I've got a friend with paso's, I've not had much to do with them tho, perhaps another to check out.RHM's looks nice, what about other gaited breeds like a Paso Fino?
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'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 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!
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.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.
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
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
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.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.
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 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.
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.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
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.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.
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.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.