Your favorite breed’s stereotype – and your response?
Sep 23 2009
I grew up with Thoroughbreds, in a polo barn where they were the primary breed, so I was somewhat surprised when I got out into the “real” world and learned that many people did not like Thoroughbreds and, in fact, thought they were unsafe. What in the world were those people talking about? We routinely rode our Thoroughbreds bareback while ponying horses off of both sides at all three gaits with no issues. Our horses hardly ever spooked and bucking was unheard of. I was baffled at why everybody wouldn’t agree that Thoroughbreds were a very well-behaved and sensible breed of horse. Now, the handful of boarded horses at the polo barn – the Arabs, the Appies – those were some broncs! Those were the horses who would like as not try to buck you off or bolt into next week.
Then I finally started to pay attention to how people in the non-polo-world often managed their Thoroughbreds. First of all, they didn’t work them nearly enough or consistently enough. They locked them in stalls. They fed them waaaaay too much grain. I couldn’t believe how much grain some of these horses got. And when the horse did something that a polo person would have smacked them for, the non-polo person giggled or just whined about how “he always does that.” At any rate, the conclusion I eventually came to was that there was some truth to the stereotype – bad management could absolutely make Thoroughbreds into loons, and working the crap out of them six days a week, feeding lots of hay and very little grain, and disciplining them when they were pushy could absolutely make them into the well-behaved horses I worked with in the polo world. And those boarded horses I remembered from my youth? I finally “got” that they were rotten because they were weekend horses who sat in a no-turnout barn and were only taken out for riding sessions. No wonder they were nuts! It had very little to do with breed.
Also, as I expanded my horizons and rode other breeds, I saw that there were breeds more tolerant of beginner mistakes, like the typical Quarter Horse. I never saw Thoroughbreds (except very old ones in the lesson program) dealing with poor riders, because let’s face it, you don’t see a lot of poor riding around polo. Also, I realized a QH is more likely to behave well if you pull him out once a month and get on him bareback. It’s the rare TB that does well with inconsistent work – we all just assumed that if you gave a horse 2 days off in a row, you were slacking and likely to pay for it with an more exciting ride than normal – whereas in the non-polo-world, 2 days off is common. I see where the stereotype comes from now – it’s just that like many Thoroughbred fans, I like that these horses have high expectations of their riders! (I see this also in Arabian people…they figure if you can’t ride one, well, you are probably not smart enough to. 
)
So, what is your favorite breed and what are the stereotypes about it? Spooky Arabians, stubborn Appaloosas, dumb but explosive warmbloods, rotten ponies…what are you up against? Do you admit there is truth to some of it, or do you think it’s totally off the wall and unfair?
Have your own beliefs about certain breeds changed with time? I admit I used to have no use for Arabians after having some bad experiences in my youth, and now I’ve decided I like some Arabians and I’m seeing patterns about which bloodlines I get along with. Have you wound up owning a horse who’s a breed you said you’d never have in your barn, and you love him now?
Here’s a good question: Has your favorite breed changed as you’ve grown older? I still love Thoroughbreds, but I have to say, I have really come to appreciate owning a Quarter Horse that I can get on in a halter any day of the week, whether or not he’s been ridden consistently, and get the same predictable ride from. Getting older and getting busier changes many peoples’ riding schedule, and the hot horses sometimes just don’t fit your lifestyle anymore.
Do you own a horse who’s just so darn awesome that they’ve been able to change numerous peoples’ minds about a breed? I’ve seen people forge bravely ahead with a non-traditional breed in a discipline like dressage or endurance and earn the respect of their peers as well as boosting that breed’s reputation.
Let’s talk about all the stereotypes – good and bad. What do you think?
270 comments to “Your favorite breed’s stereotype – and your response?”
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I grew up showing and raising tennessee walkers and I guess the typical walking horse these days is just an average black horse. However, I had one very stout bay gelding that everyone seemed to confuse with a morgan or quarter horse. He was a very easy keeper so I guess you could confuse his neck with some morgans, and he had a chest and butt on him like a roping horse so I can see why people would confuse him with a qh. It wasnt until you saw him move that you could tell he was a walking horse. I was one of a handful of kids that showed a walker in 4-h. Walkers werent really as common in the area where I lived back then. So when I began cleaning up at the fair each year people started to change their opinions about walkers. Pretty much everywhere we went someone would offer to buy him or ask if he was for sale. He was an awesome horse that you could do anything with, except speed events; he was a bit slow. My mom decided to sell him when I was 16 and I started riding a 4 yr old walker mare that I had been raising. Now she was a typical looking walker; black, star, and 2 back socks. But she wasnt typical when it came to speed events. She blew past qh times in barrels, and key hole on numerous times. So I guess there are exceptions to every breed. I was lucky enough to own 2 at one time. I currently own a bitchy black 2yr old qh, lol. Shes just average as far as looks but I think she has the heart and will to run. So maybe someday she will be another exception, or not. Who knows.
Oh, the SIZE issue — doesn’t that just drive you crazy? The dressage crowd has the 18hh whatevers (mostly in their own minds are these horses 18hh), but horses that size have to wear bar shoes on all four hooves and cannot do any training without bells on all four, too. A horse that is between 16hh and maybe 17hh is athletic enough to “do the job” and stay relatively sound in the process, IMHO. My next TB is going to be about 16.2 — at least, that’s the plan. I’m tall enough and my legs are long enough that the 16hh fellow I have now (who is WONDERFUL, don’t get me wrong) is almost too small for me. My legs are not dragging the ground on either side of him or anything (talk about “two tracks ;o), but I would just like a horse that’s a bit taller.
My favoriate breed, hands down is the TB. Thanks for the post today because you have hit the nail on the head. Denali is a 5 year old OTTB who I’ve owned for a year now. When I got her she had no manners at all. She was really a GIANT baby still. She’s come so far in a year, and I am very proud of her! She is in training for Dressage and is super smart. You need to teacher her something once and she has it down!
I moved to Denmark and left Denali at a boarding facility that I thought would take good care of her. I guess they didn’t understand the whole feeding her daily, and turning her out. When I came back 3 months later she was untouchable and “crazy.” We were back to square one. I moved her to an amazing barn with an amazing trainer who won’t put up with her shit. If she steps out of line, the trainer makes her listen.
The most important thing about a TB is that you can’t make them your friend. If you let them get away with anything they’ll continue to push the limits. If you can handle that, a TB is the most amazing, loyal horse I’ve ever been around! (Although it’s hard when all horses are so amazing.)
I loved my Arab, who lived to be 34 and was always game for a trail ride or a schooling show. He was Mr. Congeniality-fun, kind, loud and social. What he lacked in conformation (short neck, long back, cow hocks…) he made up for in personality. An easy keeper.
My TB mare, true to your description, was a smart little handful that needed to work everyday. She was a bitch to other horses but perfect lady to people. Great horse for a trail ride alone. Not an easy keeper, but worth the trouble.
My paint horses (I rescued 2) were either stupid or crazy. I think the fact that the crazy little paint only had one grandmother didn’t help her allergies or disposition toward any irregularities in her environment, especially while schooling in the arena, even though I turn out a lot. The stupid paint is still here and tolerates sporadic work fairly well. After 6 years she still doesn’t know which way the gate to her pasture opens. She also doesn’t know to remove her head from the bucket to let me dump her food. My Arab or TB could have mixed the food for them all after the first week.
My hero is a 5 year old unpapered, Appy-something cross. He was a wreck waiting to happen but didn’t. He was gelded at 4. I learned after I bought him at 4.5 that the former owner, not a vet, did the gelding himself. I bought the horse because I liked his disposition and conformation and I thought he needed an “upgrade” and a good future and I needed a new best friend. I was told that he was an Appaloosa-Warmblood cross, which was a good story, as he could easily pass for such, but wouldn’t pass for straight App or WB. After a few months fall set in and within 10 minutes of the first cool breeze he had feathers on his legs. Then everyone who saw him assumed he was an Appy-draft cross, which is probably closer to the truth. The big mutt (16.1+) is as sweet as the Arab, as smart as the TB and as calm as the stupid Paint. And best of all he is a very good mover and an easy keeper that I can skip riding for a week when I am too busy with a full time job and 3 school age kids and a husband who travels a lot for work. After a 10 minute lunge, I can ride safely and happily. He is still young and I look forward to many years with the big white gelding with a few leopard spots, a pink nose, draft feathers and no papers.
PONIES! I am so sick of hearing 1) Ponies are mean and nasty and 2) adults can’t ride ponies unless said adult is 100 lbs
Ponies aren’t “mean and nasty” they are brilliant, they are the evil geniuses of the equine world. I like that my pony challenges me, and that I have to work for what I want him to do. In return I have a calm, intelligent, and mischievous enough to be fun, companion. Our impish personalities jive. We are attached at the hip, and I love that his size makes him more accessible for snuggling. His size also makes him a wonderful ambassador for kids and adults alike.
As for adults riding ponies, it is so common in Europe, ponies are ridiculously cheap to feed, tend to have great feet and are often more economical. In terms of size and proportions, my pony’s legs are thicker than many QHs, and even though he’s only 14.1 he carries me easily. I am 5’7″. I feel like I’m riding a miata.
I THOUGHT I wanted an 18hh Warmblood, and then I fell in love with a shaggy, filthy, obnoxious little brat with a heart of gold. I’m sold on ponies and I’m never going back.
People who hate on ponies can’t understand their intelligence or are too lazy to deal with it. Once you earn their respect, ponies are loyal and give their all for the right person.
my all time fav breed is the mustang. they are not crazy. and they can be retrained. i have owned many horses from a old buckskin mare to a pony. and my mustang is the best horse i have owned. they are very smart and quick learners.
this is a picutre of my mustang she and been broke for 2 years.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/christa_marie/3905846002/sizes/o/
I’ve ridden TBs and QHs since I was 6-years-old, having those be pretty predominant breeds in hunters. I was given my first book of horse breeds for Christmas when I was 7. As I flipped through the pages, I found the percheron and have been addicted to the breed ever since, each percheron I’ve met and worked with have reinforced my love of the breed. My first horse was a super attractive percheron/arabian cross (looked like a slimmed percheron with the arabian athleticism) who was the barn favorite because of his looks, size, and unbeatable temperament. I now have a percheron yearling with the same gentle demeanor but with a lot of personality who I will be doing a lot of dressage with when his time comes. I cannot stand the stereotype that drafts are dumb and sluggish. First off, percherons are noted for their intelligence and secondly, if your draft horse is behaving sluggishly, you need to speak with a draft-savvy vet who knows what they are doing (I myself have been through a few vets because they were unaware of what sort of problems are especially common in draft horses and what needs to be paid special attention to). A perfectly healthy draft horse should not behave sluggishly and there is nothing quite as magnificent, powerful, and impressive as a show-quality percheron (in my humble opinion)!
As for breeds I’m not too keen on…I’m not one for appaloosas. I like thick manes and tails and am not someone who can find much beauty in most appy patterns (with one exception-leopard appaloosas).
Sent before I remembered the other half of my point: OTTBs make wonderful trail horses. My guy is happy leading, middling, and bringing up the rear. He knows that wherever we ride is where he belongs and the fact that he’s not “winning” isn’t important to him. He learned about trail riding by going out with a reliable old fellow that had been there and done EVERYTHING. Once he got the idea that trail riding did not mean The End To Life As He Knew It or, even worse, Death, Chapter Two, he was fine. And he IS fine with it today. Has taught other youngsters about the joys of trail, too.
A lot of the people who are afraid of their horses (and only want to do dressage) are afraid of trail riding too. If they can’t have draw reins, German martingales, and a rail, they aren’t interested in riding at all. Too bad, really. They are missing out on a LOT of fun and the chance to give their horse a change of scene.
Well I grew up riding and training appaloosas. Always heard the “stupid stubborn appies” and “there was a reason the natives rode them to war” stories. Yes, appaloosas are stubborn, because they think about EVERYTHING, and let them get away with it once, and you’ve got some work on your hands becase the appies don’t soon forget. I <3 appies and would trust them above any other breed in a difficult situation.
My breed is the Bashkir Curly. My boy is just 13.3hh but he is plenty big enough for me. I have never EVER met a more willing breed than the Bashkir. I worked at a farm that raises them for 3 years, that is where I got my boy from. I trained on average 17 horses each summer and only one out of all of them ever bucked, and she did so just once.
Children’s pony? Check. Beginners pony? Check. Competitors pony? Double check. I will never give up my lovely curlies!!
My Arabian gelding, Rafiq, whom I’ve owned since he was weaned, has changed the minds of *many* people about the Arabian breed. He is gentle and kind and affectionate, but knows how to boogie and show off when I shoo him off to do just that. An easy ride from the first day I flopped over him bareback, he will “spook in place” before bolting or bucking. He thinks through dilemmas, and almost always does as asked. He is a dream to ride, so I often have used him for all levels of riding with students. I can start them bareback at each gait and let them “earn” their saddle and reins. He has even ignored his fight or flight impulses and placed himself between danger (perceived and real) and me! I also have an Arabian mare who is very hot when worked and under saddle, but super-snuggly whenever she gets the chance.
I have worked (as a trainer) with some Arabians who completely fit the “hot”/”spooky” stereotype. Some were complete flakes. However, I’ve never worked with an Arabian I couldn’t turn around and get that hyper-sensitive brain engaged in constructively using his/her energy. This has been my breed of choice for over 25 yrs. Rafiq has been the “mascot” for an equine-assisted counseling program I started nearly a decade ago – one which has been heavily populated by Arabians and other breeds. I do love all horse breeds – each has its own niche – but I steer clear of QH’s that were bred to be halter horses (ballerina feet), and gaited/park horses that have been in show training due to the wear and tear to which they are often subjected.
Currently Rafiq is living at a nearby equine hospital due to a horrible founder with severe abscessing on one hoof (exposed the tip of the coffin bone!). For nearly 6 wks he could hardly put any weight on that foot, so he just became the tripod horse until the abscesses started coming through and relieving his pain. Horses have been dying all over down here in SE Texas with the extreme heat we had over the summer, and he has outlived horses with far better odds of survival. He has won over the hearts of every vet and tech at the clinic and hospital with his nickers and “scratch my chin” antics. I had to undergo major surgery just weeks after he had foundered, and had some complications that landed me in the ICU. Yet I get wonderful reports on his progress from vets who are usually guarded in their prognoses. I can’t keep count of how many folks have commented on how great he looks “for his age.” When was 18 considered so old?
Bonus: I owe a lot of gratitude to this blog as I posted a question about outdoor rubber mats I needed to help my pacing horse *NOT* walk himself up to his knees in his walk-out pen while recovering. Several members responded to my post via email, and pointed me to a Cushing’s/Insulin Resistance group on Yahoo. Rafiq tested positive for both, but his levels are (finally) in normal range, and while he will lose most of the original hoof on the bad foot, he is already growing in solid healthy hoof tissue and can use that foot almost equally to the other.
Wishing all my fellow horse-lovers a great week!
Shannon, Rafiq and Majik
I am sick to death of the “horrible pony” comments. You haven’t seen a good pony only because you haven’t looked.
The best horse I’ve ever known in the 50 years I’ve had horses was a 1/2 Shetland 1/4 QH, 1/4 Arab. He did everything and he did it well and he’d do it forever. You just couldn’t let him get bored. I tend to like smart horses and don’t generally like stock horses or geldings so I guess I have my own stereotypes.
I guess the images of romeo never worked the first time so here’s try two
and that didn’t work either :S what friggin format do we need to use to post pictures???
here’s try 3 just to see what happens
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/angie0067/n727255349_2984927_7985160.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/angie0067/n640381009_2242205_7556792.jpg
http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l34/angie0067/6334_133642567232_624107232_2947159.jpg
I love ponies. I feel you get more “bang for your buck”. They are generally easy keepers, long lived and if fed correctly, low maintenance. I believe that their reputation come from the fact that they are so smart and we often leave their training up to kids and teens. Not that this is always a bad scenerio but often you end up with a spoiled bratty pony.
I have a paint pony (yes, she is registered APPR) mare, a grade welsh type pony gelding (sold to me as a Fjord X, he is 12hh and so very refined), and a Haflinger. I still also have my first horse who is an appendix 1/4 horse who came off the track. She is now 23 and I got her 19 years ago when I was 14. She was always too much horse for me as I wasn’t (nor was my family) educated enough to deal with her. I never gave her up and have been looking after her all this time and have learned lots since that first purchase.
My hairy yellow pony (Haflinger) is my soul mate. I got Wizard as a weanling and he is now 7. He has been the quietest, kindest horse I have ever known. He oozes personality and always makes me laugh. We are doing classical dressage and unknown to most, they are very capable movers and jumpers. He is very steady, thinks before he acts and I can get on him after months off (like after our Canadian winter) without weeks of ground prep. He does have his faults. Like many haflingers he can be pushy but is so passive about it and is never mean, I often mistakenly overlook it. Often they are treated as though they were born broke and that gives people false security and they end up in trouble when their horse suddenly reacts to something like a horse. He is also VERY dominant out in a herd and that is apparently common in the breed.
Their stereotype to non haflinger familiar folks is that they are just yellow hairy fat ponies. They often appear that way due to overfeeding (they are a cold area horse and metabolize their feed really well), not enough riding (they are often lazy, again due to being fat and underworked), and they are big boned.
Wizard is slowly winning my fiancee over but probably will never lure him away from his trusty quarterhorses.
Stereotypes are always just that – stereotypes. For as many as you find that “fit it” you’ll find those that don’t. That said, I do love thoroughbreds. In general I love a horse that wants to “go” and I really don’t like a horse that I constantly had to prod to get moving! Some quarterhorses I have had great experiences with (the working kind) but not all (haven’t been too fond of the halter/western pleasure types). I admit I’m not too fond of appys finding them generally cranky and mean and lazy, but I think that must just because I had a bad experience with a few sour ones. I use to have the “crazy arab” prejudice, until I had an opportunity to ride with a “horse crazy” lady who loved arabs and had taken in a whole assortment of “crazy” ones that were headed for slaughter because they were unsafe and “psycho.” Her solution? She just worked the heck out of them on trail rides, never arena work really at all. They were great and totally trustworthy. We took them everywhere and did everything with them. They were awesome and totally changed my mind about Arabs. I can remember once going on a fox hunt with her and another friend. We joined the hunt club members who were all on these big, ploddy draft-crosses and they obviously snickered at us on our “psycho” arabs. Well, we showed them! Our horses were awesome! I was riding an endurance arab that had the best extended trot. I remember just flying by all the hunt club riders that were hand-galloping in this beautiful extended trot. And he had a jump like a cat – way fun!
I grew up riding an appendix quarterhorse that was an amazing horse. Scary smart, athletic and would never quit going. He was a working horse through and through and he loved to have a job and get things done!
Now I have a retired polo pony mare (TB), an old creaky quarterhorse gelding and a piggy, laminitis-prone shetland. I enjoy them all, although I must admit I really like my old polo pony. She is so smart and willing even if her ability to go is oftentimes more than my old, out of shape legs can hold on for! And aware of everything that goes on around her but not at all “spooky” just figuring it out. And she definitely will “test” me and watch out if I let her get away with anything! When I first got her she “pretended” like she didn’t know how to pick up a foot! Now, I know a polo pony KNOWS how to pick up their feet! So a few elbows in the side and a smack on the butt she gave out a big “sigh” and now picks up her feet just dandy. Stinker. A beautiful, spirited, smart and sweet mare.
As a farrier, I see lots of breeds and training methods. I don’t care about the breed. I do care about the training. It must be present to have any chance of a good horse.
I am in the same boat as Fugs in regards to Arabs. Some lines I LOVE (*cough*Crabbet*cough*) and some I just can’t figure out. I tell my clients the same things about Arabs as I do about mules: If you ever have a good one, nothing else will ever do for you. If you ever have a bad one, you will never touch them again!
TB’s are great if they have a steady, full time job. (The horse, not the person.) You just can’t have an 1100 lb. animal jacked up on a sugar rush (oh yes, give him the sticky sweet feed) kept in a 1/4 acre paddock, and expect that animal to behave when you take them out to ride. With regards to Saddlebreds, I have a customer with a retired Saddlebred show horse he uses on trails with much satisfaction. So see, there is one good one out there. My daughter (age 6) has a ‘jumper cross’ pony i.e. mom or dad jumped the fence to make her
who I would almost lay down my life for. That pony lets my daughter do some of the dumbest things! If someone at the barn had a camera, I fear we would be regular topics of discussion here! But NEVER for helment infractions. One saved my life when I was 17 ~ big fan of the ‘brain bucket’!!!!! My son (age 
has an ArabxApp – Dad came home with her one day, not my choice. She loves my son, takes advantage of my daughter, and has stolen my heart. I would have sent her back on the spot because of her breed(s) except my daughter claimed her (she’s a grey, what can I say?) I am really glad we kept her. Bomb-proof. She had a goat jump on her a** when I was riding her one day and didn’t even flinch! She just looked at me as if to say, “Was that a goat on my a**?” She got the golden ticket.
I believe most horses do not need grain at all, just good hay/pasture. The other thing I discuss with clients is the horses work load and behavior and how they are connected. Finish the training. Don’t just do games 1-3, or video 1 & 2, or a weekend clinic and call your horse trained. Finish it! For the serious horse people, that horse is finished with the training the day he dies. Let’s face it, if you had an old, retired horse that was never worked and decided to push you out of the way of their feed bucket, you would have a ‘training session’ (not ‘beating session’, but a reminder of how to behave). The training never ends.
Boy, it really shows what type of horses I have been working on all week . . .
I own a Standardbred, I think anyone that knows anything about Standardbreds doesn’t need to hear anymore to know exactly what I am talking about.
Apparently Standardbreds are all jug-headed ugly horses who can do nothing but pace. Occasionally they can trot, but Standardbreds can’t canter, and the very idea is absurd. They also can’t jump; the Standardbred I rode who could jump 4′ without blinking and eye and who never refused a jump? obviously a Thoroughbred in disguise.
All Standardbreds are built downhill, which is one of the reasons they can’t canter, and because of this they can’t be shown at all and will never be any good for dressage. apparently Standardbreds are also all stubborn as mules. they also all have short thin necks, roman noses, and big ears.
Oh yes, and every single one that was ever near a race track is dead lame and you should never buy one because all it will be able to do is hobble around the paddock. My standardbred; who raced until he was 6; is one of the most sound horses I have ever worked with, in the 7 years I have owned him the only time he was ever lame was when he got a minor abscess in his foot and he was only sore for one day (we have a fantastic farrier who came out as soon as we called him and treat it as soon as we noticed he was off. ) I used to work at a trail riding barn full of off track standardbreds and we never had soundness problems with them, it was usually all the other breeds we owned that went lame.
as for the ugly as sin part, I’m going to sound a little vain here and admit that my horse is pretty damn good looking, I often have people not believe he is a standardbred because he isn’t ugly. Personally I’ve found standardbreds have some of the sweetest faces, kindest eyes, nicest bodies and strongest legs of all the breeds of horses I see trucking around on the trails.
Us standardbred people also hear the same things as the Thoroughbred people about riding ex-race horses, about how they are crazy and only know how to run…
Well the way we used to break standardbred’s to be trail horses once they came off the track was to put a saddle on them (which they had never had done), hop on, ride them around a bit in the arena and then hit the trails. they are usually broke to death from pulling the sulkies and are bombproof from all of the things they deal with on the track so all they really need to learn is their leg aids and how to bend.
For proof they aren’t all ugly, here is a couple pictures of my boy:
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Brushfire/George/george5.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v481/Brushfire/George/george1.jpg[/IMG]
and for those of you that love horse photography here is an artist I love who workes with standardbreds and really shows off just how pretty they are
http://goodbye-kitty975.deviantart.com/
Wonderful topic….I have to say I do think there is some truth in all the stereotypes about horses. We have had many different breeds over our many years of ownership – QH, part arab, TWH, hackney pony, shetland pony, paint, appy, and a few plain ol’ mutts. The part arab, not a bad guy, but he would “teleport” occasionally for not apparent reason that we could find. Wouldn’t go looking for another based on this guy. The shetland pony, he was smart, very smart, he LOVED to be driven and put up with lots of kids. He had his rotten moments and really made the kids work for what they wanted, they didn’t appreciate that until much later. I wouldn’t go looking for one again though. The hackney, broke to drive by adults, broke to ride by my daughter at about 10. Yes she has what we call “hackney moments” but we always try to dial down the stupid, and she is very willing to try for you. She is a witch in the pasture and a doll with the people….I would have another one in a NY minute. The apps had the biggest personalities, and I can see where people think they are grumpy and stubborn. I think they are just very smart, and if you can’t out think them, they aren’t going to work with you. We have had 2 geldings and mare, I wouldn’t hesitate to own another. We have had 2 paints, both SLOW to process, and pretty unmotivated. Like the were on a time delay. I am not a fan. Love my TWH mare, she is opinionated, but sweet and workable, lots of personality. As for the QH’s….I think the breeding makes a difference in the stereotypes…I have met some real PITA QH’s – most of whom are/were WP or halter bred. I own some foundation QH’s ….I have a Skipper W mare, true to form, can be a witch. I have a Hancock filly, true to form is along the coldbacked side. I have a Zippo Pine Bar filly….slow and easy, to the point of annoying! And a Boston Mac, Top Moon mare who is at times, “blond”. I also owned a mare, Three Bars, King breeding, who was so smart it made your head hurt. QHs are my “comfort zone” breed, as I have had them since I was a kid, but I am pretty equal opportunity when it comes to breeds. I have met Arabs, Saddlebreds, Standardbreds and drafts who were worth their weight in gold as well. But I have also met those who fit the stereotype to the T…..I think I really have to agree with…..a good horse isn’t born, it’s made…..and most any breed can be good if given the right opportunity.
You asked, so here it goes.
My favorite stereotyped breed is pit bulls. They’re athletic, but couch potatoes at home. They’ll work their hearts out for a ‘good dog’ and a scratch. They’re the warmbloods of the canine world – they need daily exercise, preferably several mile’s run. Neglect that, and you’ll pay – the dog will find a way to entertain itself, and you won’t like the method it chooses. They’re terriers, not herding or sporting types. But care for it right, and you’ll have one of the most capable animals on the planet.
This same athleticism has attracted attention from all the wrong sorts of people, in the same way that the Arab’s grace, the Quarter Horse’s muscular build, and the TWH’s dramatic gaits have gotten them into some very twisted versions of what they where originally meant to be. Some can be rescued, retrained, and rehomed. Some can’t. But like horses, the bully breeds still have responsible breeders with quality animals that never fell into these problems in the first place.
You’re probably going to say that the difference is that a bad pit bull is a predator that will attack, while a bad horse is a prey animal that will probably just stay away from you. I can’t argue with you – I have no desire to live next to an aggressive dog of any variety – but this is true of all dogs, not just pits. You’ve made the point that horses of all temperaments can be found in all breeds. There may be some generalities about them, but there are well behaved horses in all breeds, and there are nasty horses in all breeds. Same goes for dogs. If there were a general public outcry about flighty and dangerous horses, it wouldn’t make sense to go about banning Arabians. You’d be the first to blame the owners and not the breed.
No, I don’t expect that I’ll change your opinion here. Maybe it’ll be some food for thought. Blog on!
I grew up and was trained on Arabs and Arab crosses and would have sworn back then that I would always stick to owning only Arabs. I have a 23 yr old Arab gelding that I have owned since the day he was born – he is my baby. I have ridden many TBs, QHs, Morgans, Appaloosas, Paints, etc. over the years and expanded my opinion on what a good horse can be. My mini herd now includes a APHA mare (mostly TB bred) and a BLM mustang filly, alongside my old man Arab who has recently developed Cushing’s disease and is slowing down. I had a wonderful Anglo-Arab filly (TBxArab) when I was a teen that I now wish we had not sold, but she was green and did not fit my confidence level after a nasty riding accident.
I think that each horse is an individual and you must keep that in mind. I have seen calm and crazy in pretty much every breed I have been exposed to. I will say that my “feral horse” does seem to have a significantly different mind than any domestic born horses I have encountered, but I am growing to like that about her and learning how to adjust my approach. Arabs and Arab crosses will probably remain my favorite but I am much more open about accepting different breeds these days.
Stereotype: Arabs are crazy!
I grew up around Arabians so they were my perception of normal. A lot of their bad reputation comes from poor management or people who are not smarter than the horse. A lot of people seem to mistake the flagged tail and flamboyant movement for ‘craziness’ when it is really just showing off and having fun. They are smart, they can outsmart people and a lot won’t suffer fools kindly. They do like having a job to do or a purpose and really do give you everything they have if you ask them for it. My pure polish gelding is my go-to guy for visitors, I can put anyone on him and know they will be safe and have an enjoyable ride.
Stereotype: Appaloosas are slow to learn forget what you train them from day to day.
What a crock. We have an Araloosa (craziness + forgetfulness!) who is one of the fastest learners and is quite smart. He is happiest when he has a job to do as well. I worked with a few Appys in association with our boy (who shock horror is a stallion) and found them to be quite smart and easy to work with.
I don’t have a stereotype to go along with it but I have found Friesians to be very intelligent and accomodating. They are more forgiving than Arabians, but have a slower computing time. They learn quickly but when you ask them to do something the time it takes to process the command into an action takes longer than it would for an Arab.
Over the years I have learnt that each breed has it’s merits. Different breeds suit different personalities and lifestyles better. There is no breed I wouldn’t have, but I am happy with my Arabians that I don’t need to look for another horse.
Oh..my other favourite: Arabians can’t jump.
They can jump and jump well. There have been many successful Arabian jumpers and some that have kicked serious butt in open company.
I’m a bit of a jumping chicken but I go over logs and small obstacles on the trail with my boy and we both enjoy it.
Morgans are wonderful. But lots of people seem to stereotype them as the opposite of whatever they want. People looking for a backyard pleasure horse for their kids think Morgans are super hot show horses. Show horse riders think they’re glorified plow horses. They just can’t win.
I also get the, “Is your Morgan old style or new style?” all the time. I HATE that. I hate that the breed’s people have polarized themselves so much that everyone outside of the breed thinks we have two distinct sub-breeds. My horse is not old or new. He’s a combination of a lot of different lines, just like most horses. There are the “foundation” folks who think all Morgans need to be stocky, cresty and 14.2 max, and there’s the select group in the show world who breed Morgans to look like Hackney ponies. But the vast majority of Morgans aren’t neatly in an old or new category. They’re Morgan style Morgans. Deal with it.
But honestly, most people seem to like Morgans. Generally, non-Morgan people think they’re great little horses, but no one actually seems interested in owning one. Maybe because they’re generally too small for most sport horse people’s tastes? I’m not sure. All I know is my Morgan is perfect, and if I am ever in the market for a horse again, I’ll likely look for another one.
As some of you may have realised from my previous posts I am passionate about arabs and specifically my beautiful girl (see avatar pic) and I get really angry when people dismiss arabs outright because they ‘appear’ to be crazy or hard to handle.
Truth is, they just need understanding which many people are not prepared to do with an animal. They are extremely intelligent and need firm but insightful handling. Given the opportunity, they will push the envelope at every turn and unless you are on top of that, they will be the one in control.
Saying that though, once lines are drawn and the correct pecking order firmly established they are THE most amazing horses to own and bond with. If you are not prepared to be the herd leader (in their world) then don’t bother getting one.
There is so much I love about arabs – their spunk, their ‘tough as boot leather’ disposition and physiology, their desire to interact with humans and whatever else happens to pass by and their naturally showy/floaty style.
If you want a work horse or slave, arabs aren’t for you but if you want a life companion who will look after you and be happy spending time with you then an arab is all you’ll ever need.
I also have two thoroughbred mares which are galaxies apart from the arab in their attitude to humans. One actually raced so she really has no time for humans other than as food providers (she’s a work in progress) whereas the other is the most loving and gentle creature on this planet and safe as houses to ride after months of no riding. Mind numbingly stupid but possibly the nicest temperament I’ve ever encountered in a horse (bar the arab and my previous girl of thirty years) – I’m lucky my horses are always really good that way : )
I didn’t have much time for TB’s before owning Bella (the nice one) but she has taught me how sweet and safe they can be so I am a reformed TB fence sitter (no real opinion except perhaps that TB’s were a bit crazy and needed lots of structured work) and still frown when I hear folk slagging off at arabs for no good reason except ignorance.
So there you go …………… : )
Thoroughbreds for life baby!!! OTTB’s are my fav… Granted I do have a love of all horses but TB’s are deep in my heart.
I was brought up in a barn where Arabs were the batshit crazy horses that no one should ever ride. That was my thought for pretty much the first 12 or so years of riding. Then my trainer moved and I followed her to the new barn with my stock horses. Guess where that was? Yep, an Arab show barn. I’ve since sold one of my stock horses and have purchased a half Arab for saddleseat. I’ve fallen in love with Arabs (and NSHs… they are AMAZING horses) and can’t imagine my life without at least a half arab.
Forgot to add that I rode Saddlebreds for a long time, and they don’t really deserve the reputation they get. A lot of those saddle seat Saddlebreds that look super nutso in the show ring actually come right down and are puppy dogs in their stalls. A lot of them are kept in stalls all the time and only worked for twenty minutes a day, so yeah, they’re gonna be hot and probably spooky. But if you keep them the way you keep a normal horse, they’ll act like a normal horse.
Also, when your QH is trotting level with his neck up and his tail flagged, it’s probably because he’s scared and/or excited about something, so I think that’s why a lot of people think Saddlebreds are always freaked out. They’re bred and trained to look like that, though, and contrary to popular belief, they aren’t always trained by fear and torture (really!) One of the lesson horses at my old boarding barn was a Saddlebred who was blessed (cursed?) with that distinctive wide-eyed look you sometimes see in the breed. If you just met him, you’d probably think he was high-strung because of the look on his face, but he was actually the laziest horse in the barn who probably wouldn’t mind if a helicopter landed next to him in the pasture.
There are some lines that perpetuate bad temperaments, just like in all breeds, because there are breeders who go for the show ring look and care little about anything else. But I’ve known literally hundreds of Saddlebreds, and the majority of them are actually friendly, people-oriented horses that do not breathe fire or eat children.
I love TBs.
The problem with TBs is they are so overbred and so wonky that I dont think you can give them a steriotype. The horses bred with a LOT of good racing/classic bloodlines up close tend to be hotter IMO, but it’s not even really that they are hotter – they are just a hell of a lot more athletic than a fugly tb who’s closest winning racing relative is Man O War. Well bred TBs are bred to have a lot of energy, bred to keep going, bred to have a large lung capacity and bred to be driven to want to go FAST, and like you noticed with your polo horses, as long as that is managed, they are fine.
My mare is a perfect example. When she’s in consistant work, she is a dream. That doesnt mean I have to work her to death in order to go on a trail ride later – I just have to make sure she’s been stimulated enough during the last few weeks. I can hop on her and trail ride her whenever I want. Am I going to put a beginner on her? No, if they are still banging on backs and hanging on her mouth, and thats really just because she’s never experianced that and I dont want to know what her reaction would be. But I can ride her bareback, trailride, experiment, whatever on her. I can have lazy rides or I can have good workouts, I can “let her go” and pretend we’re a racehorse again and she’ll come back down from that gallop to a trot as soon as I ask.
Unless she’s been off work.
She was off all summer and she’s been a hell nightmare banshee trying to get her back into work. BUT, has she been stimulated? Has she been active? Nope. Locking up a horse with that much bred in, instinctual energy, on stall rest for 3 months even with a lot of turnout time, is like telling a todler it has to sit in the living room and not play with anything for 3 months. She’s lost her mind, but she’ll regain it.
I dont find that crazy, I find it intelligent. My favorite thing to say is that “I like my dogs stupid and my horses smart.” I like my dogs to be happy and goofy and greet me at the door and be easy going without any opinion about anything, love everyone, everything. My horses can be more to handle, more on edge, because I find horses with opinions to be sharper, on their game and overal easier to get them to do what you need them to do. I’d rather be telling my horse to hold on and hold back, than be squeezing them every stride to get them to go – and I’ve met TBs that are like that, deadhead slow, but in my opinion, the GOOD ones arent :-p
/waves hi to OldMorgans!
Well, thanks to longtime Fugly commenter the-farmer’s-wife (who is, as I understand, busy with a new grandson and a new horse), I was reminded of my childhood love of Morgans when I went looking for my first horse at age 43.
They are stereotypically hot, easy keepers, very smart, opinionated and into everything, versatile…
Mine in particular is a bit hot, not a terribly easy keeper, but she’s really, really smart and opinionated. We’re at a new barn and the other day she wanted to investigate all the non-stall rooms — the tack room, the office, and most especially the feed room! Nosy. She is very nosy. The new barn is allowing us more chance to test her versatility; she does dressage, she jumps (show jumping and cross country, though I don’t jump her because she gets very, very hot over fences), she trail rides… I have no doubt that she’d make a fabulous Western horse if I was into that, but I don’t think she’d work cows. (There are Morgans who do, though, and Morgan blood is in the background of most QHs thanks to the US Remount sending lots of Morgan stallions out west…) I’ll be testing her out as a “rail class” (pleasure) horse this weekend, and folks at the new barn are trying to get me to take her to the beach…
I do think Morgans are amongst the most underappreciated of American breeds. They are really special horses.
Yeah, pretty much I grew up thinking Morgans walked on water. And well, they do.
Smart, opinionated, heart. Can’t get enough.
Other than commenting on the silly, hot park horses, I am unaware of any negative stereotypes of the breed floating around.
Well, I have experience with a few breeds. Mainly because I have never bought based on breed, but based on the horse.
My pony, my first ever horse who I got when I was 11 years old is a haflinger/cross. He’s the sweetest, most loving, beautiful, talented horse you’ll ever meet. He’s no jumper but he’ll give it a go, he has excellent movement and has excelled in some pony dressage and he’ll go for miles on a trail ride. I took him out on the weekend and he was a perfect doll, stayed calm when other horses were being fizzy and silly and then had a fabulous gallop. That horse moves off pressure from your seat, he’s just a dream to ride. That said. He is stubborn. If you’re not a confident rider he will take advantage of you. That’s something I have learned about haffies. They’re sweet, but very cheeky.
We have an aged rescue standardbred who was the most reliable trail horse for years. He only ever did light trail riding with us but was happy, sweet, friendly and he DOES canter. Now he’s 27 he doesn’t get ridden anymore but I do take him for walks or poney him off the pony and he LOVES it. Standies are really underrated.
I exercise an Arabian for a friend who is too heavy to ride the little mare. She’s very sweet but she does live up to the stereotype of being spooky. Good lord does that mare spook.
And last but not least I recently got my very own Danish dumblood filly. She’s very sweet and gentle actually. Stands there like a big gentle rock. Granted this is as a 2 year old and I’m sure we’ll have our issues. But her bloodlines are for a sane, nice and very talented horse with great movement and so far she seems to be living up to that.
I have worked with thoroughbreds for 30 years, have always Loved & admired them & always will. People that have repeated issues with Tb’s, especially ottb’s shouldn’t be around them IMO. I Love your topic today & it deserves a good discussion makes one think a little. I still don’t “get” Arabs, so take my own advice re above statement & leave them to those that admire, respect & appreciate them for the beautiful, intelligant breed they are.
I Love draft horses, most breeds but am partial to Clydes. I think that if one is willing to continue their equine education to learn what breeds their hearts desire or just which makes them feel great by thier beauty, whether it be inside or out, they are so willing to teach us. However I think that most people are destined to be attracted to a particular breed for reasons only others that admire that breed may fully understand.
Elliot_Elijah,
Loved your post, 2 thumbs up.
I know exactly what you are talking about. Everyone around here has stock horses. Everyone always has, for as long as I can remember. There are a few Arabian breeders around, but they are in the minority and the rest of the people in the valley scoff and them and their “crazy arabs.”
I had a Morab gelding when I was in 4-H. I took reining lessons. He did really well, or at least I thought. We got into the champion class at county fair (our county was about 2,000 + members showing at fair.) I thought that was excellent. My trainer then said, “This is as far as you can go with this horse. If you want me to take you further and win some local open shows, you need to get a QH.” He was suggesting my Morab gelding couldn’t win at LOCAL shows because of his breed. The thing is, he didn’t look down on the horse, he just knew how the judges were. It was true. I could clean house in the advanced classes in 4H against hundreds of highschool seniors on spendy horses. But when I went to open shows and showed in my age classes, all of the top notch Paints and Quarter Horses took home the ribbons. My mother and I got good at standing next to the gate and placing the horses based on color, pattern, and the bling of the tack and clothing the rider’s were wearing. Without fail, every non-stock horse took last no matter the quality of the performance.
Nowadays, there are some people who have gaited horses around the valley. Still, rather rare. There are the 2 or 3 Arab breeders who mostly show in breed shows only because they have given up on anything local, and the rest are QH or Paint. People around here really dislike Appys as well. Appys are crazy and spooky, according to them. Arabs are hot and crazy. Its so stupid! Its like saying Rotweilers are evil human eating machines. Its how you raise/train them!
I had tons of QHs. I went through 4 back to back that were insane and threw me. They were brought up poorly, left out in a field until 2 years old and drug in. There is still allot of old school horse breaking going on around here too, and not by kind men. After those horses, I got an Arabian. He was amazing. He was much smarter and quicker to pick things up than any stock horse I had ever had. I then got an Arabian mare with completely different bloodlines, and she was almost bomb proof and had been putting up with a pair of crackheads who even ran her off a bridge. She never was unkind to them although most horses would have went insane by then (the guy was literally stoned when we came to pay him.) She was amazing. Not to mention my Morab (I had him before the string of QHs). I did everything with him. Western, English, Dressage, Jumping, Gaming, Reining. You could run barrels with him one second, take him into a rail class the next, and then throw a 6 year old on him and go for a trail ride and swim through rivers the next.
I recently sold an Arabian gelding. He was born broke. After only two rides I was taking him out on trail rides, soon after we were scaling mountains and running through creeks. He learned FAST and was dog gentle and unflappable. But then I had a half-arab NSH gelding who was battier than an escaped psych patient. Now I have two stock-type (half quarter, same daddy) yearlings who are sane, smart as hell and wonderful. I just sold a Paint mare who was as bomb proof as they come and you could throw a toddler on and send up a mountain (not saying you should ever do that, but you get the point.)
So I’ve had the run of both types. I’ve had a couple “crazy” arabs, and several “crazy” QH/Paints. I have had more wonderful, amazing Arabians than any other breed (and I’ve had an equal number of both stock and arab horses.) One of my favorites and the horse I always would grab to go on trail rides with (because it was always so fun!) was a “crazy” QH. She had allot of go and was very sensitive. Everything was something to stare and jump at. Guess what? I had the ability to control her, and she respected and trusted me, so we made a good and safe pair. Other people would call her crazy and be afraid to ride her. EVERY horse has a different personality. I’ve seen as many high strung psychos in one breed as the next. Same goes for laid back horses. Some horses are more sensitive than others. Some horses are more fearful. Sometimes its just their personality, and sometimes its what they have learned from past experiences (whether good or bad.) I really don’t think BREED has a damn thing to do with it. I think bloodlines can effect tendencies for personality traits, but not the actual breed, because there are too many family lines in each breed, each with different traits.
It also all depends on your level of horsemanship. Some crazies are not really crazy at all, they just need someone with more experience because they are more strong willed, fearful, sensitive, etc.
I had a Crabbet/Polish Arabian mare with a touch of Egyptian in her, people did regularly accuse her of being a QH cross. Angela El Dine was 15.1hh and 1100lbs of jet black beauty.
She was the most amazing mare I have ever known.
She broke every strereotype. She was solid, sane and brilliant. She loved to jump and was one of the most amazing trail horses I have or will ever know. She was beautiful as a hunter. She lived to be 25, even after contributing to the gene pool sevenfold (that we’re aware of) before retiring with me. I miss her daily.
I would pay millions for another like her if I could.
I also have to say that my feeling about Quarter Horses has been changed. I used to believe the ‘duuuuuh’ stereotype, as I’d known quite a few who were dense and slow.
Then we rescued a QH gelding last fall. He is a smart little pill and QUITE the goer. He will be competing CTR next year, along with dressage, which is the usual regime in our personal program. He is 17 this year and full of it, keeping our bratchild of a draftX mare in line in the pasture too.
i have a wonderfull paint. he may only be 3 but he is so much smarter then every one thought he was. he figures things out real easy. but you have to work with every day so he wont act up and go crazy. i found that out the hard way. and have fun chinchin him up cuz he will go to buckin for no reason even if you worked with him the day berofe and he did just fine. he just gets a wild hair and thinks hey im gonna do this and see what mom does.
but i love him no matter what he does.
I’m a TB person through and through. But I do have to disagree on all of them needing tons of work. I have a homebred TB mare who’s now 5. When she was 2 turning 3 my husband use to ride her in from the field with a halter and a rope. She was unbroken at the time. She could have cared less. When she did do her proper training as a 3yo we obviously didn’t have any problems. She will usually have the winter off with some time spent on the equiciser getting her back in shape. You can tack her up on the first day back and away you go. No lunging no need to worry about what she will do – because bucking and bolting would be too much work. Being an easy keeper she basically gets vits and mins with a few supps mixed in with beet pulp. If she does need calories in the winter she gets oats mixed in – yes oats. Still no change in personality. I also have a 14yo ex chaser who you could ride once a month with no problems same as the above filly. My horses do enjoy a mostly outside existence though, even the racehorses are turned out daily which is the best thing for any horses mind. And quite frankly the racehorses have to behave just as good as any other horse considering that we keep in mind careers for after racing. They are raised knowing being a racehorse will not be their only day job!
Terri
I haven’t ridden vry many different breeds of horses, but here are some of my impressions:
Polo ponies: Most of them were bombs wiating to go off, mainly because they had no turn out and hteir only excericse was plodding up and down on a leading rein. So of course the slightest thing could send them off-one horse shied at cars, horseboxes, horses pulling sulkies, ponies ppulling sulkies, ponies being led, dogs; everything
British breeds: ponies: Though they have a reputation for being naughty I found the ones that i rode (one Wlesh Mountain pony, one Higland pony) very well schooled with good manners, very tolerant and ideal ponies ofr beginners.
Cobs: I’ve only ever ridden one cob. he was four years old at the time so he was rather green, and I would say that he wasn’t the brightest, though he certainly tried hard
Barbs: A Barb is my horse of choice at the moment. I would say that, compared with some of the other breeds I have ridden, that they are very smart and therefore quick to take advantage of an inexperienced rider, or one who doesn’t discipline them. They can also be stubborn. Despite this my favourite breed will remain the Barb because Barb horses are great all rounders, very tough and hardy, easy to train and they try very hard-though they are definitely not push button horses (as I have often noticed either after a fall-when the horse usually looks at me as if its my fault hat he stopped dead in fornt of a puddle and I came off; or when my usual horse overtakes all the others with what I can only describe as a smirk on his face)-they are the horse that taught me that horses have a sense of humour and are not those soulful, quiet spiritual creatures that so many poems make them out to be.
Oh, and for all you adrenaline junkies, they are very fast. Even the ones iwth terrible conformation: http://i392.photobucket.com/albums/pp7/MalteseLizzieMcGee/Lixxu3.jpg : the horse in the picture is a bit of a Franken horse but he is possibly the fastest horse I’ve ever ridden)
Arabs: Arabs are great horses. I’ve only ridden two (a stallion and a gelding) but I got a distinct impression: proud, spirited and smart (the gelding is also one of the comfiest horses I have ever ridden-he’s a bit like an arm chair with rockets attached). The gelding was the sort that almost evreryone could ride; the stallion was definitely a bit of a handful: no tolerance for fools and easily excited, but very obedient to correct aids
Thoroughbredxcart horse: I rode a mare of this type (3/4 Thoroughbred, 1/4 cart horse) very recently for a cross country lesson. She was fantastic: slightly heavier in build than a pure Thoroughbred and less temperamental than the stereotypical Thoroughbred, she was perfect for corss country: strong, agile and fast-as long as I remained confient and encourgaed her, she tackled all the jumps perfectly (well, almost-it was my first lesson XD ).
Oh oh oh i know the horses i REALLY dislike…
GAITED HORSES!!!
Wether it be a paso fino, TWH, standardbred pacing (although most dont always), norweigan whatsit etc…
I amuse myself by watching youtube videos of them. Especially the TWH. Who on earth could think thats pretty? *gag*
I admit I am only 5 foot tall and can see that those possessed of longer legs may not agree but as far as I’m concerned anything much over 14.2 is pointless, you can’t get back on easily if you fall off on a hack (specialy bareback), they eat more, they injure more easily…..
I like ponies because they are bright and stubborn and competetive and ask why. They can be right little rotters if not properly diciplined but I love the attitude.
I like arabs because they are smart, athletic and ask constant questions. Again they can be very hard work but I find it rewarding.
I like mares, just seem to get on with them.
That all being said the closest I have come to seriously considering buying a horse recently was an 18hh warmblood gelding YUCK, but that particular one just clicked with me.
I totally 100% agree with DVM2012
I will be the first to admit I have met appy’s that are smarter than me. As far as I’m concerned, appy’s are the best breed of horse out there.
Hands down my favorite breed is Arabs, I’ve had some amazing ones over the years and will always have a soft spot for them. Next on my list would be the OTTB, I got to try one out for a week when I was a kid and he was amazing, even after everything he had been through……..10 years on the track, legs pinfired beyond belief, and a current owner who hated him and abused him. Nikki truely loved people and wanted to believe they were all good, sadly I didn’t get to keep him, but at least that week he saw kindness. I will never forget his eyes, so trusting and so much to give.
Ponies are also right up there with my favorites, I rescued a smart little POA gelding from an hunting guide who was planning on shooting him. I paid him $1000 and took the little monster home, 13.3 hands and 900 lbs, he could buck me off without giving it much thought, he wasn’t a pony who could sit around, he got bored and I believe spent his days thinking up new things to do to me. Two years and a lot of tears, frustration, and love later he’s moved on to be a beginner lesson pony. I really think he was just too smart for the hunting guide to handle, lol…….I admit, he was a bit of a turd, too smart for his own good sometimes!
Well obviously I absolutely LOVE my TB’s!! There is nothing they can’t do and do well. I have bred my own and rehabbed and rehomed many from the tracks over the years. They are smart, honest and have more courage and heart then most any other breed. They also are zen like teachers in that you will learn something from them just by really being aware of them. I realize I am way overboard in my love and devotion to them….I freakin LOVE them.
Breeds that have won me over: MULES: they are fantastic and can do any discipline really well and have such personality and gentleness/quirkiness that is really appealing. ARABS:haven’t met one yet that I didn’t like and am really surprised at all the wrong stereotypes about them.They are smart,tough and equally really gentle and loving.Have been blown away by their soundness,ability and love for their jobs (endurance/competitve trail).No wonder to me why the Bedouins let them live in the tents with them as family members!
Alright, this post inspired me to actually get a username and comment! I just have to disagree with part of Denali’s comment. “The most important thing about a TB is that you can’t make them your friend.” You’re missing out on the best part of owning a TB!!!! Yes, you must be very consistent with your boundaries and rules, but they are one of the sweetest breeds. My trainer always says it’s a good thing they have such loving, sweet personalities with all the trouble they get themselves in! My TB is the most loving horse I’ve ever met, and he is such a good friend to me. And I am always complimented on his excellent ground manners. He’s extremely respectful and obedient. I guess I’m lucky too, because I can just hop on him after any amount of time off, and we can toodle around bareback. He seems to know bareback=calm bumming around and saddle=time to work. I guess my TB bias shows a little in this post! We also have a Paint, and I’ve found him to be the most level headed horse. He can also be extremely stubborn! The tough thing with him is that he hides pain very well, and that “stubbornness” can sometimes be balkiness due to pain. He definitely requires firm consistent training. He also has the BEST sense of humor and is always making us laugh; he’s a total Houdini & can untie any knot!
Haven’t read through all the comments yet, and I hope I’m not the first person to mention American Saddlebreds. Saddlebreds have a HUGE misconception about them. If you have only seen the saddlebreds in the A circuit show rings, who are trained to be showy and explosive, you have no idea about the breed in its entirety!
Out of that type of show environment, where again, they are TRAINED to be big eyed and animated, you will find safe, sane, easily trainable, willing horses with HUGE personalities and they just LOVE their people. Yes, as with any breed there are exceptions, but overall saddlebreds are well balanced, athletic, willing, eager, and kind. Because they are so balanced and athletic, they are well suited to dressage, jumping, endurance, competitive trail riding (which is what I do), and yes, even worked cattle with ours. Saddlebreds can do almost anything. And they love to please their people.
Well I’m afraid MY arab reinforces the arabs-can’t-jump stepeotype! She will jump a log on trail but point her at anything contrived, be it a tiny crossrail or whatever, and she just flips out. She’s otherwise an incredibly calm, sane, easygoing horse so I can only conclude that before I got her she must have had a bad experience that frightened her off jumping arena obstacles. I had ambitions of eventing on her and had a teriffic trainer work with us for quite a while and she just never got any better. So I gave up on jumping with her, and discovered competitive trail, which she excelled at.
As I’ve gotten a bit older I have discovered that I really like gaited horses. I got myself a Tennessee Walking Horse and she is the strangest horse I’ve ever met personality-wise. Such a clown, very curious and into everything, as a 2-year old she climbed out of her stall!!! Just because she could. She’s also incredibly intelligent, easy to teach, and very, very sweet and calm. She exemplifies the sort of temperament that allows all the idiot rednecks to do the sorts of stupid things they do to TWH’s- an arab or TB would kill them, a TWH just stands there and tolerates their stupidity.
One big thing for me is, I like to have a horse that I can turn out to pasture for 6 months or a year and then go get on them and ride off no problem. Not that I like to go that long without riding, but at one point in my life I had to do just that to my arab, put her out to pasture, pay her board etc, and deal with my life. When I finally was able to stat riding again, I saddled her up and off we went and nothing had changed except her condition. It was no different than if I’d been riding her regularly the whole time.
I had to give my TWH about 3 months off due to her getting PLH (pharyngeal lymphatic hyperplasia) as a 3-year-old, she had not been under saddle but for a couple months and then I turned her out and it took her over 3 months to recover completely. When I went back to riding her she hadn’t forgotten a thing and her manners were fine, too. You’d never know she’d had the time off.
At this point in my life I just want a calm, quiet, easygoing horse to ride and I’d prefer it be gaited so I don’t have to trot!
I’ve never owned a TB but the few I’ve ridden or known were all great horses, I remember the first time I rode an OTTB, his name was Bradley and he was a 17+ hand chestnut gelding, I was in love! He had the most amazing, long strided canter, he jumped 3″ like it was a crossrail. Boy, could he run! We got along famously in our lessons. I wonder whatever happened to him…
To this day I fantasize about getting an OTTB to retrain and doing eventing. I would, too, if I had a good trainer I could take lessons from and work with anywhere nearby, which I don’t.
I used to always dream of Arabs with their flowing manes and tails. Then I discovered the TB and even though I owned an Appy for a short period of time (we didn’t gel) I eventually returned through circumstance to own yet another TB.
I consider myself lucky with this one. He never saw the inside of a barrier, never knew what it was like to be trained to race. He is very much Mr Cool. So much so he has been mistaken for a different breed. No giant TB for me, he barely makes it into horse height at 15h 1/2″ (1/2″ less and he’d be considered a galloway here in the Land Down Under).
I think I’m very much set with the TBs now. I seem to understand them better than other breeds. Misunderstood by many but loved by those who know how special they really are
I had to chime in on this one. I have a full, papered Arabian I ride in endurance. Everyone assumes he is at least half QH because he A) has a decent hip – he’s actually built like a Mack truck, to be honest, and B) he is not a freak. Even at race starts, while a lot of other Arabians are dashing around and pitching riders off, he just hangs out with a foot cocked and looks for a snack. He doesn’t actually kick it into gear until I ASK HIM TO. I absolutely love him to pieces for his sensibility, and while I wouldn’t call him a beginner’s horse, because he definitely has his own thoughts about how we should do certain things, I trust him 100% to make good, smart decisions to keep both of us safe. While I think part of it is just how he’s wired, I also expect that he’s going to be sensible and I require that of him. There is no way I would even put a foot in a stirrup next to about 85% of the horses I see doing endurance. You can have most Arabians go fast without having to “teach” them that, but good under-saddle and ground manners, IMHO, are an ongoing requirement.
I came into horses later than many — gave up my fondest dream for 20+ years, then moved to Ocala, FL. For several years, I rode other people’s horses – paints, grade horses, arabs, an Akhal Teke, a fjord horse… and some very, very pacey walking horses that belonged to a neighbor. Then I met the Padmonster, a yearling TN Walker, and that was it. He WAS to be my horse — took me over a year, but it happened. Didn’t choose him by breed, but because he stole my heart. His coloring was similar to an arab/STANDARDBRED I’d ridden for over a year, but he was a walking horse.
A year after that, I ended up bringing home a Walker/Saddlebred that I’d known since she was 6 mos old — by now she was 2.5 yrs. Again, it wasn’t her breed that drew me — it was HER.
So.. out on the trails, my gelding is guessed as an Arab, a Morgan… never a TWH. He’s 15 hands, and built similarly to some of the baroque horses… cobby body, elegant legs, lovely neck.. and a body built for self-carriage. Mind of his own, that one has — he’s almost too smart and loves nothing better than to ‘mess with me’. He’s more like the ‘old style’ foundation walking horses — calm, brave, comfortable, level headed — not high headed or crazy, not pacey at all.
The mare… I had to chuckle when I read someone else’s comments about Saddlebreds! My girl has the potential to be quite ‘hot’, she’s very, very forward and very responsive and sensitive. She will spook, but as long as i have confidence and trust HER, she trusts me completely. She’s got a wonderful, wonderful mind. On the trails and out & about, she is guessed as ‘some sort of arab cross’ and frequently an appaloosa — she’s gold champagne sabino, with lots of mottling on her skin and white sclera around her eyes. Her sire is known for his level head and beautiful gold champagne spots.
So.. I didn’t pick a breed. I’d have been happy with any horse I could’ve gotten my hands on. I have been blessed with two that I am smitten with – there will be no ‘upgrading’ here, because my two are here to stay.
Thanks for all of your answers to my post… I do know that some ponies must be great, just like horses and it is true that I don’t own ponies and that the people that have them (where I came across them) are idiots on all levels!!!! If i would have a pony, it would be a welsh, I am impressed by the breed, conformation and attitude… I guess ponies are just like horses, if you don’t teach them anything, they are mean, nasty creatures… I know a QH mare that is a complete b****. She strikes, rears, lunges out to bite, kicks, wont stand tied, kicks gates, fence, will NOT be tacked even if you are gentle or not… Then the same owners have a Hackney x arabian x ??? x ??? he is probably the worst pony you could come accross, he is all but 13hh, nasty little bugger. He won’t lead, pulls back throws his head, will NOT be tacked, you won’t catch him, if you are ever able to get on his back, he will not listen to any cues, throws fits. He was a neglected foundered horse and they still rode him… then they also have a quarter horse x percheron that is THIN… I mean probably a #1 on the scale…. they ride him!!!!!! Breaks my heart…of course, you won’t catch him in the field either. All that horse needs is his teeth floated, they’ve been trying to put weight on him ever since they got him, over a year ago and all he does is lose lose lose weight!!!! They never visit their horses to pet or spoil them… and they are the ones who rode that yearling (long yearling) hard at the full out run… all they do is run with her… they have a hack / bit combo on her and she gets bruises all the time… they don’t know how to ride or be light or gentle… Breaks my heart… so there… stupid horses come from stupid people… I would never put a kid on a horse that hasn’t had a consistent amount of training and riding on him. Their 12 y-o rides thoses horses… I had to take the tiedown off of the horse (was the yearling they rode, is now two, still ride her HARD, horse is lame) because she was running her over uneven ground… I was just picturing that horse tripping and going ass over teakettle on the child! Kids still think she knows best… which is why we are haveing them take their horses elsewhere (to avoid accidents and lawsuits on our property). Don’t get me wrong, I love to see well groomed ponies with fitting tack… often times, where I come from, this is not the case… pony’s feet are neglected, wearing a horse saddle, untrained… gives them a bad reputation… but I am willing to change my mind!!!!
Mustangs. You don’t hear much bad mouthing on the net, but boy will people let you hear *exactly* how they feel, even if they know you own one. They’re inbred. They’re ugly. They’re hard, if not impossible, to train. They aren’t working horses. They aren’t show horses. They aren’t good for anything but trails… blah blah blah.
I blame the owners more than the horse. Mustangs tend to be adopted by people can’t handle them – either because they’re cheap or because they’re so super special magical. And don’t get me started on all the Mustang crosses out there… horrifying! The problem is that there aren’t many people who adopt them and do anything with them. And the people who could really be succesful with a Mustang would rather stick to a “safer” breed, one they already know will be successful at what they want to do.
They’re great horses, but like you were talking about with Thoroughbreds, you have to spend a lot of time with them on a daily basis. It takes many years to get them to the point they can be weekend trial buddies. Mustangs need repetition and an owner who isn’t going to be in a big hurry and try to push them past what they can handle (they push back, and speaking from experience, that hurts!)
I originally adopted my first Mustang for endurance, and plan to stick with that. Though his personality makes me think he’d be a killer barrel horse. I’m planning on showing the other one in dressage, but it’ll be a couple years yet. He has short little legs, but is built quite nicely otherwise and is responsive enough he should do well at the lower levels. Also, it just seems like the kind of thing he’d enjoy doing.
I’m with all these Morgan people! After many years of owning Quarterhorses I kind of accidentally ended up with a Morgan (traded a huge, crazy red-headed QH mare for him just to get her off the property). He was meant for my daughter and I didn’t really have very high expectations, but soon discovered that he is one of the smartest, funniest, most willing horses I’ve ever owned. Even though he’s only 7 and doesn’t have a whole lot of miles, I trust him with little kids AND husbands. I still own several quarterhorses because I sooo love the look of them and just can’t seem to let go… but the Morgan is always the one I pull out when I just want to enjoy a fun worry-free ride.
If you Morgan folks want to see Morgans winning as sport horses, you all should come up to Vermont. There are a lot of Morgans at every show I go to (dressage, hunter/jumper). They are always well represented and cleaning up. But really aren’t they supposed to be good at everything?
I am a dyed in the wool lover of the American Saddlebred. Their stereotype is that they are fire breathing dragons, and yes, they are bred and trained to LOOK that way. In reality, they are very intelligent and sensible. They have a lot of look in them, but not much spook. If they see something spooky, they will snort and march up to challenge it. They thrive on the drama of the showring, and have active imaginations to keep themselves entertained. They are also very smart, and not every one wants to deal with a horse that smart.
Well, it’s not a stereotype of a breed, per se, but I do have to deal all the time with stereotypes about commercial carriage horses.
People think carriage horses are broken-down nags who aren’t fed or cared for properly, who are so exhausted from their work that they are depressed and can’t do anything like run or buck or whatnot, which is what the carriage horses would do if they had the strength to, because of the SCARY buses and cars.
The truth is that the horses that I work with are anything but broken down… often being a carriage horse is the first job they’ve had, and many carriage horses hold their jobs for 15 to 20 years or more… The horses we do get after a previous career were either used up and thrown away (sent to auction) by their previous owners, or were rejects who didn’t “make the grade” in some other way. (We’ve had some horses with papers and excellent breeding, including a horse off the Budweiser farm.)
The horses I have had the good fortune to spend all of my working hours with are all alert, lucid, sane, BRAVE and well-mannered. They know and love their job, and frankly, find it interesting, except perhaps for the time they spend in the stands waiting for a ride. Then, they’re bored, but being rather well-mannered, rather than act up or develop vices, the carriage horses I know just cock a hind hoof, lower their heads, and take a nap.
Our horses don’t run down the street, freak out, buck, rear or go nuts because they are well-trained (and by nature, laid-back critters) NOT because they are tired, lame or old. I’ve even heard some people whose own horses would never put up with the noises of the city accuse our horses of being drugged. Nope. Just well-trained.
And our horses are very well taken care of. I am always surprised when other horse people bemoan various stable vices, like cribbing, weaving, pacing, etc. Our carriage barn is free of all of these! We’ve got happy, healthy working horses who can pull a carriage all day long, safely and mannerly through traffic, and can come home and run in circles bucking and squealing and snorting and farting for a good 15 minutes (following a good roll), like any normal 6 year old warmblood. (In particular, I am thinking of a couple of our young horses, a Morgan/Percheron cross who gets mistaken for a Friesian all the time, and a Percheron/TB cross who is just as athletic as you’d expect from a horse his size and with his breeding.)
So like everyone else here who’s sick of the stereotypes about their horses, I am SICK of it.
(We won’t even START on stereotypes about commercial carriage drivers, but let’s just say I know about horses, and have a master’s degree in history and could be doing other things but I don’t, because I love making my living with the help of my equine coworkers!)
You know, it’s funny – I loved Arabians as a kid, but I have to admit that if I had the funds to buy a horse tomorrow, I wouldn’t be looking at them. I know one really awesome one, a grand old gentleman that is/was two months younger me. (That would make him 28 this year – I hope he’s still around, but I haven’t seen him around in a few years.) His owner was doing endurance with him, and they would ride all over the place; it wasn’t uncommon to find them 10 miles from home, sauntering along the side of a major road. I had the pleasure of riding him once, and while he was a bit too hard for the beginner I was, I remember his gaits were nice and smooth when I could get him to stop talking to the horses on the other side of the fence.
And then there are the other Arabians I’ve met and ridden – the mare with the 4-minute reset (pass scary thing, spook. get her ok with it. pass it again five minutes later, spook. rinse, repeat.) that couldn’t stand being out of sight of her pasture buddies. The other mare that couldn’t stand still when tied and jigged when you rode her no matter what gait. The lazy, bucking gelding that was so piggy with his food that the teenagers I was supervising at the time were afraid to feed him. (I just treated him like a teenager.
) The half-Arab mare that would get so anxious about your hands that she could and did spend all day flipping her head – and she kicked, too, just to make her more pleasant to deal with. Or almost worse yet, the grey gelding I rode at one point that had no personality whatsoever, unless you count ‘bites’ as a personality.
Athletic? Heavens yes. I watched miss 4-minute-reset duck under the front bar of a livestock restraint (it was our washrack at the time, sadly), make two 90 degree turns in a space just slightly wider than she was, and stand there looking at us like we’d lost our minds. She was still tied to the tie ring on the wall in front of the restraint. I also fell off the same mare after she cantered straight at the wall of a round pen and went right at the last minute.
Something I want to own? Not really, not any more.
Though I have to say, the silliest stereotype I’ve ever heard was “Arabians can’t do dressage.” That one still makes me giggle.
I used to dislike QH as a child, too. But there was a gorgeous QH that my instructor owned that changed my mind: 15.3 hh bay mare, smart as a button, and about the coolest horse I’ve ever been on. She didn’t LOOK like a QH to me at the time – most of what I’d seen were photos of halter stallions, I know now – she looked more like a TB or something. But she had dressage training, could have jumped if she hadn’t had an accident in the past (broke both hinds, IIRC – farrier day was hard on her; she couldn’t stand for long with one foot in the air), had been a competitive Western Pleasure horse, and wasn’t taking crap from any student that got near her. The campers hated her; you could see her thinking, “This kid doesn’t know how to lead me. Right. Not moving.” and myself or my instructor would have to go get her moving again. My instructor shut down and sold all her horses last spring, and I STILL kick myself that I didn’t have funds to buy and keep a horse, because I would have bought that mare or one of her daughters (all but one of which looked just like her) in a heartbeat…
I have always battled for the ponies! I’m sick of hearing Shetlands (especially Shetlands) are rotten or all ponies are rotten. The thing is, and we all know it, that the smaller the horse is, the fewer adult people can get on them to school them when necessary. Most kids cannot correct a horse or pony effectively. It takes a very special child that can accomplish that. And if the horse or pony is safe enough for the child to ride AND correct then that horse or pony is a very nice mount in my opinion. I’ve seen, and surely a lot of you have seen AMAZING ponies with lots of talent, lots of heart, lots of training. Those ponies are well worth the mint value they have acquired. Ponies are smart, and sometimes I think smarter than horses. They shouldn’t tolerate abuse, and by that I mean being ridden wildly for hours unattended by adults. What equine would put up with that? We all know or have been the wild child that has ridden like an escaped convict for hours on end….so don’t blame it on the pony!!
I own standardbred race horses. In the standardbred world many people (mostly old timers) gawk and make fun of “riding ponies”. They think they are spoiled creatures that serve no purpose except to bounce around on. If its not bringing in the cash, its useless. I occasionally ride. I have owned several standardbreds as riding horses, a thoroughbred and an arabian, who actually turned out to be the best horse I believe I will ever own. I have also shown, and have heard the same ignorance towards standardbreds. They are useless once they are off the track, they are the most homely looking animals in the equine world, they are put together like someone had unneeded spare parts and much much more. To be quite honest, I find standardbreds, in my opinion, to be the most intellectual and level headed equine companion. They may not have the quizzical mind set of an arab or the elegant structure of a thoroughbred, but when correctly managed they are a force to be reckoned with in the show ring.
You can find standardbred in all shapes, sizes and looks. At one end of the spectrum you have a stocky QH type build along with the finer structure of an arabian. On the other end you have some that are built like a large boned warmblood and the sleek torpedo like stance of a thoroughbred. Its like a box of chocolates, you never know what your going to get.
Once you train them to get past the pacing/trotting mind set and acquire a balanced canter, they are a solid and dependable mount.
Well… my barn consists of a 5 yo rescued OTTB, a 5 yo standard Donkey, a 1 yo large Mini and a 15 yo Appy. And they arrived as my first 4 horses ever in that order beginning in Dec 2007. Talk about a barn full of potentially sterotypical attitudes! I call them my band of misfits, but truthfully, they are a super group. They are all turned out together for at least 12 hrs a day in a mixed herd and get along wonderfully with each other and the human family. My TB is in retraining boot camp at home and is responding unbelievably well to consistent 5+ days/week work – even ground work from my beginner husband under the supervision of our trainer. My donkey is the sweetest animal on the planet, if a bit on the stubborn side. The 16.2 hh App is one of the safest horses I have ever met and is my 9 yr old beginner son’s WP and barrel “racing” mount, as well as my Eng/West show horse (open shows) – a true all-arounder whose job is to take care of us beginners. The mini is… well he is his own little man! A recently gelded yearling who is pretty damn sure he is the size of a Percheron. I like to say he is evil, but I just think he is just more mischievous than the rest! All that said, I know how many people have said to me “Ooooh – a TB ?? You should sell him and get something safer… you’re going to get killed.” or “Why would you buy an Appy? They have the worst attitudes” So far, knock wood, They’ve been proven wrong time and again – and I love it!
I grew up riding show ASBs. They’re bred and raised to look and act half under control to get that wild eyed look prized in the show ring. The vast majority of them are actually pretty easy to handle and aren’t quite as loony as they look. They’re really not all that spooky…most of it is a conditioned response to the plastic bags and milk jugs with rocks used for noisemakers. The ones that get firecrackers tossed at them can be another story though.
I grew up hating TBs and had the impression they were ‘unmanageable’ and ‘insane’.
My first horse was an Argie TB, bred and raised for the polo field. He played for a while under an abusive rider, changed hands multiple times because he was basically nuts at that point and wound up being donated to a collegiate polo club with his OTTB buddy. The OTTB couldn’t have been a kinder animal. He put up with absolutely anything. He was one of our beginner lesson horses. The Argie on the other hand? Not so much. He was kind and polite and went out of his way to do what you asked…at Mach 10. Shifts in weight produced amazing rollback turns or sudden bursts of speed. Awesome if you know what you’re doing. Not so awesome to put beginners on. So I wound up with him. Couldn’t have asked for a better horse. He was so responsive I could have played him bridleless had I wanted to.
Current horse is a 4yo Arab. My husband has QHs and runs barrels and flags on his boys. If my Arab goes to a show with them I hear “What is THAT?!” “Why don’t you get a *REAL* horse?!” all….day….long… I got sick of it one day and snapped at one of the guys, “My horse can complete an endurance ride or ride a dressage test and STILL kick your horse’s ass in a pattern! THAT is why I have him!” My ‘useless’ ‘crazy’ Arab is calmer than most of the gaming horses. The OTQHs are the spastic idiots at the gaming shows, rearing and acting like fools going into the chute. My horse walks calmly in the gate, we do a little warmup circle to wake him up and then take off. When we’re done? We do a little circle to slow down (most have to be run into the fence to stop ‘em) and then he ambles out of the ring on a loose rein and we amble around to cool off. Yeah, MY horse is the crazy one.
ive always wanted an egyptian horse! they are so cool looking… ( i know your not supposed to like a horse because its cool looking… but still! )
I think part of the misconception is how appaloosa’s are bred. most that are bred by professionals are very stocky. most that are bred by BYBs are extremely fugly, like a breed doesnt get much fuglier then a BYB Appy!
But, appy’s are also difficult to cross. I think that even sometimes when you cross 2 good looking, well conformed appys, you still end up with a WTF? foal. I have to say that CoStar was one of my favorite appy studs, and he through some gorgeous foals, when crossed with the right lines. But other then CoStar, there hasn’t really been an appy stud that i have been fond of, and makes my jaw drop. Although, im partial to the racing apps. they seem to have brains, and looks, and conformation.
FHOTD>> Any suggestions for appy studs? This will be the 7th year im looking for a decent appy stud for my horse. (yeah, i’ve waited a long fucking time for a good one that i like to come around).
I have to say that the post you did about the standerdbreds was one of your best. Please post more rescues of SB’s!!! (I’m in NY) My SB was a great horse, with so much personality. Plus, he had the best conformation, and feet that i have ever seen on a horse. It was not hard to teach him to lope, and he had the smoothest lope in the world. I also w/t barrel raced him when i was younger in the fairs once in a while and he always won because he had the fastest trot! go figure!
and by he “through” some gorgeous foals, i certainly meant, he sired some gorgeous foals! Fugly grammer of the day goes to me.
My favorite breed changes regularly.
Right now, I’m on a massive Paint kick, and…let’s see here. My trainer has five Paints, of which I’ve ridden four of them. One of them *is* a few short…but he makes up for it by having incredible ‘try’. He really wants to do as you ask, but because he’s not that smart, it just takes a bit longer to teach him stuff.
These four happen to be the only Paints I’ve ridden and I’m in love with every one of them.
Clay, the less than smart one, has incredible adjustability, beautiful action and could do dressage as well as any Warmblood. He’s a lovely size…about 15.3. He has one of the nicest, most refined heads I’ve ever seen, a sweet temperament and a nice jump.
Simon is a SPB (although he’s NOT solid…he’s a very minimal frame, although his one white spot is often hidden by the girth). He’s in his late teens and a retired show hunter. He’s second cousin the the 9:05 from the colliery to the steelyards…but his canter is absolutely awesome, he’s very comfortable to ride, and I’ve twice been on him when an incident happened with another horse…somebody trained him to stop and stand like a rock if there’s a loose horse in the arena.
Pie is a gorgeous chestnut tovero. Sadly, she has navicular, but she’s staying pretty sound with proper shoeing. She comes into a dressage frame almost without being asked, and she looks almost baroque in type. She’s not an in your pocket horse, this is a working relationship…but her only flaw is a tendency to rush in the canter if you don’t keep your inside leg on.
Finally, Chico. I rode him for the first time yesterday. He’s maybe 14.1 and I don’t know if he’s a purebred. He looks like he might have some pony in him, very ‘cute’ animal. He’s green broke (Next time, I’m getting a dressage whip, because I kept ‘losing’ his hindquarters)…he’s crooked, his canter is a typical green horse canter. But when I rode him inside leg to outside rein…his topline became level, his head and neck stretched out and he started to *glide*. Damn if that pony wasn’t foaled to do pleasure! There was no way I was going to try and shorten him up into a dressage frame…but rather just enjoy what I could get (green, yes) of that incredibly smooth, slow yet forward pleasure trot. And I’m betting if we took him to a show he’d place behind some crippled four beater. Even when we have his canter fixed.
So yeah. I seem to have ended up, pretty much against my will, falling for Paints.
I am one of those people who doesn’t like Thoroughbreds, but I don’t think it’s my riding. I just have never much liked the mind of the typical Thoroughbred. Especially if they’ve raced. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to go around telling people they’re crazy. I just don’t *like* them. It’s a preference. I’ll just let the people who do enjoy them.
And hey, ponies are evil. That’s what makes them so much fun! I used to know a pony of maybe 11.2 who kept…getting out of his closed box stall. It took months to work out how. Damn if the little critter wasn’t climbing over the Dutch door! (Needless to say, said door rapidly sprouted a grill). I LOVE ponies. They’re cute and they’re smart. But they also tend to be more dominant than horses, more likely to test their rider.
I think if people just accepted that everyone is going to like a different horse…and that’s a good thing. Of course, half the breeds here are ones I haven’t ridden.
Oh, and as for Drafts. My opinion on them is no, they are not built to be ridden..and therefore, they need specific training to help them deal with the physical issues related to having been bred to pull a cat. I sometimes ride a Percheron/Welsh cross…and a lot of people can’t get him to canter, and people say ‘Oh, well, he’s half Draft, what do you expect’. He CAN do a correct, balanced canter. It just requires a bit more work. (Hint: Make sure you have a correct, balanced *trot* first. I get so tired of people who expect any horse, let alone one that’s naturally heavy on the forehand, to canter from a running trot where all the energy is going out the front end of the horse).
I was all ready to rant after reading the first paragraph of this post until I got to the end of the second paragraph. I have appaloosas, and have taken all kinds of crap because of it – mostly from the uninformed – or the person who ‘rode one once’. I’ve also worked with other breeds (arabs, qhs, tbs, morgans, saddlebreds, pasos, etc., etc.), and I find that while you can generalize about them to a certain extent, the differences between individuals count for more than breed differences. Proper training and good breeding in any type of horse is more important than what specific breed it is. Personally, I hate breed bashing.
Another vote for Morgans, folks. But they aren’t – or at least, mine isn’t – the type you can let sit for long periods of time & then expect peanut-pushing behavior. And it’s fascinating to see their minds work, you can practically watch the gears churn. “Is this worth doing the first time or do I need a better reason? Have I been sufficiently convinced yet?”. God knows there are moments where my mare is convinced she knows better than I do about something, but by gosh once she’s concluded that something’s worth doing, she does it with grace and determination.
Okay, so I’m biased. And she’s a rescue so coaxing her out of her attitude was a long journey & well worth the end result.
But honestly, most people seem to like Morgans. Generally, non-Morgan people think they’re great little horses, but no one actually seems interested in owning one. Maybe because they’re generally too small for most sport horse people’s tastes?
I don’t get it either, but I do see the sport Morgan breeders trying for a little more height. Also, as many dressage riders age, they find they don’t want 17 hand WBs anymore; the ground is a lot closer on a little Morgan! But they are a very different ride than a WB…
Also, around New England, one meets a lot of horse people “of a certain age” who got their start in the show ring on Morgans, or had a Morgan or Morgan-cross as a second horse, after they outgrew their kid pony. A lot of these folks appreciate the breed for what it is, but don’t ride them anymore! Very sad, as they have a lot of heart and are very brave.
Mine is 15 hands and rather lightly built for the breed. She’s a mish-mash of those old foundation lines and some more modern, park horse types. She does not have the park horse action, but she does have some of the attitude, and one can see the Saddlebred in her. (a couple of recent photos: slightly BTV, dressage-y, and how she often carries herself “naturally”, a bit more upheaded.
Oh, one more stereotype about Morgans: they are tough and sound. So far, I’ve found this to be true across the board. They can be prone to founder, IR, etc. as they are such easy keepers (mine is not), but often recover completely. Most have *really* good hooves; mine is only shod because of how rocky the trails are around here. The soundness, BTW, is despite some occasionally very odd foreleg conformation; unfortunately one sees toeing in, offset knees, clubfeet, etc pretty frequently — yet for the most part they are sound.
Sorrel Overo paint mare, 80% white with two blue eyes.
I have heard everything…..
Two blue eyes, OMG that makes for one crazy ass horse.
Or
Two blue eyes, she has to be blind.
I had no idea that people think blue eyes is an indicator or temperment.
When I had her at a trainers, who competes at AQHA shows he even said that paints are stubborn as a mule and worse if they have blue eyes.
My little mare cleans up at local shows in western pleasure and barrels and poles.
We just started jumping last week.
Not bad for stubborn huh?
As my username tells you, paints have always been the breed of choice for me.
I grew up on arabs and when worked regularly they made great little trail mounts. This was on a totally arab farm of about 8 of them, so I got to get to know the ones I liked and the ones I disliked. Ive meet some stupid arabs. And not because of imporper training methods, just dumb in general. Scared of their water bucket, never understanding how to longe, etc. But there were also my favorites at the barn: Rocky -ugliest arab ever but great little WP schooling type horse; Amadaan -beautiful mover with a heart of gold; and more.
Than I rode an old appaloosa named Joker in some lessons and he was a blast too. You really had to work to get him to respect you or listen to you but he certainly was a hoot to ride.
I jumped for the first time on a TB broodmare and she was a lot of fun. She was used in their lesson program and got regular work, and LOVED to be a mom and babysitter. She was an awesome TB, only one Ive ever really had any interaction with.
Then there was Fawn, an appendix (out of the TB mentioned above). She was one of the most fun horses to work with. Her QH side made her really dependable and trustworthy, but her TB side made her have just that much more spunk. knew her from baby to 5 before she was sold she was a ton of fun.
Koalt came along, a Foundation Quarter Horse and was my first horse to own. He was from an english hunter barn and was their primary lesson horse (actually their logo horse too, if you go to sandamarfarm.com the horse in their logo is Koalt =] ). Best first horse I could ever own, and most versitile one Ive been on since. Bareback, ocean, trails, WP, english eq, hunter jumper, even minimal reining this boy did it all.
Ive ridden my share of paints too, and I currently have a 5 year old. He has been the most fun to work with (I got him when he was 3 and green – meaning 10 rides). He is so smart and works so hard for me. Even as an older baby now, he was always been the most level headed and willing horse. He is excelling most in reining now actually, not necessarily the most versitile horse – he actually doesnt like pleasure ring finds it way too boring. But the drill team I ride on and the reining trianing Ive been giving him make him really happy. He loves to think while working.
Anyway thats my two cents!
Loved Arabs as a kid. Worked at a Morgan and Saddlebred farm as a kid and was horrified at what they did to them. Rode my fair share of grade fuglies, Arabs, TBs Warmbloods, etc and didn’t care what breed it was as long as I got to ride!
When I got older and taller, I still loved Arabs but they are just too small for me as a breed (unless I go for a Shagya or a bloodline that has some height!) Age, experience, etc with other breeds made me realize that I didn’t care so much what breed they were, but rather what their personality was.
My first horse (when I was 30+) was an Appy. Never in my life would I have even thought of an Appy as a horse to “shop for”. He is the best. This past fall/winter/spring I went horse shopping. Rode WBs, TBs, Paints, AppyXs, a Morgan, QHs in search of my new fella. (10 horses total) Riding the TB was a challenge to myself; I tend to not like they way they “feel” under me. Guess I like more of a baroque horse build, and they always feel too “long and tall” LOL! So trying a horse was a bit like trying on jeans. I wanted to make sure the “fit” was right, and add in the personality as the prime motivators for purchase and not so much breeds. Yes, I did stay away from Arabs. Mostly cause none came up when I put in search criteria for a horse over 15.2hh!
I ended up with a 15.3hh Paint/Perch cross. He is a tank (which I like) but light and responsive (which is a must) Did I think I would end up with color breeds? No, but I didn’t shop for breeds. : )
Off topic, but another long time reader, first time poster, I wanted to show you this because I know you won’t get it through your email:
http://www.dreamhorse.com/show_horse.php?form_horse_id=1464291
REALLY? not only is it a zebra but they are riding in bare feet with no helmets and what looks like a nylon halter under a bridle??? but at least the mum is holding the baby with no helmet and the zebra is tied up *sigh*
To answer the second part of that, no, I’ve pretty much always liked Arabs and think I will always have one. I appreciate a good horse of any breed, although there are plenty I wouldn’t ever own just because they don’t fit with what I like to do. I need a horse that can deal with my ADD riding. I like to do a little bit of everything, jumping, endurance, polo, gaming, trails. You name it, I’ll probably try it at least once. I refuse to believe he “can’t” do something just because he’s an Arab and they’re supposed to be crazy and flighty. Tell me he “can’t” do something and my response is probably going to be “Wanna bet?” I’m admittedly a ballsy rider and I LOVE marching in somewhere on my “crazy” Arab and turning heads. We’ll never win at half of the things we try…I refuse to teach him to “trope” or trot like he’s lame for a WP class and he’s certainly never going to fit the hunter ideal, but I have a blast trying the classes anyway.
I can give my 4yo Arab weeks off and hop on him bareback in a halter and fool around. His responses are dulled, but he’s certainly not too hot or obnoxious to deal with. My QH loving husband will actually put his non-horsey friends up on my Arab before he’ll let them on his QHs. My horse is the one they go out and pester in the field. He loves every minute of it.
The steadiest, quietest, sweetest horse I’ve ever known I don’t own, my friend does. He’s a little scrub pony from an auction named Wisper. He can sit in a pasture for 6 months, then ride like he’s been ridden every day. Never a spook, buck, or evil eye. She will never sell him.
I own an off-track thoroughbred, an off-track standardbred, and a haflinger. They all have their virtues and faults, most of which have been listed here, and I get a different ride from each of them. But my favorite is my OTTB. He’s just so damn smart I have to keep two steps ahead of him instead of one. But we are friends as well as partners, we know each other’s moods, and we try our best to make the other look good. His job is harder than mine!
Well, the reasons stereotypes exist is because there are ones who fit the mold. A lot of it is management, but you certainly run into hot TBs, and Arabs. Dumbbloods and stubborn ponies alike. My TB is nothing like the stereotype. She’d prefer a day off than to being ridden everyday, and is calm as can be and goes and does anything. I also think people who get OTTBs have no idea what to do with them. Therein lies the problem. A lot of people know OTTBs should rest, (and plenty of people don’t know) but they never let them rest enough. The longer the rest the more likely you are to get a TB who is happy and easy to work with.
sorry, im kind of new to the fug site, but how do i send emails to FHOTD?
BYBs! look at your new fugly stud leader!
http://www.stallionsnow.com/stallion-ad-139496
Arabs are all crazy, TB’s have weak ankles, Quarter Horses have no speed, Appys are crazy and night blind, Ponies are all nasty mean…I think that’s it. LOL I have a firm belief that a horse will act the way an owner does. I know of a very sweet, calm laid back Arab – his owner is the same way. And then I know of a total nutcase Arab and sure enough his owner is a fruitbat as well! My QH has a big butt and well…anyhow, bad example.
Okay. First of all, no one breed or type is “perfect” for everyone. If that were the case, there would only be one breed, right?
IMNSHO, every single breed has good points, but no single breed is the right horse for every person. That said:
When you say you love, hate, like, or dislike a *breed*, you are saying more about yourself than about that breed.
I’d say that the only stereotype that works is if you say you do not like the way that breed LOOKS — you don’t like a lot of feathers, or appaloosa patterns or characteristics, or horses too tall for a short person to mount easily — but the animals in any breed group are individuials, just like people. 
Many horses people call “stupid” are just the reverse — smart enough to avoid working or otherwise going out of their way to do what you want. Now, yeah, some are less than genius material – that individual thing, again.
But when someone used to bring me a “stupid” Arabian, I knew that the horse had decided he was the brains of the outfit and just needed to have it explained to him otherwise. 
Ponies and Arabians are very intelligent and very observant. In my experience — reasonably large — if an Arabian is spooky, it’s because he doesn’t trust his rider, for whatever reason (new person, less competent rider/handler, inconsistent handler, etc). He feels HE has to be in charge of making sure both he and his rider survive the world. The less trust he has in his rider’s own intelligence and observation, the spookier he’s liable to be. Ponies TEND to handle the same sort of thing a little differently — again, the old saying is that you have to be smarter than the horse/pony to train it, and with Arabians (and ponies) fewer people qualify.
“The most important thing about a TB is that you can’t make them your friend. If you let them get away with anything they’ll continue to push the limits.”
Do you allow your human friends to “get away” with things, push you around, etc? Not allowing that from a horse isn’t rejecting friendship; that’s just maintaining the hierarchy.
Again, with hot-blood horses especially, they will fill the vaccum of leadership if it’s not present. You don’t have to be strict or a bully to be the leader — in fact, these horses understand the difference.
So, you know, I like ‘em all. There are some types within the breeds that I would not enjoy and would not want to own, but if YOU love a halter or pleasure stock breed, a big-lick TWH, or one of the other types I’m not fond of, I’m not going to condemn you (unless you breed H/H or N/H horses [or other problematic genes] or use inhumane training methods on any horse). I had an open training barn for years, and I found something to like about every horse that came through the door. I choose to *own* Arabians and part-Arabians, but if I were wealthy I’d have quite a few different breeds as well (plus a big rescue/sanctuary — hello, lottery?). I *like* hot-blood, sensitive horses, and have always been able to establish an excellent rapport with them; a nervous rider can often make these horses worse unless s/he has learned to control his/her reactions in the saddle. If I’m the calmer one, hey the horse gets pretty laid back, too.
Yeah, I’m all rainbows and butterflies today.
Must be the hydroco-pap — weather change has all my “expired warranties” in an uproar … It’s the kind of day where naturally gaited horses sound like a really good idea! 
Don’t have time to read the comments, will have to save that for later. My first and only horse of 22 yrs was an Arabian. I had ridden lots of other horses, mostly QH, Saddlebred crosses and who knows what else. As a kid, who cared! I had never even ridden an Arabian but I KNEW that was what I wanted. I always had those kind of pets people think of with negative stereotypes, Siamese cats and a Staffy dog. People animals.
And my mare was the perfect fit. Smart as a whip, easy to train, curious and courageous. Some folks swore she had to be part QH (which we found sortof an insult) cause she had a butt and was quiet (mostly HAH). But she was an An Malik granddaughter with Crabbet on the bottem side. Some Arabs I wouldn’t give 2cents for. AAHH, drives me bonkers how insane some are and those can even be the “well bred” ones.
I’ld had her a couple of years and was taking lessons from a very nice trainer but she did QH’s. My mare got so frustrated in the arena because the drills were too monotonous. Turning the the fore/hind quarters was an argument in the arena but take her on a trail and set up an opportunity and she would do the manuver because it made sense to her. (In order to get aound boulder need to move front end over) I could tell she still thought it stupid to sidepass in the arena when it was all open space but she knew what I was asking.
If I got another horse it will probably be another Arabian but who knows.
Yikes, I’m late for lunch with Mom!!!
Mustangs, naturally! I’ve never heard a breed so maligned, and I’ve never come across a breed so likely to be flat-out refused by trainers. It’s amazing to me how many trainers won’t even touch a mustang, no matter how much training it’s already had. That’s one thing I like about the Mustang Makeover competition is that they’ve gotten so many trainers who haven’t worked with mustangs before to give them a try, and it seems like they’re producing a lot of converts. My mare is a nice-looking horse and often mistaken for a QH (she’s probably got some in the bloodline there somewhere), and whenever I’ve taken her to a new barn or something I get to live for a few weeks with “THAT’S a MUSTANG?!” comments. Like people are just shocked and astounded that mustangs aren’t the nasty, ugly, moose-headed and violent creatures they’ve been told to expect.
I was in a very basic horsemanship class once with Ron Weschler at Pierce College in southern California, and on the first day of the lab (riding) portion of the class, was chatting with one of my classmates. He was telling me that he was taking the class because his daughter was horse-crazy and so he wanted to know about what she was into and be able to ride with her. (How freaking adorable is that?) I was telling him that I had a lot of work gentling and groundschooling mustangs but that I didn’t really know how to ride, which was why I was there. “Oh, no,” the guy says to me, “my daughter’s riding instructor says to stay away from mustangs. They’re crazy, they’ll get you hurt.” I tried to gently argue with him — he clearly was just repeating what he’d been told, so maybe if I told him something different he’d learn to repeat that
— but he’d just stopped listening at “mustang.” Like I’d suggested that he ought to entrust his daughter’s well-being to a grizzly bear or something. I shrugged it off, and class began, with Ron taking us around and introducing us to the horses that he used in his riding and pack string, which during the school year packed around newbie college students and during the summer packed around newbie tourists through the Sierra Nevadas. Then Ron introduced us to his two favorite horses: an older gray mustang, and a younger sorrel mustang, both of whom he’d started himself in less than a week. The look on the other guy’s face was priceless. 
One more thought: I see a great deal of the “ultimate stereotyping” in these comments
That is:
“I *hate* (insert breed name)! I (or a friend or a relative or someone at the barn I ride at) had one, and it was (insert hideously undesirable characteristic)! These horses should be banned!”
OR:
“The best breed in the world is (insert breed name). My (first and only) (breed) is the greatest horse I’ve ever owned, and I will never even consider anything else. Everyone should have one of these.”
Thus are stereotypes born. In both cases, the commenter may have encountered a rare individual of that breed that has either the desirable or undesirable characteristic — something that may even not be part of that horse, but caused/installed by a previous owner.:) Remember, there are exceptions to every “rule”, and you might have encountered that exception, for good or ill.
Stereotype: Tennessee walking horses(and other gaited horses) cant canter
I hear it all the time, and it drives me crazy. I do reining with my tennessee walker…case and point. I could go on about the other stereotypes, assumptions and bizzare things i’ve heard from my ten years of being with tennessee walking horses, but this is the most common.
Its hard to blame people though, the only media attention the breed ever gets is on par with the octo-moms. The pads, action devices soring, riding two year olds….ect ect ect. It really gives the entire breed a bad image
We ended up with an orphan Hollywood Jac baby in the 70′s. Mom brought her home in the front seat of our car. She was a sweetheart and the first horse I helped train from the ground up. I was very young but had owned horses and ridden for 4 yrs at that point, and I had very good professional help around. She was versatility plus and I was able to take her wp, trails and later, open jumping/hunter. She just had a natural knack for jumping and loved it – having cleared her first 4.5ft fence at a bare two years of age ‘just for the fun of it’ that sent us chasing her all over the countryside.
At age 6 my parents bred her to a Ibn Halima Arab.
Omg that baby drove her easy-going mother crazy. bounce bounce bounce bounce. And she liked to jump too. At just a few months old I saw her jump a bale of hay in the pasture. She would jump anything- the dog, a board on the ground, a tree limb blowdown, you name it.
We ended up selling her to the owner of Carriage Hill farms for her personal hunter prospect and last I heard she did very well. Not exactly stereotypical for the breed mix.
i have ridden lots of different breeds and owned appendix, AQHA, and now a warmblood cross …
Arabs — my stereotype — looney, batshit crazy. My experience — lots of lessons with a trainer who had mostly Arab school horses, and living with an endurance rider who thought the only true horse was an Arabian — looney and batshit crazy. would never own one.
Warmbloods — my stereotype — pretty but slow witted, easily injured, quiet until they decide to explosive, chicken-hearted — would never own one — now I own an Oldenburg, Australian warmblood/Australian stock horse. the most greatest horse on the planet — not so gorgeous but awesomely smart, sound, sturdy, sane, forgiving and a superb teacher.
Quarter horses – my stereotype — the best horse ever — sane, courageous, flexible — most of mine have fit the stereotype except one, my young green mare. greenness notwithstanding, she is unpredictable at this stage and not very forgiving of the imperfect rider (me). she moves and looks more like a small warmblood, and can be very stubborn and unwilling but some of this is youthful rebellion i’m sure. she wants to do what she wants to do when she wants to. having a great trainer is helping but she sure doesn’t fit my other experience with Quarter horses.
Hurry, don’t miss your chance to breed to the “rarest of the rare” !!!
http://www.bengalsandpaintedarabians.com/PRINCEINFO.html
To be honest, I like every breed, although if I had to pick I find myself liking Morgan and pony crosses most. I may look a little silly on a pony (at 5’9), but if you find one with solid bone, it doesn’t seem to bother them in the least. I used to work on a dude ranch, and we had a squat, sturdy pony who barely topped 13.3 named Raymond who could carry a 200 lb rider easily up and down the mountains. We rarely put anybody that size on him, of course, but he still did it easily and without tiring.
Plus, when riding a short horse, mounting bareback is much easier, and you don’t have to duck quite as many branches while out on trail.
When I went to buy my first horse, I was only 1y6 years old and completely green. I picked up my local horsetrader and started calling on any horse within my very narrow price range. One unscrupulous arab breeder started trying to sell me on his green-broke 4 year old Arab filly, talking about her fancy breeding, and gorgeous looks I kept reminding him that I was only a beginner, but he continually assured me that she was calm, and that we would do really well together.
That is, right up until I told him that I would be out to see her later in the evening, as I was stopping by another barn to take a peek at a 14 yr old half quarter horse/half appy on my way out. In a cold, angry voice, he replied, “If you are looking at Appaloosas, then you aren’t interested in my kind of stock.” CLICK.
Seriously? What, if I had bought the Appy, would the two of us have had to drink from the “Spotted” water trough and stare longingly at all the horses gathered around the cleaner “Non-colored” water trough? Gimme a break.
I w
Definitely one of my favorite subjects. After starting with Arabians at 33 years old (never owned a horse before), I knew nothing else. When I got a QH given to me, I thought, gees, they are easy! Now I own 3 QHs, 3 ponies, 2 Arabians, one Tenn Walker and one Belgian/Morgan cross. I can write breed stories about every one of them as they all fit certain breed stereotypes. My Arabs are jumpy but will give you their soul and are the first to come to people. The Belgian is not going to do anything he doesn’t have to do ever, but once you figure out how to ask, he’s wonderful.
The QHs are predictible, athletic but not too people oriented. The Walker will kill himself giving you what you ask and is very high energy all the time.
But, it’s the ponies I want to talk about.. I like to tell people to think about their history when they are critical of ponies. Hundreds of years of breeding for toughness and survivability in the mines. NOT to be a loving children’s mount.. that’s only been the past 50 or so! So, I figured out that you need to tell a pony what’s up right out. This is what’s expected and that’s the way it is. I love ponies now! I know I don’t have to pussyfoot around them like I did my Arabs. They never hold a gruge and aren’t overly sensitive. But it really takes the right child to ride them. They too can’t be too sensitive and expect the pony to “love them”. They need to be firm and friendly. Like most people say, to survive a pony, you need to fall off them about 25 times and get right back on before either of you have time to think about it..
“comment awaiting moderation” ? ah well guess this fhotd isn’t as open to snark as the other. I know I’m not the only rider ran over by a overhorsed rider that feels they need a huge horse to hide their own weight. I’ll go back to my corner. “tapeworm”
FHOTD in: Everybody’s comment awaits moderation now. I’m posting this as written – I won’t be actually deleting much – if you want to make this remark, you can, just be prepared for opposing opinions.
In my never-humble-opinion, there are a LOT of riders of ALL sizes on horses that are too big and strong and green for their riding level. So I understand being sick of being run down in a boarding barn arena, I just don’t think it has anything to do with overweight people trying to make themselves look smaller by riding a big horse. It’s more about the trendiness of gigantor warmbloods, draft crosses, and Friesians despite the fact that the rider may be better suited to a steady eddy smaller horse.
I love the horse I have now: a SMALL Hanoverian! The breeding programs have improved so much over the years, and it really is possible to find a light, elegant, and athletic animal. My mare is (almost) 15.2 and muscular; without all the extra height we haven’t had any soundness issues thus far (she’s nine and schooling 4th level). She also has a fantastic mind and is just a heck of a lot of fun! Also an easy keeper and feet so nice the farriers swoon over them. I do think that overall breeders and potential buyers are getting away from the bigger-is-better mentality, and there will be far more horses in the 16 to 16.2 range rather than all these over-17-hand bruisers. Amateur (mostly female) riders are the primary target market, and it just doesn’t make sense to breed so large. Plus I think it affects overall health, kind of like Great Danes not living as long as smaller dogs.
Totally agree with Brushfire; Standardbreds are awesome. I have a 20 yo ex racer who is the most sensible, calm, understanding and intelligent horse I’ve ever known. He has never refused to do anything I’ve asked of him. I taught him to work in a ring and it was easy; he didn’t know how to balance at the canter around corners but once he’d figured that out he could do anything!
He is so well broke and so calm in weird situations that I trust him WAY more than I trust my other two (a Hannoverian/Irish Sport Horse mare and an Anglo Trakehner gelding). He’s a sweetie peetie and not at all ugly. He’s a beautiful blood bay with a tiny star and a what I like to call a “sockette” on his left hind. I’ve never understood why anyone could hate Standardbreds.
On the other hand, I am predisposed to unlove quarter horses. No idea why, they are just not my type in looks or temperment. I know there are exceptions but their slowness and chunkiness doesn’t do it for me. Their legs always look too short and their butts are too big : )
I used to be a QH girl. I was also told over (…and over and over…) that I would never want a TB. They are all crazy. (Well, them and the “a-rabs”.) So I parrotted what I learned, up until 4 years ago. I have an OTTB now. Lemme tell you, he has the audactity to hold me accountable for everything.
I wouldn’t trade him for all the money in the world. TBs will shout out to the world if you suck as a rider or owner, whereas a QH will quietly tell all his friends.
I have ridden and shown Appaloosas for at least 15 years and I get SO tired of the stereotypes. I think people who are not involved with Apps have this 1960s version of the Appaloosa in their minds…you know that rat-tailed, big-headed version. Sure, there are not many Apps out there that I’ve seen that have drag on the ground long, thick tails, but I have not seen a true rat tail for quite some time. I’ve also heard the negative stereotypes about FPD Appaloosas and they just seem ignorant to me. Watch the FPD Halter class at Worlds on the webcam…I think many would be surprised at how gorgeous these horses are! All my life I have heard “Oh, he’s so pretty for an App” or “wow, he’s so talented for an App” and I am SO OVER IT. I’ve heard so many people says Apps are crazy. In my experience they are no less crazy than any other breed out there. Sure, you’re going to have some that are more spooky or stubborn than others, but there are also a lot of good-minded, steady and consistent Apps out there. That’s no different than any other breed.
I think people who are have this stereotypical idea of Appaloosas need to get out to Worlds or Nationals or at least out to a regional show. I think they would be surprised and see a lot of versatile, athletic horses that would knock their socks off!
What a good post! I completely agree with you about thoroughbreds – I understand where they get the stereotype from, but at the same time I’m quick to stereotype TB haters as people who don’t understand how manage them!
“My” first horse was an arabian gelding. I had no choice in the matter, after years of riding lesson horses, friend’s horses, and therapy horses (to keep them in shape during their off-days), my trainer found me a free lease on this Arabian. First thing my friend said when I told her I was getting a horse on lease was “Oh goodness, I hope it’s not an Arabian!” We had generally regarded Arabs (with exceptions of course) as wild-eyed, spooky, and overly-sensitive.
Well my arab fit the stereotypes to the T! My entire first month with him was spent desensitizing him to his new home, and even after 4 years, other riders would comment “how do you ever feel comfortable on him? he just spooks so much”. And heaven forbid you carry a whip even if you didn’t use it.
However, I learned to love the stereotypes about this breed. Really. I can’t say an Arabian would be my first choice for another horse, but I would NEVER discount them again. My gelding was really and truly the most intelligent and personable horse I had ever worked with – of course, after about 6 months of getting to know him anyway
And the only time he wasn’t spooky was when there were multiple other horses in the ring, so he even came around to being a therapy horse (where I ultimately got him donated to upon leaving for college).
I showed him for 3 years in 1st/2nd level dressage. And it was the most fun I’d ever had on a horse. We always came in first, second, or third, OR became disqualifed
I still remembered the medium canter down the long side that kept on going right out of the ring!
We have 25 TBs at our barn. Most are ex-reacers, we have a few homebreds and some the never raced. A few are show horses, with the rest pleasure horses and the rest are in their late 20s and 30s enjoying retirement. We keep them turned out as a herd 24/7 in a 30+ acre pasture with rolling hills, creeks, and woods. In the winter we keep them in a smaller paddock with free choice hay and grain twice a day. If the ice gets really bad or a horse is recovering from injuries we do put them in stalls but for as little time as possible.
Under these conditions we see very little of the stereotypical crazy, hot TB behaviors that have people quaking in their boots. March is a little dicey as they haven’t been able to run and paly hard for a few months, but we manage through it. We have several that we use as lesson horses for novices. One of our OTTBs is steady enough that we were able to put a 73 year old lady on him for a trail ride this summer. Another one of our horses had won over $600K but became a sold trail horse after a few months away from the track.
I think that a lot of the TB stereotype comes from people who only see them at the track where they are managed to be HOT, HOT, HOT or are repeating horror stories from friends. My horse was a raging maniac when he came off the track. Leading him to his stall became an extreme sport and forget about trotting or cantering in the arena. Away from the track for a few years he is as docile as a puppy. He is so sweet and quiet that I have to warn people who don’t have horse experience not to expect that kind of behavior from other horses.
I really love my Morgan gelding to pieces- he is absolutely the perfect horse for me in every way, which is quite amazing since my family bred him ourselves and he magically came out just right. I haven’t come up against too many stereotype issues, but he and his mother certainly have convinced a lot of people that Morgans are great and in fact the Morgan population at the boarding stable where he lives has grown by 3 since Star was born there. I ride him almost exclusively on pretty intense trails, and he consistently amazes me with how brave and curious he is. We never pass a trailhead he doesn’t want to explore, and he is always the first horse through a new river ford or down a scary-looking ravine, and when we once came almost nose-to-nose with a bear Star didn’t bat an eyelash. He is exactly the right height for me to mount from the ground, even bareback (I’m 5’6″, he’s 15.3), which I love, but a lot of people think he is too short to do anything “important” or “real” (I have literally had people tell me that) such as jumping (never mind that the mountain trails we ride require a great deal of athleticism). On the contrary, Star jumps very nicely and will happily jump a low hunter course or cross country obstacles with no fuss, and his height does not affect anything at all. If I could afford to show, I would show him over fences, but in rural New Hampshire my opportunities there are somewhat limited and it frustrates me that people look down their nose at me and my non-showing, small Morgan when in reality I think we accomplish a great deal. Long story short, I love Morgans and they will always be my breed even if they are “too short”!
FYI ,
Update on Florida horse killings. Two suspects arrested for the butchering of horses in Florida. Check out the Chronicle of the horse for details. Finally some of the scum sucking garbage is getting caught. You all will just cringe on how they killed these poor animals in the article. just plain sicking to say the least…. Also it is no surprise they were teenagers……….just sick……………
If we’re expanding the thread to include dog breeds, here’s one that drives me nuts:
Retrievers–Goldens, Labs, etc.–are either lazy or happy-go-lucky. They are never, ever dangerous and they don’t need to be supervised or trained.
Two dogs have honestly tried to kill me. One was a Toy Poodle, and that was more of a joke. The purebred Labrador, OTOH, waited until everybody else went into the house (I was visiting a friend), went straight for my femoral artery and had me scrambling onto a nearby car and attempting to rip off the radio antenna to use as a makeshift weapon. He was silent, focused, and utterly terrifying. I have never seen such a look in a dog’s eyes before or since. His owner just said, “Well, he does that sometimes,” and took him home. Because he was a Lab, and therefore by definition he couldn’t really mean it.
It doesn’t matter what breed you have. TRAIN YOUR DAMN DOG! And if your dog continues to behave like a psycho, accept that you may have a psycho and euthanize it.
Oh my, what a fun thread! I grew up working with my grandmother (horse trainer who’s done everything from race QHs to TWHs to reining horses to morgans, but her first love is the saddlebred) Anyway, I’ve worked with many many breeds, but have the most experience with saddlebreds and arabians. I have to say, I think it’s hilarious that so many people get the “wow, arabs are crazy” line, because all the arab people I started out riding with thought it was crazy that I’d started riding those “crazy saddlebreds” hahaa. So it’s all about perspective.
As far as arabs go, they are just too darn smart for many people. I’ve known every different kind of arab from lazy, to crazy, to babysitter, to OMG don’t put ANYONE on him that doesn’t have their but glued to the saddle, haha. They often require a lot more thinking to train (as in, you have to show them what you want, and then show them that that is the easiest thing for them to do). You really can’t fight with them. They’re small, but they will run themselves into a wall rather than do something you haven’t properly explained to them. You have to ask clearly and politely but firmly, haha. A good arab is such a wonderful treat, however. And who couldn’t love those pretty faces? I’m such a sucker for a pretty face. People say “you can’t ride its head,” but if you find a head type that you work well with, stick to it; it often says a lot about a horse’s disposition and training style.
As far as saddlebreds go, well, they will absolutely forever be my favorite breed of all. Even though I do more dressage and jumping now (back to saddle seat at some point), I will always get along best with a saddlebred and am doing my darnedest to find some nice sport types (they are out there, haha). They are smart, but not quiiite as smart as arabs, so they can be a little more forgiving. They will wreck themselves trying to figure out exactly what you want. Also, they don’t spook, they bloom = ) Meaning, they just get big and puff up as they quickly go forward to something they’re afraid of. They look like fire breathing monsters in the show ring, but even kept in a stall 24/7, they have some of THE best ground manners and trainability of any breed I’ve ever worked with. I absolutely adore them, can you tell? To be fair, someone who’s used to working with a quarter horse or similarly quiet breed will think they’re crazy at first. They just look at everything (that’s what they’re bred to do), and sometimes they like to “dance” next to you, politely, of course, but it seems a little intimidating to newbies when they toss up their head and tail, open those eyes reeeeally big, and suddenly look 19 hands tall, haha (this goes for the “crazy” arabs too).
I currently own an appy, first one ever. I honestly have only worked with a handful, and I never knew about these appy stereotypes. I am not a color person at all, but I’ve grown to absolutely love my leopard appy’s markings. He’s a true gem, one of a kind, heart horse = ) I only hope that I can give him a forever home because he’s my baby and I can’t imagine not having him. I bought on the way to auction after I found out the people that owned him were sick of him and wanted him gone. I had worked him for a couple months when I was working at the barn, but when I quit, I guess he rapidly went down hill. He got to where he was dumping everyone in the barn (um, you can’t work a horse once a week then expect him to be a good lesson horse on that one day…) to being my new dressage/jumping star. He’s smart, he’s willing, and he’s extremely sensitive. I don’t have papers on him, so he might be a cross, but he certainly doesn’t fit any stubborn appy stereotype if there is one. He’s simply fabulous.
Quarter horses. Honestly, because I haven’t worked with as many (but still a few), I find myself not being able to out think them as well as other breeds. Different breeds really do think differently, and that’s where all these stereotypes come from. They are usually quiet, but I’ve known quite a few that hid a squirrely naughty streak beneath that calm exterior… But, again, I’ve known many different types so I can’t really pinpoint a stereotype. It’s all in what you get used to. I worked with one for awhile that was ridden saddle seat and hated to walk without much careful riding. He was basically pure white and so still leads a lot of the Mardi Gras parades in New Orleans. You’d never guess he was a registered QH, haha.
TBs, again, I’ve known some that you’d guess must be QHs or part draft because they were so darn quiet and calm and some that actually were nut balls requiring a very very experienced rider, haha.
Oh, Morgans! I love them too. They’re like a more accessable saddlebred in my mind, meaning they have a similar work ethic and disposition, but they’re often a little smaller and a little less purpose bred for saddle seat, so it’s easier to find a sport horse type. If I could have my dream menagerie, I’d certainly have a morgan in the group.
Also, can I have a fjord too? They are SO adorable.
Tennessee walkers. Honestly, they often have lovely lovely dispositions. What other breed can you think of that would put up with the horrors you sometimes see in the big lick world? Nearly every one of them I’ve met has had a kind disposition and a great work ethic. And what a fun gait.
Oh man, this post got long… So I won’t continue with my world of breeds discussion, haha. Long story short, stereotypes are often there for a reason, but they are usually blown way out of proportion and couldn’t possibly explain every individual in the group = )
I grew up doing ranch and cattle work so naturally, a thick, stout cutting bred quarter horse was the ONLY way to go and anything else was just crap. Of course, I still love a good QH but because of how so many of them are being bred now (really downhill, chicken bone legs, tiny feet, etc.) it is hard to find one that I like and feel comfortable really using. About 4 1/2 years ago, I stumbled into ownership of a BLM mustang. Some friends of my Dad’s from a local town said they had a 3 year old buckskin stud that was wild, crazy, aggressive, and dangerous that they wanted rid of for $100. So, that being my kind of horse, I ended up with a skinny, blown out, FUGLY little gray stud (apparently he was a buckskin when they adopted him a year ago and they hadn’t seen him since) that would have been your poster boy for “never should have been born”. We brought him home on a Thursday and by that next Tuesday, I was using him through cattle in the pasture. Everything about his conformation screams rough traveller (pigeon toed, straight shoulder, straight short croup, post legged, short upright pasterns) but he is the smoothest travelling horse I have ever ridden. After using him and really getting to know his personality, I have a new favorite breed. I get those stupid looks all the time from the “cowboys” when I tell them that I ride a Mustang; “What could you possibly want a crap horse like that for?” “The only thing those pieces of shit are good for is dog food.” “Why don’t you want to ride a REAL horse?”
Well, after a while of work and good food, he grew from a little hideous 750 pound thing to a big stout 1100 pound dapple gray that has heart enough for an entire herd. He will watch a cow, granted not as well as a QH bred for it but pretty well. I can sit and he can travel at a long trot or a lope all day long and neither one of us gets tired. I can turn him out for months and then just jump on with a rope halter and lead and have zero problems. He has made one hell of a good roping horse. He puts me in just the right position every time (I am just learning) and will keep me there. I spent all spring dragging calves on him at the ranch my brother manages and it doesn’t matter if I rope something that is 150 pounds or 1200 pounds, when I ask him to walk off with it, he will either walk off with it or break my tack trying (has broken one breast collar and 3 ropes LOL). He is level headed and calm and was easier to saddle break than most QHs I have ridden, he never even offered to buck. He has even helped my non-horsey Mom gain confidence in the saddle (and bareback).
So 2 years ago, when I had the chance to get another one, I jumped at it. Now I have a 6 year old little bay horse that is truely fugly but a real sweetie. Over the last year, I have ridden him maybe 60 times, used him on cattle, tons of trails, ridden around town and never had a moments hesitation or resistance out of him. The lady that adopted him from the BLM had sent him to a “trainer” and the trainer sent him back with the label ‘untrainable’ because she couldn’t even get a halter on him in 30 days. So I brought him home and turned him out for about a year to put on some weight and because I didn’t really have time to get started with him then. I finally had some time last August so I caught him up, got him in the roundpen, and within about 2 hours, I was trotting circles on him. By ride 3 I was going on trails and through town. He never offered to buck either and though he doesn’t travel quite as smooth as my gray, he is still a really nice ride. He has the conformation and inclination to make a crackerjack reining horse so I am gonna start piddling with that some. He will already spin and slide with the best of them, now I just need to get his flying changes smooth but it’s a little hard with those big honkin’ feet he’s got (14.2 hands and wears a size 2 shoe LOL).
So those “cowboys” can keep their QH’s that cost 2 or 3 thousand dollars and I will keep my hundred dollar horses that are everthing I need with awesome personalities to boot.
In my experience most ponies are hellish- but I’ve noticed it’s because people just LOVE to spoil their cute wittle fuzzy wuzz. I’ve seen and heard people defend themselves for not disciplining bad behavior or training out vices including:
It’s too cute! / What he’s doing is so cute (awwww look at his little hooves they can’t hurt me)
I will hurt it! (sure, because an open palmed smack will hurt more then a well placed horse kick or bite, right?)
He is just insecure because he is small!
He is a jerk because he doesn’t know he’s small! (uh, what?)
I work 5 days a week at a lesson/boarding barn and there is a fair share of ponies there, some well behaved and some with a long long list of vices. I never let them get away with anything I wouldn’t let a normal sized horse get away with but you wouldn’t believe the amount of coddling these ponies get for being small and fuzzy wuzzy. I’ve met a good amount of well behaved ponies that were well behaved because they were worked with, taught that humans have control, and were disciplined properly. I have always treated horses and ponies the same in the sense that no matter what I’m doing or what’s going on, they have to listen, mind their manners, and be respectful of my space and what I am asking them to do.
I’ve known people who owned both horses and ponies- people who whacked their 16hh TB for biting and just coo’d over their 12hh shetland as they did the same thing. I’m only 18 and I see this kind of crap happening all the time, it baffles me that people older then I am can have such little common sense..
(If I ever learn to collect my thoughts into one post I will die of surprise)
I also forgot to mention I own a Hanoverian- I know a lot of people rip on them for being stupid but Foxy is one of the smartest mares I’ve ever met, hands down. A lot of drafts I’ve met however tend to have that dopey expression 24/7 and I can’t say I’ve ever worked with a draft that seemed too bright. That said I love drafts and have nothing against them.
I think, like you said, a lot of stereotypes get put in place because of bad training or stabling. My boss is a little TB racist and is always complaining about how ‘schizo’ they are and if I ever turn out one of the boarder’s TB’s without a chain shank on, heaven forbid. Drives me nuts.
..I never use a chain shank when she’s not around! Hahahahah!