Best Beginer horse?

[Hannah.Horsie]

What would you guys say a good (in terms of tempermant etc) breed for a first time owner (but fully capable rider) would be, just wondered
hannah

[Guest]

I don't think any particular breed, each horse is different.
They say cobs are a bit more level headed but I wouldn't say that is strictly true.
Just look for a horse with good ground manners and relatively quiet all round.

[i luv horses]

yer same as bobbin

[Danyele]

You can't really go by breed, cobs are normally thought to be calmer, and ponies cheekier, but my last cob was a TOTAL nut, and i've ridden quite a few sweet ponies!

[Unbridled]

Every breed has it's bad apples! Go by the individual horse, not by it's breed's reputation. ;)

[Lucyad]

I agree - whoever made up the safe ploddy cob myth hadnt met a lot that I know - just go and see different horses, and judge them on their individual behaviour. In saying that Oscar is the calmest horse I have ever met - he is Clydesdale cross TB, and a big sweety. I had a share of a cob and she was a great confidence giver as well but clever and tempemental, and very fast. All my neighbour's driving cobs are comletely mental!

[Holly B]

I agree with what's already been said, you need to think "I want a horse that is bombproof/forward going but easy to control/experienced at the discipline I want to take part in" or whatever rather than "I want X/Y/Z breed and won't even look at A/B/C". You get horses of every different personality in every breed... true, some breeds tend towards something, such as TBs are often exciteable, but there are also really slow, clam, bombproof TBs out there as well. And, again. as someone has already said... DON'T believe all cobs are really calm and easy to ride because they are not (not thinking of anyone in particular... WILLOW!) :D

[laskiblue]

I think the best way to find out what breed is suitable for you is to do a bit of research and meet as many different breeds as you can. Different breed personalities and individual horse personality traits will fit in a unique way with your own personality -- so enjoy the search!

Laskiblue

[Bay Mare]

As others have said look at the traits that you want rather than the breed. Although there are stereotypes for each breed not every horse has read the book so doesn't necessarily know how they're supposed to behave :)

It's also going to depend on your experience with handling horses. Some RS riders are fairly accomplished riders but rarely get to handle horses. Others are expected to do a fair amount of stable management in addition to the riding (best way in my opinion :) ) so are more experienced in coping with less than ploddy horses.

I found, though, that when I went to look at horses that my 'ideals' went out of the window and I quite simply fell in love. I'd gone there thinking that I would fall in love with every horse that I looked at but I didn't. I saw Saff and I was hooked even though the third horse was my 'ideal' on paper!

My 'ideal' was a 16hh+ dark bay, warmblood mare, 6 years old MINIMUM. Saffy is a 15.1hh, steel grey, RSIH mare and was 5 years old when I got her :eek:

Ok, she's a mare and in theory she's 'warmblood' (with a small 'w') in that she's IDxTB but not Warmblood in the breed sense of the word. If you'd have told me that I'd have chosen her (she was third on my list just because I wanted to look at a few) before I went to see her I'd have told you no way no how! Now, of course, I wouldn't part with her for the world :D