What breed would you suggest?

I'm horrified at how inbred some Ds are these days. I love mine but every one I know has had soundness issues at some points and the drama queen attitude gets wearing. Shocked nobody has suggested a highland. Clever, hardy, get a good one and they can do anything from endurance to BE. My highland mare is such an adorable personality and so quick to learn. You do get a few over height but even the little ones take up your leg.
 
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I'm horrified at how inbred some Ds are these days. I love mine but every one I know has had soundness issues at some points and the drama queen attitude gets wearing. Shocked nobody has suggested a highland. Clever, hardy, get a good one and they can do anything from endurance to BE. My highland mare is such an adorable personality and so quick to learn. You do get a few over height but even the little ones take up your leg.
Highlands are indeed lovely but heavier than I'd be looking for really, I definitely prefer finer hot bloods.
 
I'm horrified at how inbred some Ds are these days. I love mine but every one I know has had soundness issues at some points and the drama queen attitude gets wearing. Shocked nobody has suggested a highland. Clever, hardy, get a good one and they can do anything from endurance to BE. My highland mare is such an adorable personality and so quick to learn. You do get a few over height but even the little ones take up your leg.

I know what you mean, when I look at mine's pedigree some names are repeated far too often. He does have soundness issues too, related to metabolic problems. By and large I find the drama queen attitude amusing, not least because he's seldom brave enough to do anything about it - he's all flounce & then doesn't know quite what to do if his bluff is called lol.
 
I was window shopping/day dreaming looking at a few local (and not so local) D young stock and the same names came up so many times on both sides. Don't get me wrong, I love my Kez BUT at 5am when I'm trying to get him turned out and he's dug his heels in and won't leave the stable I could cheerfully throttle him! His sire died a few years ago and his dam died last year. I won't get another Kez so I probably won't go for another D again. Converted to highlands for the moment!
 
I was window shopping/day dreaming looking at a few local (and not so local) D young stock and the same names came up so many times on both sides. Don't get me wrong, I love my Kez BUT at 5am when I'm trying to get him turned out and he's dug his heels in and won't leave the stable I could cheerfully throttle him! His sire died a few years ago and his dam died last year. I won't get another Kez so I probably won't go for another D again. Converted to highlands for the moment!

Mine's too forward thinking to dig his toes in and plant, but he'd pin his ears, neck shake & throw legs around to show he didn't agree then try to sod off at a gate or whatever meant I had to take my eyes off him for half a second. I'd probably rather he planted than have to go & find him! Oh & somewhere in his pedigree there must be some mountain goat because he's apparently unable to see a hill or bank without wanting to climb it!!!

I like Highlands, and in some ways I think the temperament would suit me better when it came to riding, but I do find my little diva brings smile to my face with his antics & flounces :)
 
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An overheight New Forest? Or NF x TB?

Pete's a pure NF but the Arabian descendant definitely shows! He's hardy but fiesty, with a very quick brain and more than physically capable.

He himself is a little quirky, but get him onside and he's just the best fun with the biggest heart.
 
I like NF's, don't tend to see many over 15hh though. I'm not sure about crossing one with TB, is that just to get the height?
I'm not wanting a fire breathing dragon but not after a dobbin either, I like a little drama queen and feistyness :)
 
Does it have to be a particular breed though Jessey? Wouldn't a horse that ticked your boxes but was of unknown breeding be just as good? I feel that when anyone starts looking for a breed then they're narrowing down what they look at & often for no good reason.
 
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Does it have to be a particular breed though Jessey? Wouldn't a horse that ticked your boxes but was of unknown breeding be just as good? I feel that when anyone starts looking for a breed then they're narrowing down what they look at & often for no good reason.
Yeah a mongrel would work for me ;) but most ads seem to have some breed/type/X described and it's good to have an idea of which to skip and which to read, I think it's especially relevant when looking at foals because there's a big chunk of guess work in what an unknown breeding will turn out like unless you can view both parents.
And I'll look anywhere in the UK, and quite possibly beyond to get what I want at a reasonable price, so trawling through every single ad and asking those questions could be pretty time consuming.
 
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I like NF's, don't tend to see many over 15hh though. I'm not sure about crossing one with TB, is that just to get the height?
I'm not wanting a fire breathing dragon but not after a dobbin either, I like a little drama queen and feistyness :)

See you say you wouldn't want a Haffy, I can promise you Belle can be a drama queen and has a feisty streak sometimes. :)
I love Highlands, to be fair I've only met three but all of them have been stunning to look at, safe and sensible with a ton of stamina and a massive kind heart, if I was looking I would most definitely be looking for a Highland.
 
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I like NF's, don't tend to see many over 15hh though. I'm not sure about crossing one with TB, is that just to get the height?
I'm not wanting a fire breathing dragon but not after a dobbin either, I like a little drama queen and feistyness :)

There's quite a few NF x TB about and I've only heard good things about them. You obviously get an increase in height but also increased athleticism, too.

There's a few overheight NF's about too - my friend has one. Most breeders around the Forest will have a few, although technically they aren't considered full breds.

To be fair though, a full bred NF would carry you easily :)
 
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See you say you wouldn't want a Haffy, I can promise you Belle can be a drama queen and has a feisty streak sometimes. :)
I love Highlands, to be fair I've only met three but all of them have been stunning to look at, safe and sensible with a ton of stamina and a massive kind heart, if I was looking I would most definitely be looking for a Highland.
I know all breeds can have those days, but some are more so than others. Take my boys, Hank is the prankster, sassy and feisty. Dan is eeyore but can have the odd day full of himself. If I were picking one as my ridden companion it would be Hank, I just enjoy his company more.
 
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I know all breeds can have those days, but some are more so than others. Take my boys, Hank is the prankster, sassy and feisty. Dan is eeyore but can have the odd day full of himself. If I were picking one as my ridden companion it would be Hank, I just enjoy his company more.
And I guess thats what it comes down to in the end, if you 'click' but if your looking for a youngster you have to start somewhere don't you.
I was going to suggest a french trotter but they are possibly too fine for you? My freind has one, shes a sweet mare but never goes anywhere slowly, she's always on a mission and full of pep, but she's a lovely kind mare, no malice just lots of 'come on, places to go, people to see' attitude.
 
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There's quite a few NF x TB about and I've only heard good things about them. You obviously get an increase in height but also increased athleticism, too.

There's a few overheight NF's about too - my friend has one. Most breeders around the Forest will have a few, although technically they aren't considered full breds.

To be fair though, a full bred NF would carry you easily :)
It's not just about what can carry me, for what I want to do they have to be able to carry more and cover the ground well and a pony is just far less likely to be able to do those and if I'm going to buy a foal and bring it up for 4 years I want something with a high likelihood of meeting all my criteria, I wouldn't know if something is going to be over height until I'd already put a lot of energy into it.
 
And I guess thats what it comes down to in the end, if you 'click' but if your looking for a youngster you have to start somewhere don't you.
I was going to suggest a french trotter but they are possibly too fine for you? My freind has one, shes a sweet mare but never goes anywhere slowly, she's always on a mission and full of pep, but she's a lovely kind mare, no malice just lots of 'come on, places to go, people to see' attitude.
I've tended to avoid trotters as the only ones around here have generally come from road racing and just have race brain and can't trot or canter properly, but maybe having one from a foal wouldn't be so awful :) I'll have to do some research.
 
Just got this off Wikki for you:
The French Trotter excels at both ridden and driven trotting races, and maintains a particularly balanced and level stride.
Once its racing career is over it is extensively used as a remount for the Hunts (chasse à courre) in France where substance and economics are more important than equestrianism or turn-out. Its stamina, sure footing, excellent carrying abilities and even character makes it the choice mount for stag, boar and roedeer hunting, although Thoroughbreds and Selle Français may also be in use. An adult well trained trotter can carry a heavy rider for a full day of hunting over rough or heavy terrain and hard tracks, although some advanced huntsmen use remounts during the longest days. Most of the trotters are able to break into a low-gaited and comfortable canter. Their stamina can require an somewhat experienced rider. French Trotters can also make good show-jumpers and many champions have French Trotter blood. Jappeloup, the Seoul individual olympic gold-medallist was got by a French Trotter stallion.
 
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I've tended to avoid trotters as the only ones around here have generally come from road racing and just have race brain and can't trot or canter properly, but maybe having one from a foal wouldn't be so awful :) I'll have to do some research.
Yes, I know what you mean, my freind got hers as an newly broken four year old, it's taken her years to get a good canter, but that is just as much down to her time as the horses learning ability, she is a lovely mare and her type would suit you well I think.
 
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