type Percherons, they really can do anything. Or a draft cross. Even though they are really large, they are very bravehearted and definitly won't be temperamental. :)

[Slewgal]

An appendix Qh is a QH that has one or more TBs in their lineage. (Like if the dam is a QH and the sire is a TB you could still register the horse as an appendix QH). Gets you usually a taller, less stocky type of QH.


I second that. I have an appendix QH and she can do eventing and she's never gone western, but the loves to run and I think she'd be an awesome barrel racer.

[stevielee]

My ID x Hanoverian is brill at everything. She can jump brilliant but is good at dressage too. She will also hack out for 3 hourse while we just plod around the fields and then when i want a good waz shes good too.

[eventerbabe]

if you can cope with their drama queen natures then you can't beat a welsh section D. they can do everything from PC games to affliliated eventing. and they are stunning to look at.

[PinkGlamourGurl]

i'd say go for an arab x haflingler. that way it'll be flighty and really hardy. haflingers are known to be great allrounders they excel in evrything, but just foor fun cross it with an arab, that means better speed and endurance. hope that helps nat x

[mogadoga]

Personally, through sight/experience... it doesnt matter. As long as you can train the horse!

[justjay]

im a thoroughbred person
i disagree with what yousaid, if you cant afford a warmblood get a thoroughbred. they excel in different things. if you watch the olympics or famous events like badmitton and burghley, about 95 percent of the horses are thoroughbreds or thoroughbred crosses, meaning they can do the dressage, cross country and the stadium.
u dont see many warmbloods event
on the other hand, in equitation classes, almost all of the horses are bigboned warmbloods, the same with higher level dressage. they excel in different things. throroughbreds are not a cheaper horse if u cant afford a warmblood, they are a choice. i chose a thoroughbred over them because i want to event, and i love their heart, courage, strength and athleticism. if i did eq id prob. want a warmblood, and prefer their jump and movement but for what i do thoroughbreds are perfect
for your question...i think a throroughbred cross. not a pure thoroughbred for those different tasks, but maybe an appendix?? quarter horses are good western horses and throughbreds are great to event and do english so thats the best of both world, though you will have to tryn them as some are more like a thoroughbred and some quater horse